After little Abby not only cuts the hair of Kate's favorite doll but borrows Kate's toothbrush (``Maybe it fell in the toilet,'' Abby suggests when confronted), Kate has had enough. Adapting their lemonade stand, she offers Abby at a bargain price. Friend Chad points out the difficulties (``It's against the law...Your mom and dad are going to be mad. They like her''); another nice neighbor suggests that $1.99 is ``too much for such a little Homo sapiens''—he'd prefer lemonade; and Abby begins to bargain and to make friends again with her not-so-unwilling sister. But it's white-haired Nonna next door who clinches Kate's feelings by making what she describes as a final purchase: and it's not long before Kate, definitely lonely now, is knocking on Nonna's door to get Abby back. The rather long text moves quickly, enlivened by its apt, amusing dialogue. In her brisk, colorful pen-and-watercolor illustrations, Fiammenghi affectionately exaggerates the girls' expressions, setting the events in an all-white city neighborhood of row houses. A warm, satisfying story of natural rivalry resolved—for the moment. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-525-65078-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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