Something about the slant of Quinn's raised eyebrow lets readers know that he's not on the up-and-up when he invites Jack to stay at his house on Broomstick Island. Jack is eager to escape from his parents and the boring cruise they're on, and Broomstick Island is a kid's paradise. Quinn, with the help of a spell, takes Jack's place for the cruise, but then settles into Jack's life even when the vacation is over. Luckily, a savvy neighbor, Clara, has a balloon-boat that allows Jack to fly home and confront Quinn. The text and art, as in The Dream Pillow (1994), teeter on the edge of scariness. A foreboding color scheme points the way to mischief, even scary mischief, that never occurs; Quinn seems on par with Pinocchio's Lampwick, and Broomstick Island a possible Pleasure Island, except neither the cigar-smoking nor donkey ears ever materializes. Present is a child's fear of being easily displaced, but Modarressi veers away from it, and when the boys end up friends, the story begins to feel like an expurgated fairy tale. Unresolved are where Quinn's own parents are and whether or not he'll go on thieving. Even though the illustrations clamor for a wrestle with childhood's dark side, the restraints are never loosened. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-531-09476-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1995
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
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)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
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