Definitely worth a second look among the extensive array of books about large vehicles.
A burly man in a plaid shirt and baseball cap addresses his tractor as “Ol’ Partner,” reminding his green-painted friend of all the jobs they do together over the course of one agricultural year, from spring to winter.
The type on the cover emphasizes the word “big,” and the tractor’s increasing size on the title and acknowledgment pages confirms that the tractor is indeed the book’s star. In the first spread of the actual story, it looms so large in the foreground that just a fraction of its large girth is depicted, while in the background, the farmer slides open a door and says, in boldly lettered words, “Wake up, Ol’ Partner. It’s springtime!” Impressive graphics on a series of spreads show different tools hooked up to the tractor as it assists with tasks throughout the seasons, ending with a lovely post-harvest activity. Young children will enjoy the frequent appearances of a woman in pink and a child—probably male—in green, who sometimes help with activities and are obviously part of the farm family. The boy, who shows subtle growth over the seasons, can be spotted relaxing under an umbrella attached to Ol’ Partner during one of the tractor’s rest periods, and the woman drives Ol’ Partner in an appealing, crepuscular scene of autumn harvest, with patterns of cornstalks backlit by the man’s harvester.
Definitely worth a second look among the extensive array of books about large vehicles. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-62091-790-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
This ode to the range emphasizes the enduring allure of the American West.
A little boy longs for a life out on the open frontier.
Luke's dreams transport him from his family near the ocean to his new role as a cowboy at the Wymont Ranch. Photographs capture the change of scenery and his routine; his initially serious, quiet reality (reflected in black-and-white images) morphs into crisp, colored shots. The child is almost too small for his Western britches (accessorized with dangling lasso and wide-brimmed black cowboy hat). He stares intently at the audience, the accompanying one-word block of text (“Tex”) reveals his adopted name. His somber expressions continue until care for his pony Thunder evokes unadulterated joy. Brief statements (“Tex loves mountains”) placed against solid backgrounds describe typical activities but allow the photographs to do most of the talking. The young ranchhand remains hard at work, completing typical chores, then sprawls in relaxation; he herds cattle, irrigates fields and lounges with his cowdog Sue. While he leads his pony into the great unknown, the final page turn returns to sleeping Luke; his wrangler-designed sheets the only remnant of his alter ego. The photographs capture breathtaking natural beauty, though some posed pictures more readily recall advertisements than the genuine experience of a youngster at play.
This ode to the range emphasizes the enduring allure of the American West. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-57076-501-8
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2011
A pleasant way to practice counting skills, with additional beginning math concepts quietly woven into both text and...
Twelve adorable bunnies, each with a different color or pattern of fur, play together in their rambling Victorian house in this sweet counting book.
Soft-focus watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are filled with traditional toys and cozy furniture, with each spread focusing on a different room of the house. The simple text for each room presents a list of 12 related items to search for, such as “7 buckets, 2 brooms, 2 mops, and a duster without any feathers.” One of the bunnies, a pure-white charmer named Sophia, is too busy to interact with her siblings because she is searching in each room for a mysterious lost item. Sophia finds the missing item (a book) under her quilt, and the final pages depict all 12 bunnies cuddled up together as Sophia reads to her brothers and sisters. Preschoolers who are learning to count will enjoy finding all the named items and counting up all the bunnies in each room. Budding mathematicians will find other sets of 12 cleverly incorporated in the illustrations: 12 toothbrushes, 12 bunny portraits and 12 windows in the house.
A pleasant way to practice counting skills, with additional beginning math concepts quietly woven into both text and illustrations. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2422-1
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2012
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