Crisp (Totally Polar, 2001, etc.) offers a crisply written collection of canine trivia that will intrigue young readers who like to learn odd facts about favorite animals. A question in large type at the top of each page or spread is followed by a chatty answer, informally conveying information on dog—including canine anatomy, behavior, and history. Some questions are obvious choices, (“Why do dogs like people?” and “Why do dogs have cold, wet noses?”) while others are more thoughtful, (“Can dogs recognize other people in your family by their smell?” or “Can dogs see what people see?”). The volume’s jazzy design utilizes some creative concepts that add touches of color throughout, with the introduction and resource pages printed on bright yellow or red backgrounds. Both full-color and black-and-white photographs are used, including shots of dogs with children and with adult owners. Unfortunately the quality of the photographs is not uniform throughout, particularly in the black and white shots, and most regrettably in an unnecessarily unattractive photograph of the author on the final page. A minor drawback—this first entry in the Kids’ FAQs series will be useful for both recreational reading and school reports on man’s (and many a kid’s) best friend. (bibliography) (Nonfiction. 7-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 2003
ISBN: 1-55971-839-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: NorthWord
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2003
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading.
When Franklin School principal Mr. Boone announces a pet-show fundraiser, white third-grader Cody—whose lack of skill and interest in academics is matched by keen enthusiasm for and knowledge of animals—discovers his time to shine.
As with other books in this series, the children and adults are believable and well-rounded. Even the dialogue is natural—no small feat for a text easily accessible to intermediate readers. Character growth occurs, organically and believably. Students occasionally, humorously, show annoyance with teachers: “He made mad squinty eyes at Mrs. Molina, which fortunately she didn’t see.” Readers will be kept entertained by Cody’s various problems and the eventual solutions. His problems include needing to raise $10 to enter one of his nine pets in the show (he really wants to enter all of them), his troublesome dog Angus—“a dog who ate homework—actually, who ate everything and then threw up afterward”—struggles with homework, and grappling with his best friend’s apparently uncaring behavior toward a squirrel. Serious values and issues are explored with a light touch. The cheery pencil illustrations show the school’s racially diverse population as well as the memorable image of Mr. Boone wearing an elephant costume. A minor oddity: why does a child so immersed in animal facts call his male chicken a rooster but his female chickens chickens?
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: June 14, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-374-30223-8
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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