HOW THE SKY'S HOUSEKEEPER WORE HER SCARVES

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HOW THE SKY'S HOUSEKEEPER WORE HER SCARVES

Name: HOW THE SKY'S HOUSEKEEPER WORE HER SCARVES
Author: Patricia Hooper
ISBN: 0-316-37255-2

by Patricia Hooper & illustrated by Susan L. Roth ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1995

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The old lady who lives in a house at the back of the wind has her chores to do. She must polish the sun and dust the moon and straighten the stars and wind the comets and so forth: an intergalactic charwoman. For each of these tasks she dons a scarf of a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Then the rains come and she neglects her duties until the sun calls for her to restore his luster. Wearing all her wraps at once, and emerging into the dark, rain-filled sky, she ties a scarf to each of several landmarks so as not to lose her way home at the end of her work. When the sun comes out to share the heavens with the rain—voila!—the scarves become a rainbow. Hooper (A Bundle of Beasts, 1987) imbues her tale of origins with a sense of timelessness; her gods are fascinating if on the demanding side. Roth brings to the amiable story bright, busy collages; these are original and entertaining when it comes to the cosmic characters, although her deep-space housekeeper, referred to as an ``old woman'' throughout, looks quite youthful. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: April 1, 1995

ISBN: 0-316-37255-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1995

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
A STORMY RIDE ON NOAH’S ARK
by Patricia Hooper & illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

- BOOK REVIEW
WHERE DO YOU SLEEP, LITTLE ONE?
by Patricia Hooper & illustrated by John Winch

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A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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BERRY MAGIC

by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

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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)