On a class trip to the science museum’s Gross-Me-Out exhibit, Stink Moody’s skill at identifying smells earns him a new nickname, “The Nose,” and a chance to be the judge at a local stinky-sneakers contest. Fans of Judy Moody’s second-grade brother will be delighted by this third edition of his adventures, featuring familiar characters and plenty of new information about toilet water, corpse flowers and other smelly substances, as well as a surprising career opportunity. Who knew that NASA had a master sniffer? The narrative features plenty of banter between siblings and engaging language play. Short chapters, large type and Reynolds’s cheerful cartoon illustrations add to the appeal for the beginning readers but, like its predecessors, this should also be a popular read-aloud. (Fiction. 5-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2834-5
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In perceptive, skillfully composed color photos captioned with a brief text, a realistic portrait of seven-year-old Norman and his life year-round. Kendall's outstanding photos are the strength here. Norman is winsomely photogenic; portraits of older family members suggest complex characters and experience: an adult brother is alert but reserved; a sturdy grandmother has a no-nonsense face mellowed by warmly twinkling eyes. The village of Shishmaret (clearly located on a map) is observed in winter's half-light and on a bright day when snow covers the ground and dogs are tethered everywhere, with utilitarian houses clustered together (no igloos). Norman is also shown at school, fishing, and going to the nearest dentist in an airplane. The text is serviceable, though sometimes written down (why not say what Norman's mother is cutting, instead of calling it ``something''?). But a succinct afterword on ``Modern-day Eskimos'' is telling in its description of rapid changes that have left many English-speaking children unable to converse in a common language with their own grandparents. A note on the photos is welcome, especially for its explanation of a time photo of the night sky including an aurora. Less prettified than Keegan's photo essays on Native Americans (Pueblo Boy, 1991); like Aylette Jenness's book about a Yup'ik family (In Two Worlds, 1989, for older children), excellent source material. Pronouncing glossary of 21 Inupiaqu words. (Nonfiction. 5-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-590-43695-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The Russian-American team whose 1989 collaboration, Here Comes the Cat, was ``the first Soviet/American children's book'' elaborates the story of the town mouse and the country mouse, setting it within another story about two present-day mouse brothers fascinated by letters they find in the attic of their farmhouse. The correspondence, which they enjoy reading late at night in their bunk beds by flashlight, is between their great- great-grandfather and his brother, who had moved to the city. The letters tell how each brother gets engaged and then married; other mild adventures serve to contrast their lifestyles. Meanwhile, past and present are also compared—the older mice address each other with affection but more formality, while the younger ones trade casual insults despite their underlying friendship; the meticulously designed illustrations for the present are as crisp and bright as color photos, while the letters are enlivened with marginal illustrations in a more informal style. Nicely contrived to point out that people who lead very different lives can still care about one another, and that family history can be intriguing. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-590-43107-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1992
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