Author and illustrator Sakai’s gracefully executed tale illuminates the pure joy with which toddlers embrace even the most ordinary occurrences. In this simply worded story about a young girl and her new balloon, Sakai tracks Emily’s interactions with the balloon, which—with the swiftness of youthful affections—rapidly transforms into a devoted and loving relationship. When her beloved balloon escapes its anchor and gets tangled in a tree, Emily is heartbroken. However, she soon finds solace in its steadfast and benevolent presence outside her window. While Sakai hones her narrative into sparsely worded text, her eloquently rendered illustrations convey a richly emotional story. The framed sketches rely only on a small sampling of hues to enrich the characters, while the backgrounds are devoid of much detail. Yet, each vignette resonates with feeling thanks to Sakai’s deft artistry and expressiveness imbued in the drawings. The brevity of text combined with relatively simple illustrations make this tale perfectly suited to a toddler’s interest, working well for either cozy shared storytime or for larger groups during read-aloud sessions. (Picture book. 1-5)
Pub Date: May 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-8118-5219-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2006
Through quick thinking and personal sacrifice, a wise old Japanese farmer saves the people of his village from a devastating tsunami in this simple yet striking story based on Lafcadio Hearn’s “A Living God.” Ojiisan lives in a cottage on a mountain overlooking the village and sea. One day, villagers gather to celebrate the rice harvest, but Ojiisan stays home thinking “something does not feel right.” When the earth quakes and the sea darkens and runs away from the land, Ojiisan realizes a tsunami approaches. Fearing the oblivious villagers will be swept away, Ojiisan torches his rice fields to attract attention, and they respond, barely escaping the monster wave. Rendered in gouache, pastel and collage, Young’s illustrations cleverly combine natural textures, bold colors and abstract shapes to convey compelling images of chaos and disaster as the rice fields burn and the wave rushes in. In one literally breathtaking double-page spread, an enormous wall of water engulfs the teeny seacoast village. A visually powerful and dramatic tribute to one man’s willingness to sacrifice everything for others. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-399-25006-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
Momo longed to carry the blue umbrella and wear the bright red rubber boots she had been given on her third birthday. But day after day Indian summer continued. Momo tried to tell mother she needed to carry the umbrella to nursery school because the sunshine bothered her eyes. But Mother didn't let her use the umbrella then or when she said the wind bothered her. At last, though, rain fell on the city pavements and Momo carried her umbrella and wore her red boots to school. One feels the urgency of Momo's wish. The pictures are full of the city's moods and the child's joy in a rainy day.
Pub Date: March 1, 1958
ISBN: 978-0-14-050240-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1958
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