Caseley (Mickey’s Class Play, not reviewed, etc.) continues the (mis)adventures of Mickey, in a poignant tale about winning and losing. Best friends Mickey and Longjohn are inseparable. Despite their physical differences, they are well-matched during races. “Mickey was short and sturdy and quick. Longjohn was tall and thin and speedy.” When Field Day arrives, they are ecstatic to be on the same team together. Caseley captures all the excitement of these elementary school Olympics; the thrills and spills, covering classic events such as egg-and-spoon, crab walk, and the hallowed 50-yard dash. Through each event, the friends are unerringly supportive of each other, lightly brushing aside any mishaps. An untied shoelace, however, proves to be Mickey’s undoing during the dash. When Longjohn wins the coveted medal, Mickey suffers the pangs of loss. A homemade medal saluting him as a “First Place Brother” and friend from his sister and Longjohn helps Mickey refocus on the important things. While the tale doesn’t exactly portray an inspiring message about losing gracefully, Caseley addresses a prickly issue with honesty—sometimes you lose and feel bad about it. It’s this truthfulness that will appeal to readers, who can commiserate with Mickey. The brightly colored illustrations feature a multicultural collection of children, all eagerly participating in the events. Caseley’s vivid drawings highlight the suspenseful action and humor of the text. Despite his setback, Mickey learns a vital lesson about winning, losing, and the true value of friends. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 31, 2000
ISBN: 0-688-16761-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
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
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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