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THE CRANKY SUN

Name: THE CRANKY SUN
Author: Jerry Kramsky
ISBN: 0-316-50361-4

by Jerry Kramsky & illustrated by Lorenzo Mattotti ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

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An agreeable concept is run into the ground with excess verbiage. One day in the town of Underwind, the sun decides it no longer wants to take orders from the town clock and refuses to set. The town sends up composers, scientists, poets, astronauts, and cooks to get the orb moving again, but all it takes is a boy's compassionate question to bring the story to a close. The odd relationship between the clock and the sun is certainly worth exploring, but Kramsky takes too many tacks, tangles them, and then settles for an arbitrary resolution. The art is astonishing: Curves of color soar over enormous pages, while faces right out of Fellini suit the surreal setting. Readers may pore over the pages, but they won't come away with the point of this tale—there doesn't seem to be one. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: April 1, 1996

ISBN: 0-316-50361-4

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1996

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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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)