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THE BLUE JACKAL

Name: THE BLUE JACKAL
Author: Shobha Viswanath
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5466-7

by Shobha Viswanath ; illustrated by Dileep Joshi ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2016

Possibly of anthropological interest, but as a story for a wide audience, it’s no improvement on other versions.

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Scenes inspired by the traditional art of India’s Warli people illustrate a retold Panchatantra tale about a jackal who falls into a vat of dye.

Chased by village dogs, pipsqueak Juno the jackal blindly jumps into a vat of indigo. His bright new color so frightens the other animals in the wild that he proclaims himself king. But when he hears his banished jackal clan howling at the moon, he joins in—thus betraying his true nature to the other creatures, who angrily drive him away. Viswanath embellishes more-traditional versions both with added details and by casting the tale into lumbering verse: “Juno was terribly puny and lean, / and the bigger jackals were really quite mean. / They laughed at him cruelly for being so skinny, / calling him names, like sissy and ninny.” (She also follows the lead of most modern renditions by allowing the imposter to survive rather than being killed by his erstwhile subjects.) Drawn in white on dark, monochrome backgrounds, the illustrations are large-scale scenes with freely placed figures of animals and foliage that are small and often stylized beyond easy recognition. They are striking, but the visual narrative they convey is not easy for readers from outside the culture to parse.

Possibly of anthropological interest, but as a story for a wide audience, it’s no improvement on other versions. (afterword) (Picture book/folk tale. 6-8)

Pub Date: April 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5466-7

Page Count: 34

Publisher: Eerdmans

Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
A TANGLE OF BRUNGLES
by Shobha Viswanath ; illustrated by Culpeo S. Fox

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MONKEY KING
by Shobha Viswanath ; illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LIZARD'S TAIL
by Shobha Viswanath ; illustrated by Christine Kastl

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ZAPATO POWER

FREDDIE RAMOS SPRINGS INTO ACTION

by Jacqueline Jules & illustrated by Miguel Benítez ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2010

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Still hoping to find an occasion to be a superhero, Freddie Ramos finds it hard to keep the superspeed he gets from his shoes a secret in daily life. Mr. Vaslov, their inventor, gives him a wristband he hopes will control them, but instead of slowing down his shoes, it gives him a super spring. This sequel to Freddie Ramos Takes Off (2009) presumes knowledge of that title. There’s the barest minimum of explanation of the shoes or introduction of the characters. On the other hand, there’s plenty of action as Freddie twice rescues his neighbor’s ball, makes excuses to avoid running so his shoes won’t smoke and gets stuck in a tree before performing a heroic rescue. Freddie’s Hispanic heritage shows in descriptions of food and references to his deceased abuela, both worked in naturally. Cartoon art by Benítez accompanies the large-font text; the book looks accessible, although sentences do extend across page breaks. Boys who are able early readers will particularly appreciate this series; a third title is already on the way. (Fiction. 6-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-8075-9481-0

Page Count: 88

Publisher: Whitman

Review Posted Online: July 29, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2010

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
SMOKE AT THE PENTAGON
by Jacqueline Jules ; illustrated by Eszter Anna Rácz

- BOOK REVIEW
MOSES AND THE RUNAWAY LAMB
by Jacqueline Jules ; illustrated by Eleanor Rees Howell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PORRIDGE-POT GOBLIN
by Jacqueline Jules ; illustrated by Hector Borlasca

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SEASIDE DREAM

by Janet Costa Bates & illustrated by Lambert Davis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2010

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Extended family and friends are arriving for Clara’s Grandma’s birthday, and the air is full of Crioulo (African-influenced Portuguese) words, while the kitchen is full of Cape Verdean food reminiscent of what Grandma ate in her African homeland. Clara, who lives next door, misses her grandmother’s exclusive attention and wonders what to give her for a birthday present. Realistic, sometimes stiff acrylic illustrations portray Clara and her family and their American seaside home. When Clara and her grandmother steal some time together to go on a moonlit walk by the water, Clara learns that her grandmother left Africa and Clara’s great aunt, Aura, behind because of poverty and starvation. Grandma doubts she’ll ever make the journey back, and that night, Clara dreams of Aura and comes up with the perfect gift idea. A moving portrayal of a grandparent-grandchild relationship as well as a distinctive take on universal aspects of immigration. Includes a glossary and author’s note with information on Cape Verde and the author’s family. (Picture book. 6-8)