The Stanley family we all remember from Snyder's highly successful The Headless Cupid (1971) gets a year in Italy when stepmother Molly's expatriate uncle leaves her money that has to be spent there. Molly's 13-year-old daughter Amanda, just a little better adjusted to the new family arrangement than she was in her poltergeist days, continues to brag about her rich father; and as a result all five children are kidnapped though the culprits had only bargained for Amanda. She is despondent, sure that her father won't bother to rescue her, and the others are fearful that he won't be able to come up with the million-dollar ransom. When they hear that he is in Italy but can't raise the million, David, the oldest Stanley, is really worried, but Amanda, with this evidence of her father's concern, comes to life. Much of the story takes place in the kids' basement prison, where seven-year-old, bilingual Janle (the family genius) interprets for the masked kidnappers, guesses their identity, and—with a view to being so cute their captors can't possibly kill them—gets up a hilarious performance with herself acting out Juliet's death scene and the four-year-old twins following with the Mickey Mouse Club song. For their part David and Amanda stage a miracle, which does have the kidnappers wondering; but in the end it's Janie who saves them all. A lively, likable family adventure, a bit slow to hit its stride and not as ingenious as The Headless Cupid, but still crackling with the Stanley family's distinctive charm and energy.
Pub Date: Oct. 19, 1979
ISBN: 0440424852
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1979
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This is a brief, cozy little period piece, demonstrating Jean Fritz's versatility. Ann Hamilton was lonely for the chum she had left behind when her family moved to the early wilderness of western Pennsylvania. There were only the boys of the McPhale family, who seemed to be a shiftless group, unwilling to face the hardships of farming as pioneers. But Ann was caught up soon in helping roughneck Andy McPhale to learn to read, and ultimately in influencing his family to stick it out on the frontier. When George Washington comes to visit Hamilton Hill Ann finds the tedium of adjustment was all worth while. An easy reading chapter indicating the hardships which were part of the national heritage. Feodor Rojankovsky has done charmingly homespun black and white pencil sketches to complement the story which is based upon a Fritz family legend.
Pub Date: March 1, 1958
ISBN: 0698119363
Page Count: 132
Publisher: Coward-McCann
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1958
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
I've seen only three double spreads and the text of this picture book by the author-artist of Lentil — but I'm sure it is going to be an enchanting and very original book. Mr. Mallard thinks the Boston Public Gardens would be a nice place to raise a family; but Mrs. Mallard is afraid of the swan boats, though the peanuts tempt her too. So she makes her nest near the River Charles, and agrees to meet Mr. Mallard in the Public Gardens when the ducklings have had some training. The time comes; she sets out with the ducklings stringing along behind her. It takes the Boston police department to get them across the streets, but get there they do, and reach the Public Garden pond in safety.
Pub Date: Aug. 18, 1941
ISBN: 0140564349
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1941
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