A timeless tale of creativity unfurled. While this posthumous publication was written decades ago, it is unerringly relevant to today’s child. Robin’s parents are aghast at his rampant mischief-making; he commandeers the cat’s toys, turns the tub into a garden, and paints wherever he chooses. At wit’s end, his exasperated parents decide to give him his own room, which he promptly redecorates. “A child’s room made by a child,” marvels his mother, awestruck. What Robin unveils is a child’s delight, catering to every conceivable creative outlet. However, Robin’s pièce de résistance is the massive clock on his wall, tracking his busy day with one key element missing. “From four o-clock to suppertime he painted a space. That was when he could do whatever he wanted to do all by himself alone in his room.” Did this wise author foresee the modern-day dilemma of overscheduled children? Brown’s offbeat tale of an eccentric, precocious child hones in on an essential issue: the need for some unstructured time, a time of freedom, to let imagination roam unfettered and to flourish. It is, however, the art that really makes this special. A perfect complement, the boldly colored illustrations, off-kiltered perspectives, and truly unique layout—which has readers turning the book upside-down to continue—are all a keen reflection of Robin’s individuality and creativity. Filled with incredible options, this can’t help but inspire young decorators who’ve outgrown the “great green room.” (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-7868-0602-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2002
A validating and breathtaking next chapter of a Mother Goose favorite.
Humpty Dumpty, classically portrayed as an egg, recounts what happened after he fell off the wall in Santat’s latest.
An avid ornithophile, Humpty had loved being atop a high wall to be close to the birds, but after his fall and reassembly by the king’s men, high places—even his lofted bed—become intolerable. As he puts it, “There were some parts that couldn’t be healed with bandages and glue.” Although fear bars Humpty from many of his passions, it is the birds he misses the most, and he painstakingly builds (after several papercut-punctuated attempts) a beautiful paper plane to fly among them. But when the plane lands on the very wall Humpty has so doggedly been avoiding, he faces the choice of continuing to follow his fear or to break free of it, which he does, going from cracked egg to powerful flight in a sequence of stunning spreads. Santat applies his considerable talent for intertwining visual and textual, whimsy and gravity to his consideration of trauma and the oft-overlooked importance of self-determined recovery. While this newest addition to Santat’s successes will inevitably (and deservedly) be lauded, younger readers may not notice the de-emphasis of an equally important part of recovery: that it is not compulsory—it is OK not to be OK.
A validating and breathtaking next chapter of a Mother Goose favorite. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62672-682-6
Page Count: 45
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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