Actors from the Plimoth Plantation Restoration and members of the Wampanoag tribe reenact an early harvest celebration in this glossy photo essay set in Plymouth Colony in 1621. The story, loosely based on letters and other historic documents, is told in two voices on alternate pages by Dancing Moccasins, a 14-year-old Wampanoag and Resolved White, a six-year-old English boy. Photographs on every page compare and contrast the appearance and activities of the people. Both actors and Wampanoag appear self-conscious and stiff. Though the dialogue is spiced with information on food, food preparation, games, and activities it is often wooden and unconvincing. For example, Resolve says: “Mother calls me home. I help cook, since the celebration will last several days. As swiftly as I can, I grind corn for samp while mother roasts one of the ducks I plucked.” Elsewhere, Dancing Moccasin says: “Some of the men dance to the songs. They do the warrior’s dance. I can see the English boy watching from the hill.” Literally accurate perhaps, but not enough information to be helpful for young readers. Endnotes give additional information about food, clothing, and thanksgiving customs of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. There is a word on the actors and contemporary members of the Wampanoag and a glossary of words as well as a few titles for additional reading. Purchase where other titles by Waters in the “Children of 1620’s” series are popular. (Nonfiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-439-24395-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In a snowbound Swiss village, Matti figures it’s a good day to make a gingerbread man. He and his mother mix a batch of gingerbread and tuck it in the oven, but Matti is too impatient to wait ten minutes without peeking. When he opens the door, out pops a gingerbread baby, taunting the familiar refrain, “Catch me if you can.” The brash imp races all over the village, teasing animals and tweaking the noses of the citizenry, until there is a fair crowd on his heels intent on giving him a drubbing. Always he remains just out of reach as he races over the winterscape, beautifully rendered with elegant countryside and architectural details by Brett. All the while, Matti is busy back home, building a gingerbread house to entice the nervy cookie to safe harbor. It works, too, and Matti is able to spirit the gingerbread baby away from the mob. The mischief-maker may be a brat, but the gingerbread cookie is also the agent of good cheer, and Brett allows that spirit to run free on these pages. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-399-23444-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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