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GREEDYGUTS

Name: GREEDYGUTS
Author: Martina Selway
ISBN: 0-09-174151-3

by Martina Selway & illustrated by Martina Selway ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 1992

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The peace of the long-ago village of Wigwig is disturbed by a giant, ``only about as tall as a house'' but as grotesquely obese as his name implies. Like greedy landlords anywhere, he commandeers the bulk of the local produce for his own use, leaving the angry villagers helpless before his superior power— at least until young Jack, inspired by the acrobats in a traveling fair, organizes his neighbors to pose as a mightier giant: standing pyramid-style on each other's shoulders, their backs to the setting sun, they so terrify Greedyguts that he runs away, never to return. The hairy, bulbous giant—on the cover, he's shown gorging himself—is in marked contrast to Selway's idyllic, attractively painted farmland and sensible, sturdy- looking villagers. An amusing story as well as an effective fable about injustice overcome with guile and good humor instead of by violence. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1992

ISBN: 0-09-174151-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Hutchinson/Trafalgar

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1991

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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A DOG NAMED SAM

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

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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

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BERRY MAGIC

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

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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)