A poetic takeoff on “A Visit from St. Nicholas” makes Jesus, rather than Santa, the central figure in this picture book for children ages 5 to 8.
Using some of the lines and rhymes but shifting the scene to the night before the first Christmas, first-time author Vonk reclaims the holiday from its focus on gift-giving in Clement Moore’s poem. Readers who know Moore’s poem will recognize the source in the first stanza: “ ’Twas the night before Christmas / when all through the town / Not a creature was stirring / or making a sound.” The references to the original continue, as Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem and settle down in a stable behind the inn; as shepherds respond to the appearance of angels and make their way to see the babe; as wise men see a new star and follow it, visit Herod, bring gifts to the child and heed the warning not to return to Herod. The poem ends with the proclamation of the birth of Jesus: “Happy wise men were they / as they drove out of sight – / Proclaimed they to all, / ‘We have seen The Great Light.’ ” The book ends with a quotation from the Gospel of John about God’s love for the world resulting in the gift of his son. An illustration on the right-hand page of every spread, as well as a repeated star and decorative elements that frame the text, helps tie the book together visually. The illustrations, which appear to be digital art, are clear enough that a younger child could easily follow the story by viewing the pictures. The straightforward text also clearly conveys the details of the story, despite the poetry, although it suffers from a few contortions of language in order to maintain the stanza pattern (“Being warned in a dream, / the wise men did know. / Don’t return to King Herod”) and some may find the colloquial tone of “To see Yahweh’s Savior, / His number one pick” and the wise men turning “with a jerk”—used to force a rhyme—a bit jarring.
An appealing Christmas message—simplified and rendered in poetry—for Christian youngsters.
Pub Date: Aug. 8, 2014
ISBN: 978-0615856070
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Mary Beth Vonk
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Roman charms with an imaginative, whimsical picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates.
Debut author Roman pens a picture book about an imaginative boy who transforms his bed and stuffed animals into props for a marvelous pirate adventure.
Roman draws the reader in from the first page with illustrations that are cheerful and clever. The story showcases a young pirate and his menagerie: cousin Hallie, a first mate who sports a purple bandanna and ruffled pirate shirt; Linus, the loudmouthed but scaredy-cat lion with a braided goatee; Fribbet, the floppy frog with an audacious red pirate hat; and Mongo, the mast-climbing monkey who charms with an eye patch and endearingly oversized lips. Roman deftly creates an appealing visual experience with engaging, bright illustrations that will appeal to young readers. The characters are rich with animated expressions and personalities that showcase the creative and warmhearted ways the characters have fun. Well-drafted secondary characters also include the “mermaid” who appears with a plate of golden doubloons (in the form of cookies) and orders the pirate not to get crumbs on the bed when eating them. The text has a lovely intonation when read aloud, and the simple, understandable story also carries a more complex, clever subtext that will allow for educational discussions. The captain’s constant good-natured lament that “being a captain is hard work”—as he watches his crew do all the actual labor—is hilarious and a pleasant opportunity to teach children about the nuances of words and their layers of meaning. The author’s adept use of genuine pirate terms—“swab the decks,” “pump the bilges” and “me hearties”—adds flavor and authenticity to the story, too. The captain and his crew sit down with a dictionary to figure out what “shiver me timbers” means, and then they take great delight upon using the phrase correctly; children will, too.
Roman charms with an imaginative, whimsical picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates.Pub Date: April 12, 2012
ISBN: 978-0615534657
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Michael/Okon
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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PERSPECTIVES
A sweet story that takes on life’s bigger lessons.
Following in the footsteps of Aesop, Ricahard O. Marsh’s (ROM) debut early reader presents an amusing reminder that what goes around comes around.
Under the shade of an African mahogany tree, near a large watering hole in the middle of the Okavango Delta, there lives a wise, friendly tortoise. The tortoise is on sociable terms with the numerous animals species that come to drink at the watering hole—elephants, giraffes, monkeys and lions included. When the tortoise receives an unexpected dinner invitation from a young, cocky baboon, he eagerly treks all the way to the baboon’s palm tree home. However, the baboon refuses to come down from the top of the palm tree with all the delicious food. The tortoise, obviously unable to climb the tree, is forced to make a long and hungry journey back home. After giving it some thought, the clever tortoise decides the baboon should be taught a lesson. He enlists the assistance of the other animals, all of whom dislike the loud and obnoxious baboon. The elephants, giraffes, monkeys, and even the cranky honey badger and quiet bushman agree to help the tortoise. A happy cabal is formed as the residents of the Okavango Delta set out to cleverly teach the baboon a lesson on respect and manners. Vundi, a safari guide and native of the Bantu tribe, learned the tale from his grandfather and later passed it on to ROM. It’s a gentle reminder to treat others with respect and dignity, though the story also provides insight into the personalities and mannerisms of a variety of African animals. Colorful photographs are peppered throughout the book, accompanying ROM’s vivid descriptions. The moral of the story is clearly conveyed, and ROM’s fable serves as a wonderful teaching resource. Children will enjoy the simple yet engaging narrative while parents will appreciate the values it upholds and lessons it delivers.
A sweet story that takes on life’s bigger lessons.Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-1479344703
Page Count: 82
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: March 21, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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