A delightfully captivating swatch of autobiography from the author of Kiss. Kiss, Switch Bitch and many others. Schoolboy Dahl wanted adventure. Classes bored him, there was work to be had in Africa, and war clouds loomed on the world's horizons. He finds himself with a trainee's job with Shell Oil of East Africa and winds up in what is now Tanzania. Then war comes in 1939 and Dahl's adventures truly begin. At the war's outbreak, Dahl volunteers for the RAF, signing on to be a fighter pilot. Wounded in the Libyan desert, he spends six months recuperating in a military hospital, then rejoins his unit in Greece, only to be driven back by the advancing Germans. On April 20, 1941, he goes head on against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Athens. On-target bio installment with, one hopes, lots more of this engrossing life to come.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1986
ISBN: 0142413836
Page Count: 209
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Oct. 16, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1986
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Seuss, with 82 years and 44 books to his credit, is in better than "pretty good shape"; he's in top form with this book...
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Seuss has endeared himself to millions of youngsters (and harried older types) with his tales of such giggle-producing creatures as "The Cat in the Hat" and "Yertle the Turtle."
Now, finally, he's written a book for those he calls "obsolete children." It's the nicest thing to happen to "senior citizens" since Medicare. This time around, the Doctor enlists his jaunty rhymes and sprightly illustrations to present a not altogether tongue-in-cheek look at that unnerving ritual of aging, "the medical check-up." His reactions to the whole demeaning (and distinctly expensive) process are so wryly knowing he might well have entitled his opus "The Cynic in the Clinic." The medical profession, under Seuss' steady gaze, comes in for some hilarious—and pointed—joshing. The action takes place at the "Golden Years Clinic on Century Square for Spleen Readjustment and Muffler Repair." Here, after first undergoing an "Eyesight and Solvency Test" (the chart reads "Have you any idea how much money these tests are costing you?"), the grey-mustachioed hero meets a battery of specialists including "Von Crandall, the World-Renowned Ear Man" and "Dr. Pollen, the Allergy Whiz." These worthies pinch, prod and poke about in search of such maladies as "Prone Picker's Plight" and "Chimney Sweep's Stupor." Diets are devised—"What you like. . .forget it!" Seuss has a great deal of fun with the "Pill Drill," in which the hero must memorize the dosages of a bewildering medicinal array: "I take the pill with zebra stripes to cure my early evening gripes. . .This long flat one is what I take if I should die before I wake." Having mastered that challenge, he goes from being "properly pilled" to being "properly billed." Finally, socks, coat and pants restored, necktie back under his chin, he's pleased to assure himself, "You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in."
Seuss, with 82 years and 44 books to his credit, is in better than "pretty good shape"; he's in top form with this book that's sure to delight "obsolete children," and even those of us who are merely obsolescent. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 1986
ISBN: 0394551907
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1986
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Clear, simple tips to help young people embrace adulthood and lead more effective, happier lives.
Two fictional tweens outline important life skills for kids aged 10 to 12 in this self-help guide.
In her introduction, Boucher (A Simple Idea To Empower Kids, 2014) points out that she wrote her book in the voices of fraternal twins Emma and Elliot, “whose mission is to empower kids their own age.” Elliot introduces himself and his sister to readers, mentioning that they live on a farm in Canada and have a mother who writes books for kids. The narrative then proceeds in the twins’ first-person-plural voice, taking readers through nine chapters, each addressing specific, important life skills: “How to Speak Confidently,” “Start Each Day with Gratitude,” “Using Vision Boards, Big and Small,” “How to Get Rid of Anger and Frustration,” “Learning about Time and Focus,” “The Importance of Work Ethic,” “First Impressions and Interviews,” “Self-Talk Matters,” and “Start Each Day with Love in Your Heart.” Among the twins’ advice is to find at least one “coach” (and preferably more) in one’s quest to gain confidence; to realize that it takes 21 days to form a habit; to get enough sleep and stay hydrated in order to help manage stress; and to do tasks that one dislikes or dreads first, before any others. The twins make several references to quotes from other authors, including Eleanor Roosevelt (“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”) and Tony Robbins. In this work, Boucher respectfully addresses and encourages the self-development needs of emerging adults. However, her use of the twins as narrators is sometimes awkward, particularly when they draw on sources that aren’t very typical for tweens or when they rather robotically repeat the phrase, “The author has given permission to use the following excerpt.” One could also argue that starting one’s day with gratitude and starting one’s day with love are very similar concepts. Overall, however, Boucher’s nine chapters encapsulate good habits to form and follow, even if they sometimes cover similar ground.
Clear, simple tips to help young people embrace adulthood and lead more effective, happier lives.Pub Date: May 20, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5043-5739-5
Page Count: 110
Publisher: BalboaPress
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
bookshelf