A note from a secret admirer springs a rat from the slough of despond in this deft US debut. It looks like just another day of “bathrobe blues” for lonely, depressed Rat, until he gets a piece of unsigned fan mail: “Dear Rat, this letter is from someone who really admires you. I think you are very special. . . .” Who sent it? Rat cleans up and visits Mouse, who says no. Maybe Frog? But Frog’s laid up with a broken leg. Bat? No—but Bat seems pretty gloomy too. Just getting out and helping his friends so brightens Rat’s outlook, however, that in no time he’s planning a party, and penning a letter to his mopey friend: “Dear Bat, this letter is from someone. . . . ” Beeke tracks Rat’s rising spirits with cartoon illustrations in watery blues that give way to sunny yellows and greens, culminating in a grand picnic that even a now-smiling Bat swoops down to attend. So who did write the original letter? A wink is the only clue. Try this mood-changer on downhearted children; it’s as infectiously uplifting as Mrs. Biddlebox (2002). (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-7636-2255-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2003
At her best, Rylant’s (The Ticky-Tacky Doll, below, etc.) sweetness and sentiment fills the heart; in this outing, however, sentimentality reigns and the end result is pretty gooey. Pandora keeps a lighthouse: her destiny is to protect ships at sea. She’s lonely, but loves her work. She rescues Seabold and heals his broken leg, and he stays on to mend his shipwrecked boat. This wouldn’t be so bad but Pandora’s a cat and Seabold a dog, although they are anthropomorphized to the max. Then the duo rescue three siblings—mice!—and make a family together, although Rylant is careful to note that Pandora and Seabold each have their own room. Choosing what you love, caring for others, making a family out of love, it is all very well, but this capsizes into silliness. Formatted to look like the start of a new series. Oh, dear. (Fiction. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-689-84880-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2002
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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