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THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF

Name: THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
Author: Glen Rounds
ISBN: 0-8234-1015-3

‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 1993

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Rounds has never won the big awards, but this gem is evidence of a marvelous talent that has produced ever stronger and subtler illustration since Ol' Paul, the Mighty Logger (1936). He tells this familiar tale like a fine storyteller who doesn't remember the traditional words, exactly, but knows what's important and which corners want smoothing to suit his audience, producing a vigorous text—as good as the original—that tempers the violence (the troll is knocked into the river and never seen again) without compromising the tale's essential character. The illustrations may be Rounds's best. His bold, black, angular lines are feathered or broken here, varied in weight or smudged into the judiciously added color that brightens the clean white pages, to create marvels of characterization: the prancing goats' careless arrogance is slyly modulated from goat to goat and scene to scene, while the troll—despite gory-looking extremities and a terrible visage—has an appealing vulnerability. The designer deserves special credit for choosing a bold but elegant typeface that harmonizes perfectly with Rounds's art, in weight and position and through the many changes in size that the tale demands. Absolutely splendid. (Folklore/Picture book. 1-8)

Pub Date: April 15, 1993

ISBN: 0-8234-1015-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1993

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
ONCE WE HAD A HORSE
by Glen Rounds & illustrated by Glen Rounds

- BOOK REVIEW
THREE LITTLE PIGS and THE BIG BAD WOLF

- BOOK REVIEW
COWBOYS
by Glen Rounds & illustrated by Glen Rounds

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A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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CINDERELLA

From the Once Upon a World series

by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016

A nice but not requisite purchase.

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A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.

Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.

A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)