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GRANDFATHER'S PENCIL

Name: GRANDFATHER'S PENCIL
Author: Michael Foreman
ISBN: 0-15-200061-5

AND THE ROOM OF STORIES

by Michael Foreman & illustrated by Michael Foreman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1994

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From award-winning British author/illustrator Foreman (War Game, 1994, etc.) comes another story of Jack and his tale-spinning grandfather. When Grandfather was a little boy, he wrote a letter to his father. While he slept, his pencil began writing of its own accord, recounting the tale of its origins, as well as those of the door and the floorboards. The window blew open and a strong wind rushed in, knocking the pencil to the floor and carrying the paper, all covered with stories, back to the forest. Grandfather tells Jack about the pencil that disappeared, and when Jack runs home to his room, there, under the floorboards, is the pencil! He uses it to write a thank-you note to his grandfather and leaves it lying on the paper when he goes to sleep. In the middle of the night, when all is quiet, the pencil begins to write again. A hauntingly beautiful tale about the secret, imagined lives of (seemingly) inanimate objects. The rich, saturated watercolors are suggestive of the power of the night and the hidden magic of dreams. (Fiction/Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1994

ISBN: 0-15-200061-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1994

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE MO AND THE GREAT SNOW MONSTER
by Michael Foreman ; illustrated by Michael Foreman

- BOOK REVIEW
STUBBY
by Michael Foreman ; illustrated by Michael Foreman

- BOOK REVIEW
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
by Robert Louis Stevenson ; illustrated by Michael Foreman

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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)