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MR. TUGGLE’S TROUBLES

Name: MR. TUGGLE’S TROUBLES
Author: LeeAnn Blankenship
ISBN: 1-59078-196-1

by LeeAnn Blankenship & illustrated by Karen Dugan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2005

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Mr. Tuggle has his struggles: He can’t find his clothes in his messy apartment. Each morning he misses one item of clothing and then has to improvise at his office: a folded newspaper for a hat, boxes for shoes, curtains for a shirt and so on. After he catches sight of himself in a window reflection, he cleans up his house and lays out his clothes for the next night, only to be thwarted by his three mischievous cats. They hide his pants, and the absent-minded Mr. Tuggle heads off for work on the last page neatly dressed in hat, shirt, tie and red, polka-dotted underwear. Detailed watercolor illustrations provide humorous views of the main character’s unusual clothing replacements as his outfit deteriorates over the course of the week. Mr. Tuggle has an odd sort of quirky charm: He solves his problems in his own way and doesn’t even notice all the disapproving looks from other less inventive folk. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2005

ISBN: 1-59078-196-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Boyds Mills

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2005

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)