A sweet story with an ending that too many children will know.
This is the story of Yamo, a young Afghan villager who, in the absence of his soldier older brother, Haroon, gets to accompany his dad to the market to help him sell fruits.
It is harvest season in the village of Paghnam, and for the first time young Yamo will tag along with his father to the market in order to help sell the cherry harvest. The task is not easy, and Yamo grows more and more disappointed. He has nobody to share his chagrin with besides Pompa, his donkey, carrying all the cherries. The pair’s misfortune, however, is soon over: They have one customer…and then two…and then three…and soon Yamo has sold everything he had but for one last handful to share with his dad. The latter is proud of Yamo and decides to reward him with a surprise. All is well for Yamo, his family, and the village of Paghnam…until the war strikes, and it is all gone. Author/illustrator Kobayashi’s vivid and colorful illustrations, together with detailed descriptions, effectively convey the lively nature of the village, highlighting the market’s hustle and bustle while providing an appreciation of the deep love Yamo has for his dad, his absent brother, and even his donkey. The ending is abrupt, but details in both text (a man who lost his leg in the war) and illustrations (armed men with automatic weapons in some backgrounds) provide some foreshadowing without blunting the shock.
A sweet story with an ending that too many children will know. (Picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-940842-25-7
Page Count: 39
Publisher: Museyon
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
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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