A mysterious, shy creature arrives in a brown paper bag on toddler James's doorstep. It has big dark eyes and long soft ears and a nice round tummy, but it won't come out, even when it gets a little damp in the pond. The wise old stuffed bear, who has ``the comforting smell of muffins and cocoa,'' is summoned and coaxes Something out and welcomes it with a mug of warm milk. Children will have a wonderful time trying to guess what's in the bag and will hotly debate the identity of Something until it finally appears. While this gentle episode is reminiscent of the Pooh stories in the way toy animals are characters with distinct personalities and interact with the rosy-cheeked, tousle-headed James, newcomer Reed works in a style that recalls Jane Hissey's Old Bear (1986) and its successors. In his cozy watercolors, sunlight illuminates the warm textures of wood and stone as well as the lushness of an English garden. In the final pages, the entire menagerie is bedded down in James's room, washed in the silvery blue of a full moon. Sweet suspense—even sweeter reassurance. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1914-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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