Elucidating, descriptive and full of details to fascinate, if it lacks the artistry of such other flights as Airport, by...
What is it like to fly in a plane?
From starting-off point to final destination, this descriptive tale provides a well-thought-out, gently humorous depiction of an airplane trip. When Janet asks her Aunt Laura what it was like to fly up for a visit, Aunt Laura answers in great detail, going through each step of the process, from packing and security to bathroom breaks and landing, giving particular attention to the smells, sounds, sights and little surprises she encountered on her journey. Simplified, digital illustrations replete with relevant detail work closely with the text to show what the experience is like; general descriptions appear atop the pages, while speech bubbles reveal Aunt Laura’s and Uncle Mark’s thoughts and comments. The humorous detail and in-depth description will fascinate any child interested in airports and planes. Initially created for the author’s niece and illustrator’s daughter, who has Asperger’s syndrome and is anxious, this was intended to help prepare children for an unfamiliar experience and focuses on sensory issues that may come up, always in a positive manner. Though the story skews younger, older children with similar disabilities or anxieties may find it helpful as well. Endnotes contain suggestions for helping a child become less apprehensive and more acclimated to the experience of flying.
Elucidating, descriptive and full of details to fascinate, if it lacks the artistry of such other flights as Airport, by Byron Barton. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-84905-913-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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