First published in Italy in 1982, an original tale about the heroic efforts of Petrushka, a solitary watchman on the Trans- Siberian Railroad, to keep the track free for the weekly train. His antagonist is a blue-black, wing-eared demon, Rashka, who literally ties the tracks in knots, then demands orange and mint tea—only available a three days' walk south—before he'll undo the mischief. Petrushka completes this quest in time to avert a wreck, only to find, a month later, the tracks knotted once again. This time, Rashka sets him an even more difficult task; but further trouble is averted when, having shut his big ears against Petrushka's cries to the saints, the demon is run over by a train he doesn't hear coming. Fedorov, who lives in Moscow, makes his US debut with illustrations that are strikingly akin to Barbara Cooney's, with romantic landscapes adorned with delicate wildflowers and the loyal, earnest watchman depicted in a cozily detailed rustic home. An entertaining choice to use with an older group. (Picture book. 5-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-688-11166-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1994
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-91052-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
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