Stumbling and bumbling their way through life, the members of the Klutz family trip down stairs, spill their meals, and almost drop the baby on its head. ``Lumpish yokels!'' people retort, observing the Klutzes' fumblings as the family clomps ungracefully by in their way-too-big boots. A head-on collision with Professor Squirmworm results in an amazing discovery by the circus caravan leader: Under the big top, the Klutzes make excellent clowns! And that's not all. When Louise Klutz yanks off her boot, her feet are stinky, but they are nimble enough, unshod, to allow her to dance and walk tightrope. When the whole family hangs up their boots, their fame as clowns is eclipsed by their graceful highwire act. Drescher (who illustrated Richard Wilbur's Runaway Opposites, 1995) gives the illustrations the lead in the story. Klutziness provides him with ample opportunities to mix cut-outs of boots and faces with brightly painted, loosely drawn bodies and landscapes. These slapstick foibles may scare very young readers, but those old enough to put the goofiness in context will eat up this cacophony of collage. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-7868-0233-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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