Newsome’s story makes painfully clear just how difficult it is to move into a new neighborhood, but children won’t find ways to address that difficulty in this improbable tale. Rosy’s world is turned upside down when her family moves away. “Nothing I did seemed right anymore. People started to say how rude and bad-tempered I was.” She’s having a meltdown, but no one seems to be able to help. One day, walking home from school through the woods after a snowfall, she finds an injured rabbit. Rosy takes it home and cares for it; dubbed Shadow, it fills an empty place in her life. When Shadow is missing, Rosy is heartbroken until a neighbor girl, Nancy, finds the rabbit and returns it to her. Rosy, Nancy, and Shadow all become good friends. Children will find the one logical gap; they’re given no sign that Nancy knows Shadow belongs to Rosy. The moody artwork beautifully conveys Rosy’s loneliness, and her joy in finding Shadow, and a new friend. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-7894-2631-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
A skirmish over a favorite stuffed rabbit nearly destroys a friendship and the toy itself, but well-timed physical and emotional bandaging saves the day. When a little boy moves in next door to a little girl they quickly becomes friends and start sharing toys. This works well for cars, trucks, bears, and balls, but when the boy shows up with a new stuffed rabbit, cooperation goes out the window. In the ensuing tug-of-rabbit, each child yanks on the poor bunny’s ears until the stitching gives way. Figuring out a way to repair the rabbit also eventually patches up the friendship. Minor battles rage in homes and preschools everywhere, so children and adults alike will appreciate this subtle example of a peaceful resolution to toy disputes. Jahn-Clough’s pleasantly stubby children convey both healthy loud-mouthed anger and substantial charm. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-395-93545-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The poster boy for relentless mischief-makers everywhere, first encountered in No, David! (1998), gives his weary mother a rest by going to school. Naturally, he’s tardy, and that’s but the first in a long string of offenses—“Sit down, David! Keep your hands to yourself! PAY ATTENTION!”—that culminates in an afterschool stint. Children will, of course, recognize every line of the text and every one of David’s moves, and although he doesn’t exhibit the larger- than-life quality that made him a tall-tale anti-hero in his first appearance, his round-headed, gap-toothed enthusiasm is still endearing. For all his disruptive behavior, he shows not a trace of malice, and it’ll be easy for readers to want to encourage his further exploits. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-590-48087-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1999
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