An old favorite is given a refreshing new look with bold, colorful, graphic art in gouache on watercolor paper. The storyline stays largely true to the conventional tale, but is less gory than some versions and is told with a slightly ironic tone. The Queen asks her “personal guard in the castle” to take Snow White into the woods and leave her to the wild animals—later, when the Queen runs into the forest to stop the upcoming nuptials of Snow White and the prince, “All she found however were the wild beasts, and she was never seen or heard from again.” The eye-catching art features rectilinear, two-dimensional figures formed by geographic shapes: heads are circles, ears are small triangles, bodies are square or triangular, and a contiguous black line runs throughout the pages, outlining the dwarfs’ facial features, some animals’ bodies, the magic mirror, and other elements. The effect is somewhat static, although the bright colors and bold, clean design do work well with the spare yet complete text. (Picture book/fairytale. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-8109-4241-0
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2003
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
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)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
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