A generally useful and easily readable effort with lots of practical advice, especially appropriate for gradeschoolers and...
With so many children being diagnosed with autism-spectrum disorders, numerous new advice books are becoming available. This is one of the more useful ones.
With a broad intended audience of 8- to 13-year-olds, this effort risks being too simple for older readers or too complex for the youngest ones. Most of the time it finds middle ground, although it definitely leans toward being most appropriate for the younger end of that range. Somewhat juvenile ideas such as crafting a crown to be worn by a person speaking (to focus attention there) and a section on appropriately using the bathroom will likely offend older readers. Beginning with a brief description of autism-spectrum disorder, it then systematically moves through some of the more challenging aspects of the disorder. It explains in clear language strategies children can train themselves to employ to improve functioning in the neurotypical world and why these might be useful. These ideas range from watching videotapes of their own interactions with others and personal-hygiene advice to ways to identify impending meltdowns and avoid or minimize them. A lot of the advice is highlighted in color, and additional text boxes that describe children with ASD are printed on brightly contrasting, perhaps distracting, backgrounds.
A generally useful and easily readable effort with lots of practical advice, especially appropriate for gradeschoolers and their caregivers. (Nonfiction. 8-11)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-57542-385-2
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
Though usually cast as the trickster, Coyote is more victim than victimizer, making this a nice complement to other Coyote...
Two republished tales by a Greco-Cherokee author feature both folkloric and modern elements as well as new illustrations.
One of the two has never been offered south of the (Canadian) border. In “Coyote Sings to the Moon,” the doo-wop hymn sung nightly by Old Woman and all the animals except tone-deaf Coyote isn’t enough to keep Moon from hiding out at the bottom of the lake—until she is finally driven forth by Coyote’s awful wailing. She has been trying to return to the lake ever since, but that piercing howl keeps her in the sky. In “Coyote’s New Suit” he is schooled in trickery by Raven, who convinces him to steal the pelts of all the other animals while they’re bathing, sends the bare animals to take clothes from the humans’ clothesline, and then sets the stage for a ruckus by suggesting that Coyote could make space in his overcrowded closet by having a yard sale. No violence ensues, but from then to now humans and animals have not spoken to one another. In Eggenschwiler’s monochrome scenes Coyote and the rest stand on hind legs and (when stripped bare) sport human limbs. Old Woman might be Native American; the only other completely human figure is a pale-skinned girl.
Though usually cast as the trickster, Coyote is more victim than victimizer, making this a nice complement to other Coyote tales. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-55498-833-4
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
Though certainly not a systematic overview of Picasso’s life and career, this intimate, child’s-eye view serves up a winning...
“Picasso was great fun to play with. He liked to romp around on the floor and have pretend bullfights. His tweed jacket was nice and scratchy. He smelled good too. He smelled of cologne and French tobacco.”
To a set of seldom-seen photos taken by his mother, Lee Miller, interspersed with both pictures of roughly hewn toys and playful art created by Picasso and a page of drawings of the titular incident by modern children, Penrose adds appreciative comments and authentically sketchy childhood memories of a renowned family friend. Taken in France and England, the photos offer glimpses of the artist in his studio or posing with young Antony, along with shots of his own children, other friends such as George Braque and artwork done in a characteristic array of media and found materials. Images of colorful works from the author’s personal collection are added as well; the author's little Noah's Ark set appears juxtaposed to a tiny Picasso piece called Mrs. Noah, for instance. The text itself adds playful notes with variations in size and weight, along with occasional wavy lines and is set on solid backgrounds of pale blues, yellows, lilacs and other pastel hues.
Though certainly not a systematic overview of Picasso’s life and career, this intimate, child’s-eye view serves up a winning glimpse of the artist’s personality and unparalleled creative breadth. (glossary, thumbnail bios) (Memoir. 8-10)Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9728-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
BOOK TO SCREEN
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
