Most books about the death of a pet are solemn and carefully worded, but Allan (Jesus' Christmas Party, 1992, etc.) treats the subject in a decidedly different manner. A little girl who finds her dog, Dill, packing a suitcase asks where he is going. He tells her, ``Up there,'' meaning heaven. Dill—who has the supercilious demeanor of a British butler—and the girl trade imagined descriptions of heaven. She sees it as a place of self-indulgence with no consequences— abundant candy, carnivals, no illness. The dog's heaven includes meaty bones to eat, plentiful lampposts, and piles and piles of ``whiffy things,'' e.g., bones and dog droppings (which are, unfortunately, illustrated). The two friends squabble while angel-dogs give them time to say goodbye; the inevitable sad moments that follow the banter feel superficial and cheap. When a stray puppy comes to live with the girl, she tries to give it a little heaven on earth, but readers may already have gone on to the more congenial version of paradise found in Cynthia Rylant's Dog Heaven (1995). (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Jan. 31, 1997
ISBN: 0-694-00874-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1996
A positive look at feelings—the gifts they contain and how they help us grow.
This biblically grounded picture book reassures young readers that all types of feelings are natural and a part of God’s design for humankind.
Each rhyming quatrain of the text explores a different emotion that human beings experience. Accessible, child-friendly language is used to describe the physiological responses and subjective mental processes that accompany each feeling, and God’s awareness of and acceptance of our affective inner states are repeatedly emphasized. Going beyond the core emotions of happiness, sorrow, fear, and anger, Flinn also addresses excitement, anxiety, peace, shyness, and weariness. A different verse from the book of Psalms appears on each double-page spread, illuminating scriptural principles for understanding and managing the emotional dimension of our beings. The paradoxical idea that “God made us different and the same” is offered to express both the universality and individuality of emotional experiences. Kim’s simple, heartfelt digital illustrations depict children of different races experiencing various emotional situations such as a disagreement on the soccer field, a fall from a bike, a quiet moment in a flower garden, and more. The book succeeds as an age-appropriate tool for building the emotional intelligence children need as they enter school, Sunday school, and other social settings. The overarching message that God loves us no matter how we feel is comforting.
A positive look at feelings—the gifts they contain and how they help us grow. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Feb. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5064-6852-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
The familiar biblical tale is given a sassy, contemporary voice that leads to a perplexing, implied conclusion. Many, many years ago, when the world’s population lived in the Land of Shinar and spoke one language, everyone became bored with the humdrum nature of everyday life. “They went to school, worked at their jobs, and kept their home tidy and gardens blooming.” Discussion at the local café inspires new ideas and leads to the building of a tower “that will reach heaven… [and] make us important and powerful!” One hundred floors later, the people celebrate that “We will rule the earth and the sky!” But a thunderous hailstorm and lightning-torn sky splinter the once-cohesive group into several smaller ones unable to communicate in their new but different languages. While the storm serves as a metaphor for God’s anger, children may have difficulty inferring the story’s theme of arrogance run amok, as He and His wrath are never made explicit players in the story. Rebora’s bright illustrations, reminiscent of Melissa Sweet’s, add humor to this retelling of how and why God created the world’s numerous races and tongues, but they won’t fill the narrative gaps. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8225-9917-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: June 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2010
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