O’Malley throws a spanner in the Mother Goose works when he lets Humpty Dumpty snap and go on a rampage through the land of nursery rhymes. Here, the story is told by the father of a student who is plainly not of nursery-school age, so no holds are barred. As he tells it, while Mother Goose is away, Humpty Dumpty goes berserk from lack of respect. Old King Cole is sitting in for Mother Goose and though he is better known for his merriment than his brains, he tries to do what he can. The king throws what he’s got at the rampaging egg: Peter Piper’s pickled peppers, for instance, and the Duke of York’s 10,000 men, and Peter Pumpkin Eater’s pumpkin. The Muffin Man lends a hand, but it’s up to Humpty Dumpty to self-destruct, sort of, and in the process gain some of that cherished respect from the good folk of nurseryland. (Imagine Humpty as an Elvis impersonator and you get the idea.) Though O’Malley’s comic, high-octane artwork gives the proceedings an edge, there is nothing really vicious in these pages: “He found Jack Horner sitting in a corner. He stole his plum, Christmas pie and all,” is typical. And while O’Malley is busy sticking his finger in the eye of Mother Goose, he also pays homage to the timeless verses by weaving them directly into the text. As bratty as its intended audience, this poaches from the best scramblers. (Picture book. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-8027-8756-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2001
At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-91052-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
Trickling, bubbling, swirling, rushing, a river flows down from its mountain beginnings, past peaceful country and bustling city on its way to the sea. Hooper (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) artfully evokes the water’s changing character as it transforms from “milky-cold / rattling-bold” to a wide, slow “sliding past mudflats / looping through marshes” to the end of its journey. Willey, best known for illustrating Geraldine McCaughrean’s spectacular folk-tale collections, contributes finely detailed scenes crafted in shimmering, intricate blues and greens, capturing mountain’s chill, the bucolic serenity of passing pastures, and a sense of mystery in the water’s shadowy depths. Though Hooper refers to “the cans and cartons / and bits of old wood” being swept along, there’s no direct conservation agenda here (for that, see Debby Atwell’s River, 1999), just appreciation for the river’s beauty and being. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7636-0792-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
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