Mouse and Mole's walk is an environmentally safe hunt for a Christmas tree. They find the perfect tree, but rather than cutting it down and bringing it back to Mole's to decorate, they dress the tree without removing it from the ground and make ornaments that serve as bird feeders. They visit it on Christmas morning and watch the birds happily pecking at their birdseed-covered pine cones and popcorn strings. The rest of their celebration is traditional, with hot cocoa, spice cookies, and gift-giving. In addition to the story, at the bottom of every page are scientific facts about winter that are surprisingly informative given the small format. Readers will learn why winter nights are longer and how icicles are formed, about animal camouflage, and how fish survive when lakes freeze over. Cushman's (Mouse and Mole and the Year-Round Garden, p. 301, etc.) tale is cheerful and enlightening. (Fiction/Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 17, 1994
ISBN: 0-7167-6560-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1994
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
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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