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SEA MAIDENS OF JAPAN

Name: SEA MAIDENS OF JAPAN
Author: Lili Bell
ISBN: 1-57102-095-0

by Lili Bell & illustrated by Erin McGonigle Brammer ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1997

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Two newcomers immerse readers in the centuries-old tradition of the Japanese ama, divers (usually women) who plunge to the ocean floor to retrieve shellfish, seaweed, and fish. Kiyomi, training to become an ama, is taken by her mother one night to see the sea turtles come in to lay their eggs. Two months later, Kiyomi witnesses the birth of a turtle with a star marking on its back. When the time comes for Kiyomi to make her first dive, fear overtakes her, and she can't force herself into the murky waters. The reappearance of the star-marked turtle gives Kiyomi courage to dive. Brammer's misty illustrations contribute a dreaminess to this tale that helps make the fairy-tale return of the turtle plausible, while the author's explanation of terms and their pronunciations fill in the gaps for readers unacquainted with Japanese culture and language. A strong adventure about a child's plunge (literally and figuratively) into adult responsibilities. (Picture book. 6-10)

Pub Date: April 1, 1997

ISBN: 1-57102-095-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1997

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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WILD, WILD WOLVES

by Joyce Milton & illustrated by Larry Schwinger ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1992

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At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)

Pub Date: April 1, 1992

ISBN: 0-679-91052-2

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
DINOSAUR DAYS
by Joyce Milton ; illustrated by Franco Tempesta

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RIVER STORY

by Meredith Hooper & illustrated by Bee Willey ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2000

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Trickling, bubbling, swirling, rushing, a river flows down from its mountain beginnings, past peaceful country and bustling city on its way to the sea. Hooper (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) artfully evokes the water’s changing character as it transforms from “milky-cold / rattling-bold” to a wide, slow “sliding past mudflats / looping through marshes” to the end of its journey. Willey, best known for illustrating Geraldine McCaughrean’s spectacular folk-tale collections, contributes finely detailed scenes crafted in shimmering, intricate blues and greens, capturing mountain’s chill, the bucolic serenity of passing pastures, and a sense of mystery in the water’s shadowy depths. Though Hooper refers to “the cans and cartons / and bits of old wood” being swept along, there’s no direct conservation agenda here (for that, see Debby Atwell’s River, 1999), just appreciation for the river’s beauty and being. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)