For readers older than those of Howard's Chita's Christmas Tree (p. 990/C-166), another vivid account of the holiday as celebrated by a black family in comfortable circumstances years ago—in this case, in 1890 Ohio. Hamilton uses well-researched, lovingly re-created details and deceptively simple, totally unclichéd language to describe the Bells: Papa, who runs a successful carpentry business with his older sons; Mama, a fine seamstress; little Melissy; and 12-year-old narrator Jason, who can barely wait for Christmas and the coming of the other Bells—Uncle Levi and his family. Splendid homemade gifts (including a new mechanical leg, custommade by his brother, to replace Papa's peg leg), food, and the celebration at church are all portrayed in telling detail; but most significant is this family's memorable joy at being together, and their pride in their 100-year tradition in this place alongside the fascinating, historic National Road. Davis' carefully crafted paintings with their sculptural figures and well-furnished interiors reflect the story's strong sense of stability and security. Perhaps as a result, though, they are stolid rather than lively; and when the yearned-for snow finally comes, Davis' depiction of it is greeting-card conventional—unlike Hamilton's lovely description of "the great white night" when lights from the house shone in "patches of gold [that] made the lane sparkle." An excellent addition to the author's fine oeuvre; a good readaloud.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1989
ISBN: 0152015507
Page Count: 68
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1989
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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