The traditional tale of the Great Flood gets a New World setting in this interesting retelling. When Kaputano told the Kariña people they must prepare for a great rain that would flood the earth, only four couples believed him. Together, they set out to hew a canoe from a huge tree, scraping and burning out the trunk. After collecting two of each animal and seeds from each plant, they boarded the vessel. The rains came, the water in the river rose, the treetops slowly disappeared, and the world was drowned in water. When it receded, the land was a barren place where no human could live, so Kaputano created the world anew for his people. The author and illustrator traveled to the Kariña people to do their research for this native tale, and their careful research shows. Amazingly detailed scratchboard illustrations dominate the pages, with the text relegated to small light-colored spaces on the edges. In a reversal of roles, the original story was rewritten for length after the illustrations were completed. Calderón’s (Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!, p. 806, etc.) native plants and animals of the Caribbean region come to life—from the sloths hanging in the trees and the ants crawling on deck, to the bright blue butterfly that seems to hover on the surface of the page, poised to fly away. The Kariña people are portrayed in breechcloths, short skirts, and bare chests; the final illustration is especially vibrant, showing the native costumes as the people dance and sing. Although universally known in its Biblical telling, this version proves the universality of culture and story. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-88899-444-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
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