Told with restraint and ease, this book is about a romantic legend that haunts the ubiquitous pottery design. It begins with an invitation: ``Fly with me, over China, and down into the landscape of the willow pattern.'' Readers are thrust into the blue-and-white realm of lovers Koong Shee and Chang, respectively, a wealthy mandarin's daughter and a poor servant. But Koong Shee, betrothed to an old merchant, is locked away by her father; Chang rescues her on her wedding day and they embark on a happy life in hiding. Ultimately, the mandarin finds them and throws them into a maze beneath his Great Pagoda; when he and the lovers die, their world becomes as eternal and changeless as the now-familiar willow pattern. Any child who has ever imagined a journey into a two- dimensional expanse will be carried away by the passion Drummond brings to his subject. His blending of still elements from the pottery with looser, livelier drawings of the story's pursuits have a lyrical grace, although the order of events in text and pictures sometimes disagrees (spot vignettes of later action in the tale occasionally precede larger visuals of earlier incidents). An author's note in the end warns readers of the ``truth'' about this pattern and legend, notably, their British origins. A charmed work, told with conviction and a sure hand. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1992
ISBN: 1-55858-171-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1992
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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