In this companion to the equally rollicking At the Beach (May 2006), Harvey takes a family of vacationers into the far-from-deserted outback. Entering a set of hilly landscapes swarming with groups of ant-sized figures—each individually drawn and busily occupied in some activity or misadventure—Henry, Penny, Mum, Dad and little Frankie in turn provide chatty commentary as they wait in a traffic jam for wombats to cross the road, make camp amidst a crowd, explore a cave, swim, ride horses, enjoy a sudden snowfall and finally gather around a campfire for some creative theater. Along with all the activity, sharp-eyed children will be left thoroughly primed for road trips of their own by additional glimpses of kangaroos and other wildlife, dragons, a spaceship, the odd severed limb and other sights. Off drive the narrators the next morning, sharing their favorite parts and inviting readers to add others—which will be hard to pick. (endpaper maps) (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Nov. 6, 2006
ISBN: 1-74114-592-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2006
Alex has his iguana (I Wanna Iguana, 2004), but now, thanks to Baby Annie, he has to share his room with his little brother Ethan. That’s just not going to work out, so he begins a new letter-writing campaign. Mom’s reply: Talk to your father. Alex’s straightforward request nets this response: “…Mom says girls need privacy to do girl stuff.” Alex can’t think what girl stuff a baby would need to do, so he switches tactics, complaining that Ethan bothers his stuff. The heart-to-heart talk Dad suggests ends up with Alex cordoning off HIS part of the room (which unfortunately includes the door). Alex begs for an addition to the house, but Dad has a better idea. The two build Alex his own tree house…but it’s boring in the tree house alone! Orloff’s second epistolary tale is just as inventive and enjoyable as the first. Catrow’s distinctive pencil-and-watercolor illustrations elevate the (mostly) realistic exchange in the letters to deliriously preposterous heights. The nearly wordless conclusion is as satisfying as it is unexpected. A sneaky lesson wrapped up in a flaky bundle of fun. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-399-25405-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2010
Thoughtful and joyful.
A child of Vietnamese descent fantasizes about the perfect outfit for Tết.
One night, Mai dreams about being a big “STAAAAAAR” and fielding questions on the red carpet. Mai’s literal dream dress is a sparkly silver ballroom gown with a sweetheart cut. After waking up, the child is eager to tell Ba all about it, but first it’s time to get ready. It’s the first day of Tết, or Lunar New Year, and the family plans to celebrate at Mai’s grandmother’s house. Though Mai loves visiting Bà Nội, the child balks at donning the áo dài, a Vietnamese outfit consisting of a tunic worn over trousers. “Stars wear dresses and gowns,” Mai tells Ba. But Ba shows Mai the family photo album, explaining that Bà Nội had her own sewing school in Vietnam and that her students lovingly dubbed her the “Queen of Áo Dài.” To keep their traditions alive when the family emigrated, Bà Nội continued to make áo dài for her loved ones, and the children learned to sew them as an expression of love. Finally, with a newfound appreciation for the garment, Mai greets Bà Nội with a hug, clad in a customized áo dài made by Ba. Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition.
Thoughtful and joyful. (glossary, “let’s design our own áo dài” activity) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781665917346
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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