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COLLIDING WITH CHRIS

Name: COLLIDING WITH CHRIS
Author: Dan Harder
ISBN: 0-7868-0125-5

by Dan Harder & illustrated by Kevin O'Malley ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1998

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Harder’s first book is aimed at bicyclists, including those still soldiering on with training wheels. Chris can certainly ride his bike, but he doesn’t know how to stop. Launched off the top of a steep hill, he’s almost immediately out of control. “Watch out!” he cries as he barrels past his grandmother, careens through a garden shed, rattles into the woods, splashes through a stream, and more. A rollicking, loosely rhymed cumulative text steadily builds momentum and humor as Chris picks up a spider and sticky web, knocks an unsuspecting bear on to his back, and scares up a trout, among other incidents. Objects, animals, and people (including an entire marching band) loom large and then scatter. In many of the illustrations, the action is front and center in full- bleed spreads; in others, it is framed in cockeyed snapshots. A small dog that appears on the copyright page joyfully keeps pace with Chris to the satisfying conclusion in this small but funny episode. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-7868-0125-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Hyperion

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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BERRY MAGIC

by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

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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)