Striking illustrations cannot redeem these lackluster etymologies.
Ukulele, mummy, karaoke: What do they have in common? These are three of just 12 nouns selected for their “surprising stories.”
In this rather slim volume about linguistic cross-fertilization, the author uses almost more words in his adult-oriented introduction and closing note than he provides for young readers. The format presents phonetic pronunciation, original language, original and English definitions, and a brief history for each word. While the historical anecdotes are interesting, this does not really add up to much of a book. The accomplished, striking, and vividly colored two-page spreads that cunningly work each word into the overall design of an illustration are the real draw. Ukulele means “jumping flea” in the original language, Hawaiian. The name was given to the instruments Hawaiians fashioned after seeing “small guitars brought by European settlers….A ukulele player’s fingers bounce on the strings as quickly as jumping fleas.” In the picture, a band of orangey-brown fleas all bedecked in leis play ukuleles. Questions go unanswered. The entry for “mummy” doesn’t quite explain how the Persian word for “wax” came to be applied to the special Egyptian method of preserving bodies. “Karaoke” means “empty orchestra” in Japanese. The explanation mentions that the “first karaoke machines were developed in Japan” but doesn’t indicate when. The color key locating language families is difficult to correlate with the unlabeled map.
Striking illustrations cannot redeem these lackluster etymologies. (Informational picture book. 8-11)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-912920-18-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: What on Earth Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
Though usually cast as the trickster, Coyote is more victim than victimizer, making this a nice complement to other Coyote...
Two republished tales by a Greco-Cherokee author feature both folkloric and modern elements as well as new illustrations.
One of the two has never been offered south of the (Canadian) border. In “Coyote Sings to the Moon,” the doo-wop hymn sung nightly by Old Woman and all the animals except tone-deaf Coyote isn’t enough to keep Moon from hiding out at the bottom of the lake—until she is finally driven forth by Coyote’s awful wailing. She has been trying to return to the lake ever since, but that piercing howl keeps her in the sky. In “Coyote’s New Suit” he is schooled in trickery by Raven, who convinces him to steal the pelts of all the other animals while they’re bathing, sends the bare animals to take clothes from the humans’ clothesline, and then sets the stage for a ruckus by suggesting that Coyote could make space in his overcrowded closet by having a yard sale. No violence ensues, but from then to now humans and animals have not spoken to one another. In Eggenschwiler’s monochrome scenes Coyote and the rest stand on hind legs and (when stripped bare) sport human limbs. Old Woman might be Native American; the only other completely human figure is a pale-skinned girl.
Though usually cast as the trickster, Coyote is more victim than victimizer, making this a nice complement to other Coyote tales. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-55498-833-4
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Though certainly not a systematic overview of Picasso’s life and career, this intimate, child’s-eye view serves up a winning...
“Picasso was great fun to play with. He liked to romp around on the floor and have pretend bullfights. His tweed jacket was nice and scratchy. He smelled good too. He smelled of cologne and French tobacco.”
To a set of seldom-seen photos taken by his mother, Lee Miller, interspersed with both pictures of roughly hewn toys and playful art created by Picasso and a page of drawings of the titular incident by modern children, Penrose adds appreciative comments and authentically sketchy childhood memories of a renowned family friend. Taken in France and England, the photos offer glimpses of the artist in his studio or posing with young Antony, along with shots of his own children, other friends such as George Braque and artwork done in a characteristic array of media and found materials. Images of colorful works from the author’s personal collection are added as well; the author's little Noah's Ark set appears juxtaposed to a tiny Picasso piece called Mrs. Noah, for instance. The text itself adds playful notes with variations in size and weight, along with occasional wavy lines and is set on solid backgrounds of pale blues, yellows, lilacs and other pastel hues.
Though certainly not a systematic overview of Picasso’s life and career, this intimate, child’s-eye view serves up a winning glimpse of the artist’s personality and unparalleled creative breadth. (glossary, thumbnail bios) (Memoir. 8-10)Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9728-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
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