Fascinating facts about words and the English language abound in this giddy Australian import (The Word Spy, 2008), narrated by the exuberant “Word Snoop,” who discloses her discoveries to her “dear readers” in a chatty, conspiratorial style. Those who haven’t pondered how the world’s first alphabet developed (or even the word “alphabet” itself) will be wowed, and trivia buffs will adore learning that quotation marks are nicknamed “goose feet” in Iceland and what the letters in the acronym “laser” stands for. Anagrams, palindromes and oxymorons are demystified, as are mondegreens, Yogiisms and Tom Swifties. Solid-red, chapter-demarcating pages featuring the silhouette of a donkey-riding, telescope-wielding child contribute to the book’s distinctly old-fashioned design and sensibility, but the Snoop’s eclectic cultural references range from Albert Camus to Lauren Myracle, 17th-century Norwegian poets to the Simpsons—and the final chapter analyzes texting (so like haiku!) and emoticons. Wordplay and cryptography aficionados will enjoy the intermittent coded puzzles that culminate in one final message. Riddle’s simple cartoons, often visual puns, enhance the playful nature of this thoroughly engaging, well-crafted primer. (timeline, glossary, code key) (Nonfiction. 10 & up)
Pub Date: July 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3406-7
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2009
While Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett’s Joan of Arc (1998) focused on Joan as a saint, this spirited but reverent telling emphasizes Joan as a hero. In the little village of DomrÇmy, Joan did not learn to read or write, but she listened to stories of the saints’ great deeds, worked with her parents, and aided the sick. When St. Michael the Archangel first appeared to her in a great light, she was 13; he told her she would save France, and the people supported her, outfitting her with horse and armor, and a white banner with the golden lilies that symbolized the French king. All the highlights of Joan’s story are elegantly recounted here: her recognition of the king hidden in the crowd, her victory at OrlÇans, Charles’s coronation, her capture, abandonment, trial, and death by burning at the stake. Rayevsky’s drypoint and etching illustrations use the muted colors and sepia backgrounds of old prints; the simple, sinuous line and stylized faces are particularly evocative. His visual trope of a flowerlike flame in the fireplace of Joan’s home is startlingly recreated in the final image of Joan at the stake. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1999
ISBN: 0-8234-1424-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
Beautifully produced and illustrated, one variant of the US Department of State's view of the recent American war. Strongly biased against Iraq, it provides just enough historical background to seem complete (including a mention of Iraq's claims of Kuwaiti oil theft), but leaves out any hint of American machinations like the US ``tilt'' toward Iraq in its conflict with Iran. It also accepts uncritically the State Department's justification of going to war for oil. No mention is made of Bush's decision to let Saddam survive the revolts against him (by letting his tanks get away), of the major domestic policy debates, or of the bombing of civilian facilities in Iraq, believed to have caused the deaths of thousands of Iraqi children. Bratman also credits the Patriot missiles with great success, though later accounts have pointed out that they caused more damage than they prevented. This was out of date by the time it was printed. Wait for a more balanced report. Chronology; further reading; index. (Nonfiction. 11-15)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1991
ISBN: 1-56294-051-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Millbrook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1991
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