It's Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe. The elephant's behind the counter, the hippo's waiting table, and the eccentric house duck is acting, well, eccentric. Suddenly three flashy and menacing tigers shove through the door (despite the prominent ``No Tigers'' sign). The tigers cut rough, but the duck gives them dollar for dollar, until a major rhubarb breaks out. The duck gets caught in a headlock; his pal Hodges, the chef, plants a souffle in the offending tiger's puss. Outraged, the tiger gets ready for real mayhem, until he tastes the souffle dripping down his face. The tiger, a gourmand, recognizes it as the work of a master, cools off, and orders three Boston cream pies. Needless to say, by the end of the evening all at Hodges' are fast friends and the ``No Tigers'' sign removed from the door. Grab a shake, a corner seat, and await next Friday at Hodges' Cafe, you won't find a more happening spot east of Dubuque. One of the most exceptional and offbeat stories in some time. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-395-68076-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1994
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
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