Daikon is what’s actually for breakfast in this humorous story about overactive imagination that is based on the experience of one of the author’s own ancestors. The Troublesome Triplets, so-called because no one ever sees any of the three men apart from one another or without some sort of concern, stop in at the farmhouse one night, swearing that they have seen ghosts in Farmer Tanaka’s field. Hilariously named Mr. Omi (“Oh me!”), Mr. Omaye (“Oh my!”), and Mr. Ono (“Oh no!”), they sport facial expressions so woebegone that readers can only chuckle. Father decides the best thing to do is take his son over to the field to see what’s actually going on. The boy is terrified to see white wisps blowing in the wind; he’s relieved when he hears his father screaming with laughter, having discovered it’s only Mrs. Tanaka’s daikon hung out to dry. A few days later, the grateful Triplets return, this time with delicious pickles made from the ghostly radishes. The stylized acrylic illustrations in dark, nighttime colors are at their best portraying the three woeful gentlemen, but also aptly convey the eeriness of the long, swaying pieces of white daikon in the inky night. A perfect blend of humor and suspense, with the added appeal of a Japanese-American setting. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2002
ISBN: 1-58430-046-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2002
What if the market was closed when you wanted to bake a pie? You could embark for Europe, learn Italian en route, and pick up some semolina wheat in Italy, an egg in France, kurundu bark for cinnamon in Sri Lanka, and an entire cow in England (butter) before coming home via Jamaica (sugar) and Vermont (apples). The expertly designed illustrations in which a dark-haired lass journeys by various means to these interesting places to get her groceries are lovely and lively, and the narrative, too, travels at a spritely pace. The journey is neither quite logical enough to be truly informative nor quite bizarre enough to be satisfyingly silly, while the rich, sweet recipe that's appended will take some adult assistance. Still, fun. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 2, 1994
ISBN: 0-679-83705-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1994
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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