A well-crafted tale that delivers an old, important message in a fresh, attractively imagined vehicle.
A sleepy child, addressed by the ornaments on her Christmas tree, teaches them and young readers about the true meaning of the holiday.
In this pleasant, handsomely illustrated picture book, a little girl overhears the ornaments on her Christmas tree arguing about who is most special, or the true star of Christmas. Soon the ornaments decide to ask the child to declare who is the Christmas VIP. Is it China Doll, full of sparkle and shine, or Gift Box, hiding a surprise inside? The magical Jolly Old Elf, or the merry and bright Silver Bell? Candidates also include increasingly viable choices, such as the cuddly teddy bear (who speaks of representing beloved family and friends of Christmas gatherings), a Wise King, representing charity, a Gentle Dove symbolizing peace and even the Crystal Angel who tops the tree. The girl keeps trying to tell them who the true star is, but is interrupted by the decorations until she finally points to a small ornament hanging on the bare broken branches near the tree’s bottom. It’s this child, she whispers, held in a simple wooden manger, who is the true star of Christmas. This story’s delicate, detailed illustrations and its fun-filled enumeration of what children often love best about Christmas will encourage young readers to guess where the story is going, while highlighting their favorite parts of this special holiday. By allowing the young child to deliver her spiritual message, DiVencenzo avoids sounding preachy; her restraint making this tale all the more touching and more accessible to young readers. The watercolor illustrations are full of texture and will attract children, who will find new surprises on each page. The girl, whose toes peek out of the feet of her spotted pajamas, is especially well illustrated; she is a charming narrator for this simple yet touching book.
A well-crafted tale that delivers an old, important message in a fresh, attractively imagined vehicle.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9816003-0-7
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
In a snowbound Swiss village, Matti figures it’s a good day to make a gingerbread man. He and his mother mix a batch of gingerbread and tuck it in the oven, but Matti is too impatient to wait ten minutes without peeking. When he opens the door, out pops a gingerbread baby, taunting the familiar refrain, “Catch me if you can.” The brash imp races all over the village, teasing animals and tweaking the noses of the citizenry, until there is a fair crowd on his heels intent on giving him a drubbing. Always he remains just out of reach as he races over the winterscape, beautifully rendered with elegant countryside and architectural details by Brett. All the while, Matti is busy back home, building a gingerbread house to entice the nervy cookie to safe harbor. It works, too, and Matti is able to spirit the gingerbread baby away from the mob. The mischief-maker may be a brat, but the gingerbread cookie is also the agent of good cheer, and Brett allows that spirit to run free on these pages. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-399-23444-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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