by Ann Tompert & illustrated by Laura Kelly ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1994
This version of the birth of the carol ``Silent Night'' stars a crew of hungry church mice, whose nibbling at the organ keys forces pastor Joseph Mohr and his organist, Franz Guber, to write a new song for the Christmas service, a song suitable for guitar accompaniment. One of the mice happens to get trapped in the pastor's coat pocket and goes with him to visit a poor woodcutter's family. Even the mouse can recognize the scene inside the hut (complete with newborn baby) as a cräche. On the quiet walk home, the pastor is inspired to write the famous carol. Narrated by a mouse with a formal way of speaking, this retelling adds little to the traditional account, which is sweet and simple enough to stand on its own. The illustrator, however, draws mice better than people, so it all evens out. Pleasant, but not destined to become a holiday classic. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-02-789402-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1994
Share your opinion of this book
More by Ann Tompert
BOOK REVIEW
by Ann Tompert & illustrated by Laura J. Bryant
BOOK REVIEW
by Ann Tompert & illustrated by Kestutis Kasparavicius
BOOK REVIEW
by Ann Tompert & illustrated by Michael Garland
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2015
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
Share your opinion of this book
More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
BOOK REVIEW
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Christy Webster ; illustrated by Brigette Barrager & Chiara Fiorentino
BOOK REVIEW
by Tom Lichtenheld & Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
BOOK REVIEW
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Mike Yamada
by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004
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
Share your opinion of this book
More by Teri Sloat
BOOK REVIEW
by Teri Sloat ; illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet
BOOK REVIEW
by Teri Sloat ; illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet
BOOK REVIEW
by Teri Sloat and illustrated by Stefano Vitale
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.