A potentially entertaining but challenging venture into the complex world of modern art that will have students and teachers...
Get ready for a fast-paced art-themed scavenger hunt in which a tousle-haired white preteen follows clues back and forth throughout the book.
The premise is that the gallery owner falls sick and puts the young protagonist, addressed as “you” throughout, in charge. “Your” job is to keep the collection safe, answer questions about paintings, mount an exhibition, and foil a robbery attempt by a rival gallery owner. The narrative on each page poses a question with three possible answers. To find the correct answer readers are referred to another page. The pages are visually confusing, as each one contains multiple disconnected elements: a scene from the narrative; three clues with graphic symbols; speech balloons and text blocks; and right and wrong answers to questions from other pages. While there are works in the gallery with which many will be familiar, including Edvard Munch’s The Scream and Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, there are many obscure works that even the biggest art nerd would be unlikely to know. Here’s hoping there are plans to create an app, as this concept is relatively well-suited to an electronic platform, which would allow for easier navigation than flipping pages. Backmatter includes a glossary, artist index, and tips for adults on reading the book with children.
A potentially entertaining but challenging venture into the complex world of modern art that will have students and teachers reaching frequently for their reference books. (Nonfiction. 6-10)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68297-038-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Trisha is ready to start at a new school, where no one will know she has dyslexia. At first, she is heartbroken to be in Miss Peterson’s special-ed class, aka, “the junkyard.” But Miss Peterson treats the children as anything but junk, showing them that everyone has a unique talent. Polacco’s trademark style is fully present here; her sensitively drawn alter ego shines with depth of feeling. When bullying occurs, Miss Peterson proves her students are worthwhile by planning a junkyard field trip, where they find valuable objects to be used in exciting ways. Trisha’s group repairs a plane, and the class buys an engine for it. Then a beloved class member dies, and the children must find a way to honor him. While the plot meanders somewhat, the characters are appealing, believable and provide a fine portrayal of a truly special class. Children will be drawn in by the story’s warmth and gentle humor and will leave with a spark of inspiration, an appreciation of individual differences and a firm anti-bullying message, all underscored by the author’s note that concludes the book. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-399-25078-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda.
Hank Zipzer, poster boy for dyslexic middle graders everywhere, stars in a new prequel series highlighting second-grade trials and triumphs.
Hank’s hopes of playing Aqua Fly, a comic-book character, in the upcoming class play founder when, despite plenty of coaching and preparation, he freezes up during tryouts. He is not particularly comforted when his sympathetic teacher adds a nonspeaking role as a bookmark to the play just for him. Following the pattern laid down in his previous appearances as an older child, he gets plenty of help and support from understanding friends (including Ashley Wong, a new apartment-house neighbor). He even manages to turn lemons into lemonade with a quick bit of improv when Nick “the Tick” McKelty, the sneering classmate who took his preferred role, blanks on his lines during the performance. As the aforementioned bully not only chokes in the clutch and gets a demeaning nickname, but is fat, boastful and eats like a pig, the authors’ sensitivity is rather one-sided. Still, Hank has a winning way of bouncing back from adversity, and like the frequent black-and-white line-and-wash drawings, the typeface is designed with easy legibility in mind.
An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-448-48239-2
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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