In intent, another "Scary Story"—following The Tailypo and King of the Cats; in actuality, a lame excuse for a story framing a central scare sequence. A poor tailor is sent to the graveyard to stitch up the Grand Duke's new trousers ("Only then will I have good luck when I wear them—that is what my soothsayer told me"). There, a ghostly monster begins to emerge behind him, intoning: "Do you see this great head of mine?" "Do you see this great neck of mine?" Etc., etc. As the monster materializes bit-by-bit in the background, the tailor bravely stitches away ("I see that, but I'll sew this")—until, finishing in the nick of time, he makes the Grand Duke's castle just inches ahead of the pursuing creature (the marks of whose fingers, we're told, "can still be found on the castle wall"). The tailor-monster dialogue is in the best oral ghost story tradition, and Galdone's pictures of the confrontation have a properly threatening aspect when seen at a distance. But for the single child, listening or looking, it's a crudely executed artifice.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1982
ISBN: 0899191169
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 25, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1982
An invitation to wonder, imagine and look at everything (humans included) in a new way.
A young boy sees things a little differently than others.
Noah can see patterns in the dust when it sparkles in the sunlight. And if he puts his nose to the ground, he can smell the “green tang of the ants in the grass.” His most favorite thing of all, however, is to read. Noah has endless curiosity about how and why things work. Books open the door to those answers. But there is one question the books do not explain. When the wind comes whistling by, where does it go? Noah decides to find out. In a chase that has a slight element of danger—wind, after all, is unpredictable—Noah runs down streets, across bridges, near a highway, until the wind lifts him off his feet. Cowman’s gusty wisps show each stream of air turning a different jewel tone, swirling all around. The ribbons gently bring Noah home, setting him down under the same thinking tree where he began. Did it really happen? Worthington’s sensitive exploration leaves readers with their own set of questions and perhaps gratitude for all types of perspective. An author’s note mentions children on the autism spectrum but widens to include all who feel a little different.
An invitation to wonder, imagine and look at everything (humans included) in a new way. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-60554-356-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Redleaf Lane
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
Trisha is ready to start at a new school, where no one will know she has dyslexia. At first, she is heartbroken to be in Miss Peterson’s special-ed class, aka, “the junkyard.” But Miss Peterson treats the children as anything but junk, showing them that everyone has a unique talent. Polacco’s trademark style is fully present here; her sensitively drawn alter ego shines with depth of feeling. When bullying occurs, Miss Peterson proves her students are worthwhile by planning a junkyard field trip, where they find valuable objects to be used in exciting ways. Trisha’s group repairs a plane, and the class buys an engine for it. Then a beloved class member dies, and the children must find a way to honor him. While the plot meanders somewhat, the characters are appealing, believable and provide a fine portrayal of a truly special class. Children will be drawn in by the story’s warmth and gentle humor and will leave with a spark of inspiration, an appreciation of individual differences and a firm anti-bullying message, all underscored by the author’s note that concludes the book. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-399-25078-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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