The moon is slowly falling. Little Min-Yo is selected to climb a fragile cobweb staircase and take a diamond to the Moon Dragon in the hopes that he will help; she also carries along a few vegetables in case the dragon wants to vary his diet of moondust. ``Misty white with brilliant colors shining through, as if he had swallowed a rainbow,'' the dragon is friendly and enjoys the food, but he points out that he has too many diamonds already—perhaps their weight is the problem. He and Min-Yo hurl the jewels into the sky, forming stars, and, sure enough, the moon returns to its proper place. The story (Hillman's first) is smoothly told and its details are appealing, though it seems a bit empty—a fable without a moral. The lush oversize format features an elaborate border, soft, modishly clashing colors, and decorative (but rather wooden) watercolor renditions of oriental characters and settings. Acceptable, but hardly essential. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-15-254230-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1992
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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