by Robert Maass & photographed by Robert Maass ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2000
A better photographer than writer, Maass (Tugboats, 1997) matches bright, revealing color photographs of trash and garbage (he doesn’t distinguish between the two) on its way from lunch table to either landfill or backyard compost pile, with a series of impersonal generalities that rob the journey of most of its interest or educational value. Unusual and fascinating shots of a landfill seemingly the size of a small country, a long conveyor belt lined with sanitation workers sorting recyclables, trash sculptures, big machinery, and the like are weighed down by awkward writing: “In some cities, trucks transfer the garbage to barges.” Other problems include superficialities and self-evident contradictions, as in the view of a landscape carpeted with gulls that is captioned by the claim that landfills are layered with dirt to keep animals away. Simplistic discussions of hazardous waste and composting stretch the already attenuated topical coverage even further. The pictures may be a match for anything else on the subject, but for informational purposes stick with the many more narrowly focused books for younger children on recycling, waste, and sanitation careers. (glossary) (Picture book nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-8050-5951-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2000
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by Jerdine Nolen & illustrated by Kadir Nelson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2003
Nolen and Nelson offer a smaller, but no less gifted counterpart to Big Jabe (2000) in this new tall tale. Shortly after being born one stormy night, Rose thanks her parents, picks a name, and gathers lightning into a ball—all of which is only a harbinger of feats to come. Decked out in full cowboy gear and oozing self-confidence from every pore, Rose cuts a diminutive, but heroic figure in Nelson’s big, broad Western scenes. Though she carries a twisted iron rod as dark as her skin and ropes clouds with fencing wire, Rose overcomes her greatest challenge—a pair of rampaging twisters—not with strength, but with a lullaby her parents sang. After turning tornadoes into much-needed rain clouds, Rose rides away, “that mighty, mighty song pressing on the bull’s-eye that was set at the center of her heart.” Throughout, she shows a reflective bent that gives her more dimension than most tall-tale heroes: a doff of the Stetson to her and her creators. (author’s note) (Picture book. 7-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-15-216472-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Silver Whistle/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2003
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by Jerdine Nolen ; illustrated by James E. Ransome
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by Tiffany Haddish & Jerdine Nolen ; illustrated by Jessica Gibson
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by Suzy Kline & illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2000
Every year since kindergarten, Harry’s Halloween costume has gotten scarier and scarier. What’s it going to be this year? He’s not telling. His classmates are all stunned when he shows up, not as some monster or a weird alien (well, not really)—but as neatly dressed Sgt. Joe Friday of Dragnet fame, wielding a notebook and out to get “just the facts, ma’am.” As she has in Harry’s 11 previous appearances (15, counting the ones his classmate Song Lee headlines), Kline (Marvin and the Mean Words, 1997, etc.) captures grammar-school atmosphere, personalities, and incidents perfectly, from snits to science projects gone hilariously wrong. She even hands Harry/Friday a chance to exercise his sleuthing abilities, with a supply of baby powder “fairy dust” gone mysteriously missing. As legions of fans have learned to expect, Harry comes through with flying colors, pinning down the remorseful culprit in 11 minutes flat. No surprises here, just reliable, child-friendly, middle-grade fare. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-670-88864-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000
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