He kills the savage lion; he destroys the dreaded, nine-headed hydra; he captures the guarded golden apples from the end of the earth. He is the subject of this latest picture book from Burleigh (Home Run, 1998, etc.), working in ballad form. The arresting cover, in which the hero’s face fills the frame, introduces readers to this mythological man-god, known for his unsurpassed feats of endurance and strength. The story makes mention of a few of Hercules’s 12 labors, but zeroes in on the last and most thrilling challenge—to conquer Cerberus, the monster dog that guards the gates to the Underworld. Clad in the magic pelt of the lion, Hercules ferries across the River Styx and descends into the realm of Hades. Tension mounts as Hercules tussles with the snakey, three-headed beast, fighting for his freedom, and overtaking Cerberus bare-handed. The enticing battle is the central action here, framed only with allusions to other mythological details. Col¢n casts Hercules as larger-than-life, a man who traverses spooky underworld scenes with uncommon muscle and majesty. His textured, colored-pencil drawings emulate friezes, highlighting the chiseled features of Hercules in all his statuesque glory and heroism. (Picture book/folklore. 6-9)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201667-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1999
Lunge-Larsen and Preus debut with this story of a flower that blooms for the first time to commemorate the uncommon courage of a girl who saves her people from illness. The girl, an Ojibwe of the northern woodlands, knows she must journey to the next village to get the healing herb, mash-ki- ki, for her people, who have all fallen ill. After lining her moccasins with rabbit fur, she braves a raging snowstorm and crosses a dark frozen lake to reach the village. Then, rather than wait for morning, she sets out for home while the villagers sleep. When she loses her moccasins in the deep snow, her bare feet are cut by icy shards, and bleed with every step until she reaches her home. The next spring beautiful lady slippers bloom from the place where her moccasins were lost, and from every spot her injured feet touched. Drawing on Ojibwe sources, the authors of this fluid retelling have peppered the tale with native words and have used traditional elements, e.g., giving voice to the forces of nature. The accompanying watercolors, with flowing lines, jewel tones, and decorative motifs, give stately credence to the story’s iconic aspects. (Picture book/folklore. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-395-90512-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1999
This vibrant, thoughtful book from Katz (Over the Moon, 1997) continues her tribute to her adopted daughter, Lena, born in Guatemala. Lena is “seven. I am the color of cinnamon. Mom says she could eat me up”; she learns during a painting lesson that to get the color brown, she will have to “mix red, yellow, black, and white paints.” They go for a walk to observe the many shades of brown: they see Sonia, who is the color of creamy peanut butter; Isabella, who is chocolate brown; Lucy, both peachy and tan; Jo-Jin, the color of honey; Kyle, “like leaves in fall”; Mr. Pellegrino, the color of pizza crust, golden brown. Lena realizes that every shade is beautiful, then mixes her paints accordingly for portraits of her friends—“The colors of us!” Bold illustrations celebrate diversity with a child’s open-hearted sensibility and a mother’s love. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8050-5864-8
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1999
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