``It grew and it grew and it grew'' is a familiar chant among readers who know the classic Russian folktale of the giant turnip. Picture, instead, one heck of a carrot, along with a rollicking ensemble of barefooted folks just itching to drink a tall glass of carrot juice, or, as Mama Bess puts it, ``park my lips on a wide bowl of carrot stew.'' She, Papa Joe, and Brother Abel, plant the teeny-tiny seed and water it, but it is sweet Little Isabelle who sings and dances that carrot sprout right up out of the ground. In fact, her singing and dancing seem to be the reasons that carrot become enormous, which no one realizes until it pops out of the ground on Little Isabelle's high note. In scenes that exhibit Root's characteristically zany, uninhibited style, Little Isabelle somersaults outside a tumbledown shack stacked five deep with jars of carrot juice and relish; a pink Chevy perches atop cinderblocks, and Mama Bess soars through the air and lands on a pig. The watercolor and gouache illustrations, lit by orange sunsets, are perfectly paired with a countrified dialect—their ``mouths fell halfway to their toes''—that adds to the down-on-the-farm flavor. A recipe for carrot pudding tops off this frolicsome adaptation of an old tale. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-8037-1823-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1997
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
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom.
Holy bedtime, Batman!
In a sleepy-looking neighborhood under a dusky cerulean sky, a young, brown-haired, white boy goes through the motions of getting ready for bed: he brushes his teeth, takes a bath, picks up his toys, and feeds his fish. In a parallel visual narrative, beckoned by the cat's-eye–yellow bat-signal, Batman keeps Gotham safe for another night by catching crooks, locking them away, and avenging those who have been wronged. Though the two characters are quite different, through a carefully flexible narrative, Dahl and Beavers weave a convincing tale of just how similar they might be. “It’s time to take care of business” describes the child’s trip to the potty and Batman’s dive down a manhole equally well, for instance. Beavers' art is visually striking and vibrantly hued, perfect for keeping young eyes glued to each page. Dahl's economical text is cadenced with a gentle lilt, just right for a bedtime read-aloud. Young fans of the caped crusader will delight in spying their favorite characters. In the already-overstuffed bedtime-book market, this is certainly a niche read, but it hits its mark well, delivering fun without darkness. A “bedtime checklist” at the end aptly includes “story time.”
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62370-732-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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