A little girl becomes a millinery maven when she lets her imagination soar. On her way home from school, Millie spies a hat with colorful feathers in a shop window. Although the hat suits Millie perfectly, her purse is empty. Then the sympathetic salesman offers her a box containing a “most marvellous hat,” which can “be any size, shape or color you wish” as long as you “imagine it.” When she tries on the imaginary hat, she loves it and discovers it has a lot of potential. First it’s a peacock hat, then a cake hat, then a flowery hat and even a fountain hat. Soon Millie imagines everyone she sees in a different fanciful hat. The possibilities are endless. Kitamura matches his quiet story of imagination and empowerment with soft watercolor illustrations that teem with fascinating urban detail. Decked out in a bright-yellow slicker and boots, Millie’s small cheery figure easily stands out amid crowded streets and parks, but it’s her fantastical hats that command center-page attention. A real charmer. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7613-5153-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Andersen Press USA
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 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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