by Laura Scandiffio & illustrated by Nicholas Debon ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2003
From Lao Tzu to Bruce Lee, Scandiffio traces the history of the major branches of Asian martial arts, making a brave (if futile) effort to distinguish fact from legend. Arranged in topical spreads, her account establishes the connections between the various styles and Taoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism, differentiates between the “soft” and “hard” approaches, and covers the modern transformation of some martial arts into formalized competitions. Many of Debon’s small scenes show women or mixed groups, and the author likewise alternates the gender of her pronouns to emphasize that these arts are not exclusively male territory. Rather than describe specific moves, Scandiffio takes the safer course, filling in historical background and giving young readers looking for a martial art that’s right for them a glimpse of their options—without, however, providing the lists of books, Web sites, or organization addresses necessary to take the natural next step. These missing elements reduce this to the status of an acceptable alternative, but not a replacement, for such introductions as Susan Ribner’s thoughtful Martial Arts (1978) or David Mitchell’s Young Martial Arts Enthusiast (1997). (Nonfiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: May 1, 2003
ISBN: 1-55037-777-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Annick Press
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2003
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by Jerry Pallotta ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 2000
Who is next in the ocean food chain? Pallotta has a surprising answer in this picture book glimpse of one curious boy. Danny, fascinated by plankton, takes his dory and rows out into the ocean, where he sees shrimp eating those plankton, fish sand eels eating shrimp, mackerel eating fish sand eels, bluefish chasing mackerel, tuna after bluefish, and killer whales after tuna. When an enormous humpbacked whale arrives on the scene, Danny’s dory tips over and he has to swim for a large rock or become—he worries’someone’s lunch. Surreal acrylic illustrations in vivid blues and red extend the story of a small boy, a small boat, and a vast ocean, in which the laws of the food chain are paramount. That the boy has been bathtub-bound during this entire imaginative foray doesn’t diminish the suspense, and the facts Pallotta presents are solidly researched. A charming fish tale about the one—the boy—that got away. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-88106-075-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2000
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by Jerry Pallotta & Sammie Garnett ; illustrated by Vickie Fraser
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by Jerry Pallotta ; illustrated by Rob Bolster
by Sallie Ketcham ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999
PLB 0-531-33140-7 Ketcham’s first book is based on an allegedly true story of a childhood incident in the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. It starts with a couple of pages regaling the Bach home and all the Johanns in the family, who made their fame through music. After his father’s death, Johann Sebastian goes to live with his brother, Johann Christoph, where he boasts that he is the best organist in the world. Johann Christoph contradicts him: “Old Adam Reincken is the best.” So Johann Sebastian sets out to hear the master himself. In fact, he is humbled to tears, but there is hope that he will be the world’s best organist one day. Johann Sebastian emerges as little more than a brat, Reincken as more of a suggestion than a character. Bush’s illustrations are most transporting when offering details of the landscape, but his protagonist is too impish to give the story much authority. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-531-30140-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
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