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A TALE OF TWO TENGU

Name: A TALE OF TWO TENGU
Author: Karen Kawamoto McCoy
ISBN: 0-8075-7748-0

A JAPANESE FOLKTALE

adapted by Karen Kawamoto McCoy & illustrated by Koen Fossey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1993

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Kenji and Joji are tengu—``goblins with long, lovely noses''—who constantly compete by extending them to huge lengths. While Kenji stays on his mountain, his nose follows a fragrance to Lord Nakamura's mansion, where a princess, thinking the nose is a pole, hangs kimonos on it—as Kenji discovers when he retracts it. When Joji tries the same stunt, the children swing from his nose—and are painfully bumped when he hastily pulls it back. Again, the rivals vie to see ``who snares the best prize,'' but by now Lord Nakamura has a score to settle. His servants tie the mysterious ``poles'' together in a knot—to which the tengu are pulled when they try to snap their noses back. Once disentangled, they agree to be friends—and ``almost never'' argue ``about whose nose is more wonderful.'' Fossey's delicate art, enhanced with brightly appealing color, is an excellent complement to McCoy's lively retelling of a tale that comes from her own childhood tradition. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1993

ISBN: 0-8075-7748-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Whitman

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1993

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

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A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: April 1, 1996

ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Dial Books

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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BERRY MAGIC

by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

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Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)