A pleasant retelling enhanced by a truly original presentation.
A traditional Grimm tale is retold, with mixed results, in chapter form for “confident readers.”
The essential plot elements remain true to earlier versions; shoes are mysteriously worn out, and the king puts to death the princes who fail to find an explanation. An enterprising soldier, with a magic cloak of invisibility given to him by an old woman, follows the princesses through the silver, gold and diamond woods, sees them dancing until dawn with the enchanted princes and tells their secret to the king. Of course, he is rewarded by the hand of the eldest princess in marriage. The princesses have lovely French floral names, but everyone else, including the hero, is nameless. There is no explanation for the princes’ enchantment, and the princesses seem to enjoy the delightful adventure of secretly dancing and feasting. When the enchantment fades away, along with the princes, no one seems to care or wonder. Hoffman employs descriptive language that maintains a sense of old-fashioned syntax while remaining accessible for modern readers. But there is little that is really fresh and interesting. It is Miss Clara’s intricate, three-dimensional creations that capture the imagination. Each illustration is a gem: a photograph of a highly detailed stage set filled with interesting and delightful objects and textures.
A pleasant retelling enhanced by a truly original presentation. (Fairy tale. 7-10)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-84686-838-2
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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
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