Lankford and Dugan have collaborated on previous volumes about Christmas and birthday traditions around the world. In this disjointed effort, the author divides the U.S. into seven broad regions, presenting one page of historical, social and geographic information for that region, including commentary on Christmas traditions that relate to that region. This approach is problematic due to the inclusion of information that has nothing to do with Christmas, while leaving out major traditions such as taking children to visit Santa Claus, hanging up stockings or enjoying classic Christmas stories, poems and plays. Additional sections cover the history of the holiday at the White House and in the postal system, with added pages of activities and crafts. A recipe for Scripture Cake is included, and a few Bible verses are oddly incorporated into the text, although the custom of attending church on Christmas Eve is barely mentioned. The final spread is a timeline of commercial American toys. Dugan’s illustrations are bright and cheerful, with the cover showing smiling children waving American flags around a Christmas tree decorated in red, white and blue. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 6-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-688-15012-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Collins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2006
The leaves have changed, Thanksgiving nears—and the canny turkeys of Squawk Valley have decamped, leaving local residents to face the prospect of a birdless holiday. What to do? They decide to lure a bird back by appealing to its vanity, placing a want ad for a model to help sculptors creating turkey art, then “inviting” the bird to dinner. The ploy works, too, for out of the woods struts plump and perky Pete to take on the job. Shelly debuts with brightly hued cartoon scenes featuring pop-eyed country folk and deceptively silly-looking gobblers. Pete may be vain, but he hasn’t lost the wiliness of his wild ancestors; when the townsfolk come for him, he hides amidst a flock of sculpted gobblers—“There were turkeys made of spuds, / there were turkeys made of rope. / There were turkeys made of paper, / there were turkeys made of soap. / The room was full of turkeys / in a wall to wall collage. / For a clever bird like Pete / it was perfect camouflage.” He makes his escape, and is last seen lounging on a turkey-filled tropical beach as the disappointed Squawk Valleyites gather round the table for a main course of . . . shredded wheat. Good for a few giggles. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 1-890817-91-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2001
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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