by Natasha Yim ; illustrated by Pirkko Vainio ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2017
Deftly written but not quite traditional, a pleasing romantic story.
A loving wife is turned to stone by a merciful goddess in this story spun from a Hong Kong legend.
Although that sounds the opposite of merciful, the goddess of fishermen, Tin Hau, is trying to help Ling Yee, a young and beautiful wife whose husband has disappeared in a terrible storm. Every day, Ling Yee, with her baby strapped to her back, climbs to a promontory where she can look out over the ocean and search for her husband’s sampan. For months, the young woman with the infant keeps watch and grows sadder. Her parents seek assistance from Tin Hau, also known as goddess of the sea, and the deity finally helps—in her own way. “One day, she decided that they should mourn no more.” The goddess turns the two into a rock formation, known in Hong Kong as Amah Rock, a tourist destination to this day. Amah usually means “nanny,” someone who takes care of children, but it can also mean “mother.” In this adaptation of the tale, Yim creates “a happier ending—where the husband finds his way home to his loyal wife and son,” and Tin Hau brings Ling Yee and her child back to life. Softly toned watercolors illustrate the sad story–turned-happy with grays and blues, modulating to warm yellow, orange, and red tones in the joyful moments.
Deftly written but not quite traditional, a pleasing romantic story. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-937786-65-6
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Wisdom Tales
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
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by Natasha Yim ; illustrated by Jingting Wang
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by Stuart J. Murphy & illustrated by Marsha Winborn ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 31, 2001
Jack is having a bad Monday morning in this MathStart (Level two) title, which painlessly slides probability into the story. Jack’s late for school; his dad is fixing lunch, which means he may get something he doesn’t like; and he gets milk all over his math homework. Finding out lunch is tuna fish (which he hates), Jack dreams of trading with Emma, a girl in his class who had pastrami four days last week (Jack’s favorite). He trades sandwiches with Emma without asking, and gets liverwurst, something even worse than tuna. Then he is off to after-school soccer, where he tries to decide where to stand in line so that he and his friend will be on the same team. Jack figures, based on past sessions, the coach will probably have them count off by twos, but again he is fooled as the coach has them count off by threes. Other probability opportunities include which snack hew will get, what’s for dinner, and what’s for dessert. The day ends pleasantly as Jack’s mother brings his favorite pistachio ice cream. The author includes an afterword with questions for adults and kids to reinforce the concept of probability. He also suggests games and activities to extend the concept. Colorful pencil and watercolor illustrations show an appealing group of interracial young children, parents, and teachers. Children will enjoy the story whether or not it helps their understanding of probability. The popular author of other MathStart titles (Missing Mittens, see above, etc.) will find a ready audience for this effort. (Nonfiction. 6-8)
Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2001
ISBN: 0-06-028028-X
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2000
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by Stuart J. Murphy ; illustrated by Tim Jones
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by Stuart J. Murphy ; illustrated by Stuart J. Murphy
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by Stuart J. Murphy & illustrated by Tim Jones
by Mac Barnett & illustrated by Kevin Cornell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2011
The king can’t beat them, so he joins them, clueless until the end, and kids will giggle all the way. (Picture book. 6-8)
Barnett delivers a sweet slap to vanity.
This king is neither toady nor tyrant, but he just can’t get enough of himself. He gazes into the mirror that one of his retainers totes by his side, smitten and remiss. For as he takes in the royal visage, the royal roads are crumbling and the royal playground has broken swings—his kingdom is a wreck of neglect. “Enough!” cry his subjects, but all the king offers is a giant billboard of his face. That night, a giant mustache is painted on the royal puss. Outraged, the king wants the culprit flung in jail. The wanted posters, of course, feature the king’s face. More mustaches materialize. “So he slouched in the Royal Throne. ‘Look at my wonderful face,’ he said. ‘Who could be doing this to me?’ ” Well, everyone. Cornell ushers the story forward with cinematic artwork, framed in elaborate medieval-like borders but paced sequentially like a comic book. As the town inadvertently re-creates itself—everybody admits their guilt, everybody must go to jail, which means a big expansion project for the prison, which results in a whole new village—there comes a bloodless revolution.
The king can’t beat them, so he joins them, clueless until the end, and kids will giggle all the way. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4231-1671-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2011
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by Mac Barnett ; illustrated by Shawn Harris
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by Mac Barnett ; illustrated by Jon Klassen
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by Mac Barnett ; illustrated by Christian Robinson
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