Although a worthy addition due to the scarcity of such books, the sparse collection would have been strengthened by...
Cofer offers a slim bilingual collection of animal tales.
In “The Animals’ Grand Fiesta,” arrogance gets the best of a lion and a lioness, and readers discover how goats lost their long bushy tails. A resourceful ant helps an older couple save their garden from a hungry goat in “The Brave Little Ant and El Señor Chivo.” In the shortest (and most awkwardly told) tale, “A Funeral for Nangato,” a cunning cat teaches a village of mice a lesson in how they live their lives. In the most entertaining story in the collection, “The Parrot Who Loved Chorizos: A Puerto Rican Tale,” a frustrated cook bests a gluttonous bird with a penchant for spicy sausage. The entire English collection is followed by the Spanish version, and the second and fourth tales are set expressly in Puerto Rico. The remaining stories contain occasional Spanish words and animals that add a Latino flavor to otherwise universal tales. Readers familiar with the author’s work may miss the original characters for which she is best known, as the tales are too short to allow many of her strengths as a writer to flourish. Humorous black-and-white illustrations complement the tales.
Although a worthy addition due to the scarcity of such books, the sparse collection would have been strengthened by additional tales. (Folktales. 8-12)Pub Date: April 30, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-55885-743-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Piñata Books/Arte Público
Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
After Castro’s takeover, nine-year-old Julian and his older brothers are sent away by their fearful parents via “Operation Pedro Pan” to a camp in Miami for Cuban-exile children. Here he discovers that a ruthless bully has essentially been put in charge. Julian is quicker-witted than his brothers or anyone else ever imagined, though, and with his inherent smarts, developing maturity and the help of child and adult friends, he learns to navigate the dynamics of the camp and surroundings and grows from the former baby of the family to independence and self-confidence. A daring rescue mission at the end of the novel will have readers rooting for Julian even as it opens his family’s eyes to his courage and resourcefulness. This autobiographical novel is a well-meaning, fast-paced and often exciting read, though at times the writing feels choppy. It will introduce readers to a not-so-distant period whose echoes are still felt today and inspire admiration for young people who had to be brave despite frightening and lonely odds. (Historical fiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59643-168-3
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
A fast and funny alternative to the Wimpy Kid.
Black sixth-grader Jake Liston can only play one song on the piano. He can’t read music very well, and he can’t improvise. So how did Jake get accepted to the Music and Art Academy? He faked it.
Alongside an eclectic group of academy classmates, and with advice from his best friend, Jake tries to fit in at a school where things like garbage sculpting and writing art reviews of bird poop splatter are the norm. All is well until Jake discovers that the end-of-the-semester talent show is only two weeks away, and Jake is short one very important thing…talent. Or is he? It’s up to Jake to either find the talent that lies within or embarrass himself in front of the entire school. Light and humorous, with Knight’s illustrations adding to the fun, Jake’s story will likely appeal to many middle-grade readers, especially those who might otherwise be reluctant to pick up a book. While the artsy antics may be over-the-top at times, this is a story about something that most preteens can relate to: the struggle to find your authentic self. And in a world filled with books about wanting to fit in with the athletically gifted supercliques, this novel unabashedly celebrates the artsy crowd in all of its quirky, creative glory.
A fast and funny alternative to the Wimpy Kid. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-553-52351-5
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
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