What could have been mere instruction on the concepts of little and big becomes poetically resonant in the hands of Latimer (James Bear and the Goose Gathering, 1994, etc.) and Curry, who makes his debut. Buffalo and Snail meet on the prairie. Buffalo impresses his new companion with statistics about his size and speed, until Snail wonders if she has any worthwhile talents. She proves that bulk isn't the only measure of greatness in the animal kingdom. Her odd tricks include whorling, siphoning, retracting, and possibly causing lightning and thunder. Curry's illustrations, fresh and primitive, play tricks with perspective that sometimes make Snail look larger than her friend. The story is needlessly complicated by anthropomorphic whimsy (``Snail could speak in Clam, in Mussel, and in Limpetalso Periwinkle'') and by the inexplicable appearance of a reindeer. These intrusions threaten, but never puncture, the magic of the relationship. Definitely on the idiosyncratic side, but a refreshing gambol. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-531-09490-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1995
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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