Piecing together and recasting ancient Sumerian texts, Henderson tells a tale even older than the epic of Gilgamesh—about Gilgamesh’s father, in fact, as a young prince who accompanies his own father King Enmerkar to war and plays an important role in bringing it to a peaceful end. Marching with the army of Uruk, Lugalbanda falls so ill that he is left behind in a cave. Recovering, he wanders in the Lullubu Mountains until he comes upon the hatchling of the monstrous Anzu bird. Feeding rather than killing it, he earns from its grateful parent the ability to run without tiring, and so becomes a messenger for his father, locked in a long siege, and the goddess Inana, who sends a promise that Uruk will conquer only if the rival city under attack is spared from destruction. Ray matches Henderson’s fluent, dramatic storytelling with richly decorated scenes of a small, almond-eyed everylad courageously facing illness, loneliness, huge, bloody-beaked birds and other challenges. Handsomely packaged and sandwiched between detailed historical notes, this oldest of written stories still carries particular meaning for modern readers—especially considering its Middle Eastern setting. (Folktale. 9-11)
Pub Date: May 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-7636-2782-8
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2006
Based on a journal and an unpublished manuscript, a brief, surprisingly lifeless account of the boyhood of one of Indianapolis's first settlers. Among other activities, Elijah Fletcher leaves home to attend a new school as a boarder; rescues his brother, who has inadvertently stowed away on a paddlewheel boat; and goes to the Marion County Fair. Unfortunately, the text jumps from one episode to another, each so sketchily narrated that it's hard to develop either much interest in Elijah or much understanding of what his life was really like. Henry does provide information like the name of the man who had the first brick house in Indianapolis—a person who doesn't figure otherwise here and, like the book, isn't likely to interest most young readers. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: March 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-02-743671-3
Page Count: 39
Publisher: Four Winds/MacMillan
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1992
While chasing a dog into a neighbor's yard, Jason meets a pair of Intragalactic Troubleshooters with a spaceship in the garage. Despite the catlike Lootna's dire warnings, Jason is recruited by breezy, reckless Cooper Vorr and—without further ado—the team's off to snatch a stolen energy crystal from Urkar Grugg the Awful, return it to the grateful Star-King of Zarr, and listen to some bad jokes by the Star-King's Court Jester Robot. Jason gets back home in time for his drum lesson, and with a nifty new wrist communicator, too. The adventure may be over, but only for today: tomorrow the Giant Lizard Pirates of Zeek are waiting.... Fast, funny light sf from the authors of Max and Me and the Time Machine (1983). Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 9- 11)*justify no*
Pub Date: Sept. 30, 1991
ISBN: 0-06-021761-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
