bookshelf

FRITZI FOX FLEW IN FROM FLORIDA

Name: FRITZI FOX FLEW IN FROM FLORIDA
Author: Leah Komaiko
ISBN: 0-06-021506-2

by Leah Komaiko & illustrated by Thacher Hurd ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 1995

bookshelf

On a winter night, a young fox apprehensively watches an eccentric visitor, Fritzi, parachute down from an airplane with a 14-ton straw suitcase. At first she's pretty quiet, but after they bunk down in the young kit's bedroom, Fritzi begins a Mary Poppins- like unpacking: out comes a blazing tropical sun, sand dunes, a blue lagoon, four alligators and assorted other delights from Florida. Hurd's happy, snappy cartoons evoke Fritzi's pizazz more solidly than Komaiko's verse, which doesn't always swing. Events are sacrificed to the dogged pursuit of rhyme, and the feeling of forced wackiness may hinder readers' tolerance for this visitor from the south. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 1995

ISBN: 0-06-021506-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1995

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
MALIBU CARMIE
by Leah Komaiko

- BOOK REVIEW
ANNIE BANANIE MOVES TO BARRY AVENUE
by Leah Komaiko & illustrated by Abby Carter

- BOOK REVIEW
ON SALLY PERRY'S FARM
by Leah Komaiko & illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith

bookshelf

A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

bookshelf

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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

bookshelf

BERRY MAGIC

by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

bookshelf

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)