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WHERE'S OUR MAMA?

Name: WHERE'S OUR MAMA?
Author: Diane Goode
ISBN: 0-525-44770-9

by Diane Goode & illustrated by Diane Goode ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1991

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Echoing a Russian folk tale, ``My Mother Is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World,'' Goode sets her story in early 20th-century Paris and provides an obliging gendarme to try to help two little children locate their mother, who has left them in the elegant, crowded train station while she runs after her blown-away hat. Misled by the children's artless responses to the ladies he produces (of a singer: ``Oh, no, sir. Our mama is very slim. But Mama cooks the best food in the world''), the gendarme leads them all over Paris before his small charges remember that they were supposed to stay put till Mama returned. Goode's beautifully designed illustrations evoke the city's fabled glamour while playfully bringing out the situation's comic side. A charming transformation of a story that deftly dramatizes the child's-eye view of a most important person. Contains one shushing librarian—and an unlikely number of dark faces, given the setting. (Picture book. 4-8)*justify no*

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1991

ISBN: 0-525-44770-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1991

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
STEP BY STEP
by Alice B. McGinty ; illustrated by Diane Goode

- BOOK REVIEW
WHEN I GROW UP
by Julie Chen ; illustrated by Diane Goode

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BEST MOTHER
by Cynthia Surrisi ; illustrated by Diane Goode

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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)