Four female Dance Theatre of Harlem students ranging from a little one in a community program to three in its Pre-Professional program pose and dance, photographed by Kuklin against solidly colored backgrounds. They are all picture-perfect subjects in their leotards and tutus, and endearing to boot, but the absence of scenery or even a studio environment results in simply a series of very lovely poses. Nelson, recipient of a Newbery Honor award and many other citations, a paean to ballet and to African-American ballerinas. They are not just beautiful. They “wear the slaves’ genes with nobility” and “bring a tiny hint of Africanness” to each move. Alas, readers will have to read the notes on Dance Theatre of Harlem, founded in 1968 to provide a welcoming and positive venue for black classical dancers, to bring understanding to this noble but misguided effort. The images do not truly illustrate the words, with the result an unfortunate disconnect between photography and text. The former is best suited to a young audience, the latter to older readers. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-545-08920-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2009
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
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