Unhappy as a newcomer on Martha's Vineyard, Justin sets out to sea in his sailing dory, dreaming of his hero, Captain Slocum, who became the first man to sail around the world in 1898. When Justin capsizes, a firm hand pulls him out of the sea and he finds himself aboard the battered sloop, Spray, with Captain Slocum at the helm. The two embark on a fantastic journey until Justin is ready to make his way home. Blake's glowing oil paintings capture the sweep of the sea in double-page spreads showing towering rigging, a slashing storm, a sparkling night sky, and all the details that comprise a sailing ship: wood planking, coiled rope, complicated pulleys. Captain Slocum is ably characterized, a terse loner who insists that Justin must earn his turn at the wheel. The make-believe, however, is somewhat diffuse: It's not clear whether Justin is dumped overboard before or as part of his musings (if it's before, children may worry about his rescue) and the fantasy becomes multilayered, as Slocum retreats and other ghostly players take over. A spelling error (buoy is spelled ``bouy'') and the sailing terms used in clipped dialogue will leave some readers in Justin's wake. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 19, 1996
ISBN: 0-399-22770-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1996
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
A snow-covered countryside may look barren of life, but Stewart’s quiet text takes readers under the blanket of white to “a hidden world” where ladybugs sleep en masse and voles tunnel from tree to tree, where a wood frog freezes safely solid and bluegills and waterboatmen share frigid waters, where a turtle lies buried in mud and “even on the coldest winter days, red-spotted newts dodge and dart, whiz and whirl just below the ice.” Bergum’s equally quiet watercolors spread across the pages in panels that offer cross-sections and magnified details to give readers glimpses of the world beneath the snow. Their precision lends a dignity and beauty even to a sleeping centipede and a barbeled carp. Readers will come away with an appreciation for the adaptability and endurance of the animal world. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-56145-493-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2009
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