Review by Booklist Review
Ages 5-9. In this medieval family, Yorick finds his younger brother Charles "a first-rate pain in the pants." When his alchemist father and his mother set off for a week's trip, Yorick seizes the opportunity to experiment in his father's lab, hoping to learn to turn "donkey's dung into gold." Instead, he turns himself into a miniature boy, and Charles, who has long yearned to be "palsy-walsy" with his brother, is elated. Charles plays with Yorick as if he were a toy, building him a little house and feeding him crumbs. But by the story's end, Yorick is restored to his proper size, and all are happy. Steig embellishes his always rich vocabulary with medieval words to delightful effect and decorates his artwork with rich hues and purple borders. A family ecstatically reunited is one of Steig's recurring themes. Here he adds a nice twist, noting that the two brothers "sincerely appreciated each other now. Except when they were having a fight." (Reviewed Feb. 15, 1996)0062050788Susan Dove Lempke
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A big brother and little brother reverse roles-literally-in this Middle Ages take on "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Know-it-all Yorick wants to be an alchemist like his father, so when his parents leave on a week-long journey, he plays in the lab. Alas, poor Yorick concocts a shrinking formula, and soon he's the size of Lynne Reid Banks's Indian in the Cupboard. While he waits for his father to return and whip up an antidote, Yorick depends on his younger brother, Charles, whom he has always disdained; the two antagonists bond after sweet-natured Charles builds Yorick a dollhouse, saves him from a hailstorm and entertains him by "dress[ing] the goat up in one of his mother's best outfits." The prolific Steig keeps the Dark Ages light with his penchant for non sequiturs and colorful if challenging words (such as "alackaday" and "transmogrification"). Watercolors of chunky wooden furniture, heavy eating utensils and knee-length tunics set the tone for this costume comedy. Ages 3-up. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Magnus and Eutilda Bede and their two children are an everyday, run-of-the-mill medieval family. Mr. Bede is an alchemist and Yorick, his older son, aspires to follow in his footsteps. When he isn't being pestered by Charles, Yorick dreams of turning donkey dung into gold and working other marvelous transformations. While Mr. and Mrs. Bede journey to a faraway wedding, the boy takes advantage of the opportunity to try out a magic formula. His potion does not have quite the effect he expects, however, and he ends up the size of a sausage. Charles is delighted. He makes his brother a little house, feeds him crumbs of bread and clabber cheese, and wishes he would fit in his pocket forever. The older boy is anxious to return to his normal size, but only does so when he finally remembers a missing ingredient in the magic potion. After all their trials, the two siblings view one another with a new affection. Steig's amusing drawings and bright watercolor washes are rich in detail and his cartoon style is further enlivened by bright purple borders on each page. Readers will delight in Steig's droll expressions, both visual and verbal, but the subtle lesson about brotherly love will not be lost amid the comic goings-on.æBarbara Kiefer, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Illustrated by Robert Roth. In a brief but spellbinding picture book based on an ancient Mayan legend, raindrops falling in the dense forest are transformed into the "ebony markings of a nightly jaguar." The magnificent, mysterious cat stalks the jungle, past chattering monkeys and the "winding rivers of crocodile eyes," until "that one magical moment when this cat of the night bursts into the morning sun and rises a glorious red . . . once again." The minimal text is effective in presenting the jaguar as the mystery, power, and promise of night bursting into daylight. Translucent watercolors in rich hues and broad forms move this tale from abstract to concrete, giving shape to the story and what it implies. Text in a deep purple, slightly asymmetrical typeface is placed on roughly textured earth-toned paper, anchoring each double-page spread. A handsome book that points out the godlike status of the jaguar in the Mayan world and its contrasting precarious position as an endangered species today. m.b.s. Philippa-Alys Browne, Author-Illustrator A Gaggle of Geese: The Collective Names of the Animal Kingdom g "A charm of finches flirting / A pride of lions lazing / A gam of whales squirting / A herd of zebras grazing" are among the creatures of air, land, and sea included in this boldly designed picture book. Riveting, stylized illustrations, executed in unabashedly brilliant colors and strong black outlines, pulsate with life and demand attention. The central figures, authoritatively delineated, stand out against striking textural backgrounds remininiscent of handsome fabrics. The familiar concept - the interpretation of the collective names of animals - is given a new and unusually vital treatment, extended by the mnemonic features of the understated rhymed text. Appended notes on the origins of these nouns, including their classification into four groups - appearance, characteristic, habitat, and onomatopoeic - add depth and dimension to the compilation. m.m.b. Jan Carr Dark Day, Light Night Illustrated by James Ransome. Early one evening, while 'Manda is playing with her friends, Bobby snatches the ball out of her hands. Now she feels that the whole world is "hateful, colorless like rain clouds, murky as mud." Aunt Ruby attempts to prevent her niece from spending the day sulking under the bedcovers by asking her to make a list of the things she likes. 'Manda's initially negative response - "Nothing" - leads Aunt Ruby to explain how she goes about feeling better during a "dark day." She produces her own list, which includes such things as fruit salad on a hot summer night, music, and sunshine. Aunt Ruby then reveals the most important item on her list: 'Manda. Aunt Ruby's appreciation of her niece's friends and "all the many-shaded skins we're born to" finally turns 'Manda's mood around; now she can affirm herself, rethink her annoyance with Bobby, and, with a "light night" mood, rejoin the ball game outside before it gets too dark to play. In the end, 'Manda is also able to verbalize her happy feelings: "I'll tell you what I really like. I like my Aunt Ruby." Children who have been down in the dumps will quickly recognize themselves in this high-spirited picture book. Bursting with the exuberance of people enjoying life, Ransome's accomplished oil paintings explore the intensity of Aunt Ruby's supportive relationship with 'Manda. Ransome pays careful attention to the use of light and shadow in his pictures, extending the image implicit in the title. ellen fader Judith Caseley, Author-Illustrator Slumber Party! A birthday party sleepover - what could be better? A great many things, as practically anyone who has ever attended or given one knows. This story has it all: the weepers, the nonsleepers, the strange frightening noises magnified by "very very very scary" stories. In her usual engaging style, Caseley employs line and design to focus the reader's attention on the humorous detail of a party gone awry. Young viewers will be quick to find the small gray tiger cat that appears on nearly every page, mirroring the mood of the group. The text skims along smoothly, exuding cozy good humor before and after the discovery of the scary noise source. As most slumber-party veterans will attest, when morning comes, all woes are forgotten, and everyone is sure that "it was the best birthday party ever." A truthful tale that can prepare youngsters for their first slumber parties. e.s.w. Nina Crews, Author-Photographer I'll Catch the Moon g Crews uses a photo-collage technique to create a spectacular backdrop for a dream story in which the young heroine imagines climbing a ladder to the moon. A charming fantasy à la Moonbear (Simon) and Harold's Trip to the Sky (Harper), illustrated with an actual mix of photographs from NASA and by the author. Both the photographs themselves and their placement in the overall design are outstanding. Inky hues of the night sky - sometimes crystal-clear and still, at other times blurred as if spun by a planetarium projector - constantly change from spread to spread, providing texture and depth to the illustrations. The simple story is a first-person narrative told in a beautifully rhythmic cadence by an engaging seven-year-old complete with missing front tooth. Our heroine's cosmic adventure comes full circle to a satisfying conclusion: "From my window I'll wave to the moon passing above me at night. That's how it will be. I think I'll go soon. And then I'll catch the moon." A knockout in both concept and execution. e.s.w. Jane Cutler Mr. Carey's Garden Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Mr. Carey's garden differs from the other gardens on Blackberry Lane, remarkable for their seedless watermelons, huge milk-fed pumpkins, and tall sunflowers. Mr. Carey's garden is full of snail holes. When his neighbors offer him their unsolicited, green-thumb advice for ridding his garden of the pesky snails, Mr. Carey tells them that he sees it "in a different light." Then, late one moonlit night, the neighbors are lured to Mr. Carey's garden by the sound of nibbling and crunching. There they see the snails' "glistening trails that shine like silver ribbons in the moonlight." With new understanding, they join Mr. Carey on his porch and admire his garden. "Now they see the garden in a different light. Same as Mr. Carey does." The soft, pellucid illustrations, executed in gouache, acrylic, and pencil, capture Mr. Carey's humble, unassuming character and illuminate the quiet magic of his filigreed garden. marilyn bousquin Tomie dePaola, Author-Illustrator The Baby Sister This warm, homey story centers on the feelings of exclusion Tommy suffers with the coming of his new baby sister. At first, Tommy's understanding mother lets him paint pictures for the walls of the baby's room and feel the baby kicking. But later, when his mother goes to the hospital to have the baby, Tommy's very conservative Italian grandmother, Nana Fall-River, comes to care for him. Old-fashioned and fussy, Nana Fall-River will not discuss how babies are born, insists that Tommy "eat up all nice," and keeps him in when it rains. What's worse, he cannot visit his mother in the hospital because chicken pox is going around. But Tommy is comforted when his mother talks to him from her hospital window, and later, when Nana Fall-River lets him be the first to hold his new baby sister, Tommy is "the happiest boy in the world." A pleasantly realistic and reassuring book for anxious siblings-to-be. a.a.f. Faye Gibbons Mountain Wedding Illustrated by Ted Rand. Ma wears a bravely refurbished hat and Mr. Long wears his brother's too-small suit as they stand before the preacher in the bright sunshine of a Georgia spring. But the children, seven Longs and five Searcys, who clearly take exception to the marriage and to each other, stand in two opposing lines, prepared for battle. The skirmishing escalates from glum looks and angry faces to scattered scuffling. But before actual war breaks out, a swarm of honeybees appears on the scene and the farm animals begin to flap, hiss, and growl. The mules hitched to the wagon break loose and run off, tilting and toppling both families' possessions onto the road. Everyone runs after them, and the children join forces, picking up the pieces and helping one another in the unexpected crisis. When all are finally gathered together again, the wedding takes place with all parties holding hands. This pleasant and unassuming story of family solidarity unexpectedly achieved is splendidly augmented by Rand's watercolor illustrations. The rows of children - the girls with their hand-me-down and patched dresses and the boys in overalls and bunched-up socks - expressing their obvious distaste for each other and the marriage are both funny and appealing, and the reader rejoices at the happy conclusion. A winning combination. a.a.f. Sally Grindley Peter's Place Illustrated by Michael Foreman. This tragic story makes the plight of wild creatures faced with polluted habitats very real and touchingly personal. Peter is a contemplative child who relishes the seashore near his home and befriends the sea creatures. When a grounded tanker's oil spill turns the shore into a death trap for wildlife, Peter joins the rescue effort and ultimately helps save a special eider duck. The healing nature of time passing is credited, and the book ends with partial restoration of a safe habitat. The story is told in a clear unemotional tone, the effect of which underlines the sorrow. No blame is placed; no moralizing is apparent - but the message is clear nonetheless. Foreman's watercolors effectively range from sleepy, placid seas and village scenes to the powerful violence of the storm that wrecked the tanker. The helplessness of the threatened creatures is perfectly evoked by the haunting picture of a young gray seal coated with oil. The author and illustrator keep a commendable balance between the horror of the slick and the reassurance that both men and nature can work to restore the earth; the story is by no means hopeless, but rather a warning and an unspoken call to action. e.s.w. M. C. Helldorfer Carnival Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. In a vibrant blend of words and pictures, the carnival experience is captured for the youngest first-timer. Rollicking romp-'em, stomp-'em antics accompany one long sentence of text that directs the reader to "Get ready to . . . / Tie it / Fly it [a balloon] / Toss and roll it [a basketball] / Wish for it / Fish for it [games] / Giddy giddy giddy-up-it [a pony ride]." Variations in design - some double-page spreads, some pages divided in half or even thirds, with some divisions horizontal and others vertical - prevent the book from becoming monotonous. The book nears the end with a question - "Are you ready for a ride?" - followed by a giddy evocation of rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, and bumper car rides, and then sends the reader back to the beginning with another question: "Hey . . . want to do it again?" The illustrations are bold, flat, and brilliantly colored in primary hues; larger than life in some cases, but easily understood, they convey the richness and excitement of carnival to a tee. e.s.w. Tana Hoban, Author-Photographer Just Look Trying to find fresh laudatory adjectives to describe Tana Hoban's photographs is like finding new phrases to describe the sunset. The bestÿones have already been used: imaginative, stunning, brilliant, spectacular - but never pretty, for her work eschews clichés and every composition suggests another dimension. This latest in her series of visual puzzles again uses a die-cut geometric shape centered on a black page to isolate a salient detail of the subject, which is pictured in its entirety, and then in a larger context, on succeeding pages. Thus, a geometric spider web is transformed into the Eiffel Tower; what might be a fleshy melon is revealed as a rabbit's ear. Her ability to syncopate her compositions with unexpected detail - like the fly on the horse's rump in the final sequence - adds humor and invites a closer look for something that might otherwise be missed. A picture book for older children rather than preschoolers, this certainly has a place in the development of visual literacy. m.m.b. H William H. Hooks Freedom's Fruit Illustrated by James Ransome. Hooks, author of The Ballad of Belle Dorcas (Knopf), retells a conjure tale he learned during his childhood in the Carolina Low Country. An avaricious and conniving slave owner commands one of his slaves, a conjure woman named Mama Marina, to put a spell on his grapes to deter the other slaves from eating them. He is scornful of her spells but knows that the slaves believe in her power. Mama Marina, in hopes of saving enough money to buy her daughter Sheba's freedom, takes her master's gold piece and puts a curse on the grapes that does indeed frighten her fellow slaves. Then, strangely, she asks Sheba and Joe Nathan, the man her daughter loves, to eat a bunch of the conjured grapes. After the harvest, Sheba and Joe Nathan mysteriously begin to fail and age as the grapevines wither and die. By the middle of the winter, with the grapevines lying dormant, the two lovers are so weak and sick that they are worthless to Master Alston, and Mama Marina is able to buy their freedom. With the coming of spring, Sheba and Joe Nathan slowly become young and strong again, just as the grapevines do. Hooks weaves a hopeful, poetic story about the ability of the oppressed to outwit those with power. Ransome's full-page paintings are lush and vivid, using light and shadow to convey the magic of Mama Marina's conjuring against a backdrop of the grim realities of slavery. m.v.k. Pat Hutchins, Author-Illustrator Titch and Daisy g Titch is back as a reluctant guest at a birthday party. Since he doesn't know the other children, who seem to be older than he is, and since he doesn't see his best friend Daisy, he moves from one hiding place to another while the other guests play games, sing, and dance. When birthday-cake time comes, he crawls under the table only to find Daisy hiding there, too, because she couldn't find him. The party ends happily with good things to eat and everyone joining in the fun and making new friends. The gouache illustrations, effectively set against white space, are vintage Pat Hutchins; the perceptive reader will spot Daisy in her own hiding places in each double-page spread. A pleasant portrayal of young children's dilemma when facing a new situation. h.b.z. Holly Keller, Author-Illustrator Geraldine First Like many older sisters, Geraldine is frustrated that her younger brother, Willie, is forever copying her. Just as she loses what little patience she had, Geraldine has an epiphany and turns her brother's admiration to good use. At Geraldine's suggestion, Willie copies Geraldine until he has inadvertently cleaned up her room. Geraldine and Willie are well-drawn characters, and their actions and emotions are true to childhood and sibling relationships. Readers will empathize with Geraldine's feelings of frustration and then of pride and confidence that she is indeed first in her own, and sometimes in her brother's, eyes. Keller expertly captures shades of emotion in her watercolor-and-ink illustrations. In a particularly wonderful double-page spread, Geraldine watches her brother struggle with piles of her blocks. Geraldine's smug expression and Willie's toddlerlike happiness at being allowed to play with his sister are made apparent with subtle line and posture. Readers will be pleased to discover another story about the endearing and very human pig family. m.v.k. Denizé Lauture Running the Road to ABC g Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. Six children - Dyesèl, Milsen, Preneyis, Loud, Kousou, and Toutoun - "begin to run long before the sun even thinks of rising." Where do these boys and girls go in such a hurry? Up and down sloping hills, through dew-drenched weeds, past local people, they run barefoot to beat the rising sun to their school. As they run, the children "dream of . . . one more word and one more line . . . and one more page of their little songs, their little songs in the great and beautiful books on the Road to ABC." Though there is little story, the rich lyrical language used by the author, a Haitian poet, creates a strong sense of place. The imagery and patterns of the text build tension as the children rush toward the promise of a better tomorrow. The lush, green country and sense of hope are reflected and enhanced by stylized, warmly detailed gouache paintings. Illustrations are carefully placed to propel the reader to the next page in this satisfying, poetic, and optimistic glimpse of Haitian children running, rushing, working for a brighter future. m.b.s. Pat Mora Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three g Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. A shopping trip to a Mexican market provides the setting for this counting book in both English and Spanish. The jaunty rhyme and repetition are a celebration of the sounds of the words and an introduction to the folk art of Mexico. Two moon-faced girls search the market for gifts for their mother's birthday and come home loaded down with ten presents, including pottery, a marionette, castanets, and a piñata. Each time the sisters meet a vendor, they add to their collection and the reader is introduced to a new number: "cinco, five / Puppets dance as if alive." The stylized paintings in muted reds, blues, and yellows give a warm glow to the setting. The illustrator re-creates designs from Mexican art and uses pattern to highlight the number sequence: the girls stop to watch six soldiers raising the Mexican flag in front of a building adorned with six windows, six awnings, and six flowerpots. The cheerful illustrations also visually develop the characters of the little girls; their faces express curiosity and pleasure at finding so many wonderful gifts for Mamá. The subdued dust jacket belies the bright, winsome story within. m.v.k. Jill Paton Walsh Connie Came to Play Illustrated by Stephen Lambert. This gentle story presents a peaceful and innovative solution to the common childhood problem of sharing toys with someone who comes to visit. Connie, the visitor, responds toÿeach of Robert's declarations that "it's mine" with a wonderful imaginary adventure. When Robert won't give up his toy train, Connieÿbecomes an engineer chugging along through the countryside in the cab of an imaginary train. In response to Robert's refusal to shareÿhis hobby horse, Connie goes galloping along the seashore on a horse with mane and tail flying. When Robert, in defiant possession of all his toys, confronts Connie, saying she can't share the adventures she is having in her head, Connie responds, "Yes I can . . . I can tell you a story." And the two children are on their way together on an adventure. The simple figures of the two children against a stark white background are in delightful contrast to the exciting, double-page spreads of Connie's imaginary escapades. h.b.z. Marisabina Russo, Author-Illustrator Grandpa Abe When Sarah is born, her grandmother's boyfriend, Abe, sneaks into the hospital to meet the new baby by pretending to be her grandfather. As Sarah grows, Abe marries her grandmother and becomes an important member of Sarah's family. This gentle story follows the unfolding relationship between Sarah and her grandfather, a man who shares Sarah's love of spaghetti and finds candy behind her ear. When Sarah is nine years old, Abe dies, and the story and illustrations focus on the gifts Abe has given her. She keeps Abe's memory close to her by wearing one of his sweaters because "it smelled like Abe" and by showing his magic thumb trick to the rest of the family. The quiet, realistic story is filled with details of everyday life. The reader comes to care about the characters in great part because they care for each other. The use of framed, flat paintings and past-tense narration gives the feeling of a photo album. Each painting is a snapshot of Sarah's life with Abe, and the facing text describes the vignettes. An effective and warm story about the best kind of sympathy, Grandpa Abe celebrates the special connection between a grandparent and a child. m.v.k. Cynthia Rylant The Old Woman Who Named Things Illustrated by Kathryn Brown. Loneliness is a perennial problem whether one is eighteen or eighty; it simply comes in different guises at different stages. Many succumb; others triumph, as does the feisty old woman who, having outlived all her friends, resorts to naming the inanimate objects on which she depends for transport, food, comfort, and shelter. A creative alternative to solitude, this device allows her to call things by name - but only those things that she feels certain will survive her. Then one day a shy, brown, homeless pup presents itself at her gate. Day after day she feeds it but refuses any closer ties, fearful that the pup won't last as long as her car, house, or chair. But love triumphs over reason in the satisfying denouement of this upbeat and unusual portrait of aging, complemented by full-color illustrations in a pastel palette. The colors are particularly suited to the handsome landscapes but are equally adaptable to characterization of the independent lady - who wears cowboy boots and clamdiggers rather than the more staid costumes of less flamboyant elders. m.m.b. H William Shakespeare The Tempest Retold by Ann Keay Beneduce. Illustrated by Gennady Spirin. Shakespeare's culminating work, The Tempest, incorporates many historical references as well as widely held beliefs of the English Renaissance. As the victim of intrigue in his own court, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, sketches for his daughter, Miranda, his companion in exile, the conflicts among the Italian city-states. The creatures who inhabit their enchanted isle, from the earth-bound evil Caliban to the spirit Ariel, represent polarities on the great chain of being and reflect widespread acceptance of supernatural phenomena. But it is the playwright's genius that melds all these elements into a drama of romance, revenge, and incredible beauty as the terrible storm raised by Prospero to destroy his enemies becomes an instrument of reconciliation. Beneduce has captured the essence of the story in a flowing prose retelling that incorporates some of the more famous passages, such as Prospero's speech and Ariel's songs. Spirin's full-color illustrations, with emphasis on curvilinear compositions and carefully modeled figures, echo the paintings of the Italian Renaissance while adapting them to the text. The resulting introduction to Shakespeare is as beguiling as the source. m.m.b. H Jessica Souhami, Reteller-Illustrator Old MacDonald Designed by Paul McAlinden. In this fresh, humorous portrayal, a dapper, long-legged Old MacDonald strides across the pages in his perky bow tie and elegant suit operating conveyances of increasing size. Flaps open to reveal the animal being transported in each vehicle: a duck in a little wagon, a baby carriage containing a pig, a sheep in a pick-up truck, a plane for a cow, and a rocket ship for a surprise visitor to Old MacDonald's farm - a small, green Martian. Imaginative layout of text and illustrations of painted paper collage with charcoal are used in bold, dramatic designs ending with a triple-page spread in which all the characters reappear in the cozy setting of the farmer's house. A sure-fire favorite for very young audiences. h.b.z. William Steig, Author-Illustrator The Toy Brother "Magnus Bede, the famous alchemist, and his happy-go-lucky wife, Eutilda, thought they had a harmonious family." Yorick Bede, however, considers his younger brother, Charles, "a first-rate pain in the pants." As his father's apprentice, Yorick dreams that he will eventually surpass his father's achievements, while Charles chases the chickens and argues with the goat. Yorick thinks very little of his brother until the time he finds he desperately needs Charles's help and protection. One day, while their parents are out of town, Yorick sneaksÿinto his father's laboratory, invents a new potion, and reduces himself to the size of a cockroach. Charles enjoys his new role as big brother, but he quickly realizes the many dangers for Yorick: hailstones and field mice are threats; a bucket of milk is an ocean. Try as he might, Yorick cannot prepare the proper antidote and is forced to tell his parents the shameful story upon their return. Magnus sets out to concoct the cure, but he is thwarted by one missing ingredient. In the end Yorick remembers the critical element, his father runs to the lab, and Yorick is restored. The Bedes resume their lives, essentially remaining themselves. "The two brothers sincerely appreciated each other now. Except when they were having a fight." Steig's tongue-in-cheek language is sophisticated and playful. The story's medieval setting provides a perfect forum for Steig's full-color, cartoonish illustrations. Expressive, slightly frumpy, rounded characters are contained on single and double pages by a thin black line to echo the lines of the drawings. Each illustration is bordered by deep lavender to focus and pull the viewer into the image. The result is a knee-slappingly funny book that will appeal to a broad range of readers. Once again, Steig has created a memorable complement of text and illustration. m.b.s. Melanie Walsh, Author-Illustrator Do Pigs Have Stripes? g In this delightful preschool read-aloud, a series of questions with illustrations prompts young listeners to guess the answers. "Does a bird have a big black wet nose?" is illustrated with an anonymous nose and muzzle. Turn the page to find a picture of a complete dog and the words, "No, a dog does." The juxtapositions of animals and characteristics are very silly and childlike. Children will delight in knowing that a mouse does NOT have a green spiky tail and a fish does NOT have a long tongue. In a final reversal, the text queries, "Does a giraffe have a long thin neck?" This ending allows the child who has learned the pattern of the book to enthusiastically and confidently break it. The flat, simple paintings done in bright bold colors call to mind the work of Lucy Cousins. The book design adds to the effect of the guessing game; animals are often too large to be contained within the confines of the page - the giraffe neck is painted horizontally along three pages to express its length. This beautifully executed debut picture book begs to be shared aloud and will have children clamoring to participate. m.v.k. Douglas Wood Northwoods Cradle Song: From a Menominee Lullaby g Illustrated by Lisa Desimini. "The far-off Thunder beats his drum. / We are safe here, should he come. / Safe." Douglas Wood's quiet, poetic adaptation of a traditional lullaby is filled with images of the natural world. The Menominee mother cradling her "sleepy head" baby points out "the songs the night winds play," including those of the homeward whippoorwills, golden bees, marsh hens, and the loon. Deep tones of rust, green, and gold glow in soft light against the midnight blue sky filling the double-spread pages. The strong, spare views of the Menominee woodland life are luminous. Lisa Desimini does note simplifying costume details to achieve "a more universal feel," but the tepees softly lighted by night fires along with the short refrain "Sleep, little warrior, sleep. / Go to sleep. / Go to sleep" anchor the piece to its particular origins. The tender tone and quiet, respectful references to nature beautifully convey the timeless sense of night and lullaby. Douglas Wood originally adapted the piece from early sources for singing, and although he does not include music here, the poetic lines nearly sing themselves. m.a.b. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Steig (Grown-ups Get to Do All the Driving, p. 640, etc.) is in fine form in this tale of the alchemist's children. Fired by an ambition to turn donkey dung into gold and other wonders, elder son Yorick sneaks into his father's lab, incautiously drinks a potion, and shrinks to the size of a peanut. Enjoying every minute, Yorick's once-scorned little brother, Charles, solicitously builds him a doll house, feeds him crumbs, and promises to take care of him forever. Their parents don't seem particularly dismayed either; as Yorick's father, Magnus, looks for an antidote, his mother, Eutilda, cheerfully begins building miniature furniture. When Magnus finally does find a cure, the whole family goes ``altogether out of their medieval minds,'' and the two brothers learn to appreciate one another thereafter--``except when they were having a fight.'' Steig tells the tale with flair--``It was just too marvelous. Yorick had made himself small as a sausage--and with only a drop of training''--and draws the family as humans rather than animals, a rarity for him. Another crowd pleaser. (Picture book. 5-7)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
