In this modest, wordless, tongue-in-cheek episode (available since 2004 with a Spanish title), a sheep knits a cozy gift from its own wool. Sporting realistic-looking fluffs, the simply drawn protagonist first primps before a mirror, carefully measuring the growing wool, then zooms to the store aboard a motor scooter for bright red dye. Having dyed the fleece and then clipped it off, the sheep has it spun into yarn by an elaborately groomed poodle (with—a European touch if ever there was one—a cigarette dangling from its lips), and sets to with the needles on a voluminous project. But what, and for whom? Both questions are answered at the end: It’s a sweater for a giraffe, who bends down its now-comfy-warm neck to bestow a kiss on the blushing ovine. A feel-good tale in any language, bright in both mood and color. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: April 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-932425-85-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lemniscaat/Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2007
Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201999-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
Putting forth your best effort is the theme of this intermediate easy reader set during an elementary-school sports day. The African-American PE teacher, Mr. York, encourages a little girl named Ann, who thinks she isn’t good at sports. He urges her to try each activity with the repeated refrain of “just try your best,” which she reciprocates when Mr. York joins a relay race. The simple story has a cheerful, positive tone complemented by Cepeda’s paintings in bright primary colors. The Green Light Readers format also includes discussion questions, a simple activity suggestion, author and illustrator bios, and two additional pages of information on the series. (Easy reader. 5-7)
Pub Date: April 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-15-205089-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2004
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