In the end, alas, not all that much more than marmalade.
The first stand-alone profile for young readers of the man behind the bear.
Bond is a regular entry in collective biographies of authors, but from the evidence, he was such a private man and led such a quiet, uneventful life that Tolin resorts to invented scenes and conversations (closely based, she claims, on published sources) to fill out this slim volume. She retraces his childhood, World War II experiences, early career as a cameraman for the BBC, and eventual fame (after multiple rejections, etc.) as a children’s author. Sounding a timely note, she also weaves in as a recurrent theme experiences with and lifelong sympathies for immigrants—from Jewish Kindertransport refugees and children evacuated from London during the Blitz to later contacts with Afro-Caribbean and West Indian arrivals in London—that informed his most famous creation’s character and overseas origins. On the other hand, aside from brief mention of Olga da Polga she skips an opportunity to explore his true range by saying little to nothing about his bawdy, comical Monsieur Pamplemousse mystery series or any of the rest of his works. Readers will come away with a warming if not nuanced impression of a low-key man whose best-known creation reflects his own fundamental decency.
In the end, alas, not all that much more than marmalade. (map, photos, source list, index) (Biography. 9-11)Pub Date: March 3, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64160-314-0
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 17, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020
Overall, Sam’s voice is authentic and her sports talent undeniable, so her existing young fan base may enjoy reading more...
In a homespun style, this autobiography showcases co-author Gordon, a 9-year-old football phenom whose first-season highlight reel became an overnight YouTube sensation.
Sam is charming, from her admiration for her coaches to her continual ability to beat the odds against more experienced competitors. Co-author Bruening allows Sam’s youthful voice to shine in endearing moments, such as her repeated reflections on the free food available at many of the publicity events she has attended. However, Bruening fails to supplement Sam’s recollections with factual information. The conspicuous absence of specific dates makes understanding Sam’s timeline of sports experiences challenging, and few comparisons are included to help non–football enthusiasts (clearly part of the target audience) understand the significance of her football statistics. Additionally, the book merely skims important factors contributing to her success, like her agility training with a former NFL player. Readers of a book subtitled Samantha Gordon’s Winning Season will expect a focus on Sam’s experiences leading up to and during her first football season, but media-appearance memories sometimes dominate. Unfortunately, they often read like celebrity guest lists, a problem compounded by the frequently redundant sidebars.
Overall, Sam’s voice is authentic and her sports talent undeniable, so her existing young fan base may enjoy reading more about her path to fame. (Memoir. 9-11)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8027-3654-3
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2013
Long before Yogi Berra said, “You can observe a lot by watching,” Fabre proved it so.
The rewards of simply taking time to bend down for a closer look are celebrated in this tribute to the great French entomologist.
Seeing as a lad that “every patch of dirt and tangle of weeds buzzed with insects: dazzling beetles, ferocious wasps, sweet-singing crickets, and more,” young Fabre went on to devote a long life to watching common insects rather than just collecting dead specimens as most of his contemporary colleagues did. The distinctive, enduring affection with which he regarded his diminutive subjects regardless of their often savage behavior comes through clearly here, both in Smith’s warm narrative and Ferri’s equally engaging views of the naturalist. He delightedly discovers a shimmering hoplia beetle beneath a leaf, smiles from his sickbed as a handful of hibernating bees revives after his son carries them indoors, and is wonderstruck by an account of how Cerceris wasps paralyze beetles as live food for offspring. (The illustrator has a little fun with viewers by adding a looming insectile shadow as well as close-up views of hovering wasps in this last scene.) Fabre’s many original discoveries and insights won him renown, and though he is largely unknown to nonspecialists today, his nose-to-nose approach to the natural world is well worth commemorating to modern readers.
Long before Yogi Berra said, “You can observe a lot by watching,” Fabre proved it so. (historical note, timeline, author’s note, annotated source list) (Picture book/biography. 9-11)Pub Date: May 12, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4778-2632-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2015
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