A whimsical Swedish import with a unique premise: Else-Marie has not one but seven identical pint-size daddies who all go to work together, briefcases in hand, read to her at night, and do all the other things daddies do. As long as she's at home with them, Else-Marie finds this perfectly satisfactory; but when Mom has to work overtime so that the daddies are delegated to pick her up at playgroup, Else-Marie suddenly sees her unusual parents as she imagines others will, and is filled with anxiety: Will the daddies be chased by a neighbor's dog? Will they embarrass her in front of her friends? No problem, it turns out: the other children accept the daddies with careless aplomb. Lindenbaum's auspicious debut story, realistic except for the remarkable daddies, is developed with logic and good humor and told in a dry, straightforward, amusing style. Even better are her lively illustrations, in which the unusual family is realized in comical detail; the daddies, like an orderly Cub Scout troop, are delightful. Adults who couldn't accept Stuart Little may worry about Mom; for anyone else, an offbeat treat. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Nov. 30, 1991
ISBN: 0-8050-1752-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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