Egyptologists (in all honesty) have found hieroglyphics recording plans for a polar bear's burial vault. Adinolfi felt the bear's story had gone begging for too long. Thus, although not exactly cut from the cloth of history, Nanook the lonely polar bear's saga begins. Many years ago, the bear hitched a ride on a passing iceberg in search of a fellow creature's company. He floated way south, slipped through the Straits of Gibraltar, and washed ashore in Egypt, then ruled by the lonely boy king Rahotep. The king ordered cool drinks to soothe the beast. He offered Nanook a slice of goose, and though the bear sensed it was not seal meat, he took a nibble, then more. Rahotep felt brave, Nanook felt sated, and both felt a dent in their loneliness. Nanook became the royal playmate and engaged in typical fifth-dynasty shenanigans: griffin hunting, pyramid climbing, dancing till the sun rose over the sphinx. Fast friends forever. This book is pure entertainment, so don't go searching for great truths. The story will grow on you, as will the stylized, altered-state illustrations, richly colored confections as loopy as the story. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-395-68074-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1994
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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