For over four decades, generations of readers worldwide have embraced the bumbling, lovable Paddington, who hasn’t changed much over the years. Here, he once again lands himself in a bit of a scrape and once again finds an affable way to get out of it. The story opens with Paddington making a list of all the splendid things in his life for which he is thankful, including the Browns’ lovely garden. The adventure begins when the Browns give Paddington his own tiny plot of land to plant as he pleases. Not sure how to proceed, Paddington begins researching how best to utilize his newfound land. It isn’t long before his knack for mishaps has him climbing the scaffolding of a building site. It is his signature love of homemade marmalade and the help of a friendly foreman that eventually sees Paddington out of his predicament. By creating an unusual garden Paddington finds he has yet another item to add to his already lengthy list of splendid things. Bond and Alley (Paddington Bear Goes to the Hospital, p. 654, etc.) combine their talents once again to successfully introduce Paddington to younger readers. The trimmed-down text makes this a perfect place for Alley’s jovial and detailed watercolor illustrations and an amusing way to look forward to the advent of spring gardening. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-06-029696-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A boy figures he's got the scoop on his teacher's life once the last bell rings: Mrs. Quirk tidies the halls with the rest of the teachers, works out with the gym teacher, sups on leftovers from the cafeteria, listens to a story, and, along with her colleagues, unfurls an air mattress from her desk drawer at bedtime. One day the boy spies his teacher, Mrs. Quirk, at the supermarket. Later he observes her buying a pair of roller skates, then watches on another day as Mrs. Quirk skates in the company of a little girl (who looks like her) and a man who puts his arm around her. Krensky (The Printer's Apprentice, 1995, etc.) faithfully captures the discombobulation that attends running into authority figures outside their contexts. The narrative is fresh and bright, its tempo clips along, and when the boy unexpectedly catches his teacher out of school, he never misses a beat. Adinolfi's eccentric, color-drenched artwork makes the after-hours classrooms look somewhat eerie, but mostly snug. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-689-80271-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1996
A stuffed bear alone on a tiny island with a single palm tree wishes for something to play with. A bottle floats ashore, and then a spotted wooden horse that becomes Little Bear's first friend. Overnight the sea turns into a floating tag sale, and Little Bear hauls in as much junk as he can grab—so much, in fact, that the wooden horse is crowded off the island when Little Bear isn't looking. Only when Little Bear has gone to the opposite extreme and purges himself of everything he hoarded does his friend float back. ``I only need you, Wooden Horse,'' Little Bear concludes, perhaps not quite as single-minded as before. Horse's first book has a message, one worth repeating. With sweet, engaging pictures. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1996
ISBN: 1-56402-876-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1996
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