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THE BEST NEST

Name: THE BEST NEST
Author: Doris L. Mueller
ISBN: 978-1-934359-09-9

by Doris L. Mueller & illustrated by Sherry Neidigh ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2008

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Loosely based on an un-cited folk tale, this avian fable seems to extol the benefits of listening carefully to instructions, but actually promotes the opposite. As only Magpie knows how to build a good nest, the other birds ask her for instructions—but some fly off at each stage, thinking they’ve learned all they need to know. Only Oriole stays till the end, which is why, to this day, Oriole and Magpie have strong, beautiful nests while, for instance, Killdeer and Whippoorwill lay eggs on open ground, Starling’s nest is messy, etc. Mueller leaves readers to draw their own conclusions, which is likely to result in some confusion as the various nesting styles have demonstrably served the all-American cast well enough. Neidigh renders the birds with fair accuracy, but doesn’t pay close attention herself, as Robin’s eggs are nestled in a cozy nest from the start. A large closing section of additional facts and quizzes can’t boost this past the two (at least) earlier single versions of the tale already available. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)

Pub Date: March 1, 2008

ISBN: 978-1-934359-09-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sylvan Dell

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2008

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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DIARY OF A SPIDER

by Doreen Cronin & illustrated by Harry Bliss ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2005

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The wriggly narrator of Diary of a Worm (2003) puts in occasional appearances, but it’s his arachnid buddy who takes center stage here, with terse, tongue-in-cheek comments on his likes (his close friend Fly, Charlotte’s Web), his dislikes (vacuums, people with big feet), nervous encounters with a huge Daddy Longlegs, his extended family—which includes a Grandpa more than willing to share hard-won wisdom (The secret to a long, happy life: “Never fall asleep in a shoe.”)—and mishaps both at spider school and on the human playground. Bliss endows his garden-dwellers with faces and the odd hat or other accessory, and creates cozy webs or burrows colorfully decorated with corks, scraps, plastic toys and other human detritus. Spider closes with the notion that we could all get along, “just like me and Fly,” if we but got to know one another. Once again, brilliantly hilarious. (Picture book. 6-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-06-000153-4

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
MAMA IN THE MOON
by Doreen Cronin ; illustrated by Brian Cronin

- BOOK REVIEW
LAWRENCE & SOPHIA
by Doreen Cronin ; illustrated by Brian Cronin

- BOOK REVIEW
CLICK, CLACK, GOOD NIGHT
by Doreen Cronin ; illustrated by Betsy Lewin

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HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE STARRY NIGHT

From the Henry and Mudge series

by Cynthia Rylant & illustrated by Sucie Stevenson ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1998

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Rylant (Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers, 1998, etc.) slips into a sentimental mode for this latest outing of the boy and his dog, as she sends Mudge and Henry and his parents off on a camping trip. Each character is attended to, each personality sketched in a few brief words: Henry's mother is the camping veteran with outdoor savvy; Henry's father doesn't know a tent stake from a marshmallow fork, but he's got a guitar for campfire entertainment; and the principals are their usual ready-for-fun selves. There are sappy moments, e.g., after an evening of star- gazing, Rylant sends the family off to bed with: ``Everyone slept safe and sound and there were no bears, no scares. Just the clean smell of trees . . . and wonderful green dreams.'' With its nice tempo, the story is as toasty as its campfire and swaddled in Stevenson's trusty artwork. (Fiction. 6-8)