by Manuela Olten & illustrated by Manuela Olten ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 2, 2007
Along the lines of Ole Könnecke’s Anthony and the Girls (2006), here’s another import that takes a dig at masculine pretensions and is aimed at an older audience than its primary-reader look might suggest. Side by side in bed, two lads sneer at girls for combing their dolls’ hair all day and being such ’fraidy cats. The reckless claim that they’re even afraid of ghosts, though, brings a sudden change of mood, and a few pages later the two, having thoroughly frightened themselves, are climbing into bed with the very girl (presumably in the next bedroom) they’ve been dissing. Painting cartoon youngsters who look like chunky, tan eggplants, Olten alternates between the dynamic duo bouncing on the bed (and in one scene flashing butt cracks in tandem) and a girl with flyaway braids contentedly surrounded by dolls and teddy bears. The text runs to a few big words per page, capped by the smiling girl’s closing comment that “Boys are so silly.” For storytime chuckles, pair this with a tale in which the roles are reversed—if you can find one. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-905417-48-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boxer Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2007
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by Sabine Lipan ; illustrated by Manuela Olten
adapted by Rachel Isadora & illustrated by Rachel Isadora ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2008
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your dreads! Isadora once again plies her hand using colorful, textured collages to depict her fourth fairy tale relocated to Africa. The narrative follows the basic story line: Taken by an evil sorceress at birth, Rapunzel is imprisoned in a tower; Rapunzel and the prince “get married” in the tower and she gets pregnant. The sorceress cuts off Rapunzel’s hair and tricks the prince, who throws himself from the tower and is blinded by thorns. The terse ending states: “The prince led Rapunzel and their twins to his kingdom, where they were received with great joy and lived happily every after.” Facial features, clothing, dreadlocks, vultures and the prince riding a zebra convey a generic African setting, but at times, the mixture of patterns and textures obfuscates the scenes. The textile and grain characteristic of the hewn art lacks the elegant romance of Zelinksy’s Caldecott version. Not a first purchase, but useful in comparing renditions to incorporate a multicultural aspect. (Picture book/fairy tale. 6-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-399-24772-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2008
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by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora
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by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora
BOOK REVIEW
by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora
by Helen Ketteman & illustrated by James Warhola ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1997
A Cinderella parody features the off-the-wall, whang-dang Texas hyperbole of Ketteman (The Year of No More Corn, 1993, etc.) and the insouciance of Warhola, who proves himself only too capable of creating a fairy godcow; that she's so appealingly whimsical makes it easy to accept the classic tale's inversions. The protagonist is Bubba, appropriately downtrodden and overworked by his wicked stepdaddy and loathsome brothers Dwayne and Milton, who spend their days bossing him around. The other half of the happy couple is Miz Lurleen, who owns ``the biggest spread west of the Brazos.'' She craves male companionship to help her work the place, ``and it wouldn't hurt if he was cute as a cow's ear, either.'' There are no surprises in this version except in the hilarious way the premise plays itself out and in Warhola's delightful visual surprises. When Lurleen tracks the bootless Bubba down, ``Dwayne and Milton and their wicked daddy threw chicken fits.'' Bubba and babe, hair as big as a Texas sun, ride off to a life of happy ranching, and readers will be proud to have been along for the courtship. (Picture book/folklore. 6-8)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-590-25506-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1997
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by Helen Ketteman ; illustrated by Bonnie Leick
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by Helen Ketteman ; illustrated by Nate Wragg
BOOK REVIEW
by Helen Ketteman ; illustrated by Will Terry
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