Defining creation liberally, Pilling (Realms of Gold, 1993, etc.) includes pourquoi tales among the 16 here, retold in a uniform, easy style that does indeed lend itself to reading aloud—especially since the typeface is large and well-leaded. Presented in three general groups—beginnings, warmth and light, and animals—the familiar stories include the opening chapter of Genesis and the myth of Persephone (``How a Girl Brought About The Seasons''), while those less familiar range from the somber Norse ``How Everything Came from Fire and Ice'' to a tale from Sri Lanka in which an irritated servant girl whacks the low clouds with a broom until they float up beyond reach. Foreman's many illustrations only occasionally evoke a particular culture; in general they are his own interpretations, featuring small, sketchy figures placed on radiant backgrounds done in what looks like watercolors applied to wet paper. Pilling does not cite specific sources for each story, and next to Virginia Hamilton's In the Beginning (1988), this collection seems limited and scattershot; still, the selections are well- chosen for sharing, and for showing how cultures may differ while the big issues remain the same. (bibliography) (Folklore. 10-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1997
ISBN: 1-56402-888-7
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1997
BOOK REVIEW
The Touro Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, is the oldest Jewish house of worship in the US; Fisher traces its history and details the design and construction of the beautiful two-story Georgian-style building, describing “the quietness of the building’s exterior, its gentleness” which “belied the tormented history of its congregants, resolute in their beliefs.” Constructed from 1759—1763, the synagogue was the focus of President George Washington’s comments in 1790 that “the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” This well-documented history will remind readers that the US was settled by people of many faiths who were united in their “search for freedom and peace of mind.” (photos and reproductions, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: Feb. 15, 1999
ISBN: 0-8234-1401-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1999
It’s hard for most US readers to imagine what it is like to grow up amid ongoing violence, but that is what Liam’s life has been in Belfast. However, this 11-year-old’s family life, school, and dreams will be known to children everywhere. After providing an overview of “the Troubles,” McMahon movingly describes the conditions of Liam’s existence: a Catholic, he has never known a Protestant—“peace walls” separate the Catholic and Protestant sections of Belfast. On his way to school, Liam passes buildings with large messages painted on them: “Brits Out,” or “No Surrender.” Family and school conversations often include passing references to a bomb going off. O’Connor’s full-color photographs show all the aspects of Liam’s life, including his training for a boxing match; the boy loses, but rather than believe that the judges ruled against him because of where he’s from, he quotes a rule he has learned—“We win, or we lose. Then we go on.” This book provides a realistic glimpse of a place where peace has taken a fragile hold, and offers a reminder that the dreams of children can flourish amid misery. (map) (Nonfiction. 7-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-395-68620-2
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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