Small of stature but brimming with brains, the trickster rabbit Lapin gets in and out of trouble faster than a Louisiana governor. Doucet (Why Lapin’s Ears Are Too Long, 1997, etc.) is known for her meticulous researching of these stories in her adopted homeland in Cajun Country, and her retelling leaves nothing to be desired. She respects the tenor and tone of the real Cajun culture. They are as full of mischievous fun and as spicy as a crawfish boil at a Fais-Do-Do. The three stories included are real Cajun derivatives of the original West African stories. They involve the rivalry between Compère Lapin and the somewhat shortsighted Compère Bouki. The bigger Bouki, it seems, comes out on the short end every time, as lazy Lapin cons him for half his crops and most of his rum cake, his mule and wagon, and the water from his well. Bouki almost turns the tables in the variation of the classic tar baby story, but Lapin returns to his roots—or rather briars—to win in the end. Southern prodigal son Cook’s illustrations cast the right shade, or rather lack of it. His energetic illustrations use a steamy bright golden cast, which suggests the summer in Cajun country better than a bite of capsicum. The text and many paintings are blended throughout the brilliant design, accentuating the non-stop banter between the furry antagonists. This seamless blending of ambiance and language play makes it a must-have for storytellers and storylovers alike, and leaves us wondering what kind of conversations she is having with Lapin as he lollygags on her writing desk. (glossary) (Folklore. 6-12)
Pub Date: May 7, 2002
ISBN: 0-374-34328-4
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Melanie Kroupa/Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2002
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
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