bookshelf

BLUE-RIBBON HENRY

Name: BLUE-RIBBON HENRY
Author: Mary Calhoun
ISBN: 0-688-14674-0

by Mary Calhoun ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1999

bookshelf

PLB 0-688-14675-9 Blue-Ribbon Henry (40 pp.; $16.00; PLB $15.93; May; 0-688-14674-0; PLB 0-688-14675-9): Calhoun and Ingraham (Henry the Sailor Cat, 1994, etc.) welcome readers to the hustle and bustle of a county fair where Buttons, the dog, and Henry, the cat, are entered into a pet show. When Henry gets loose from his cage and enters the greased-pig pen, the excitement is just beginning. Henry paws at and bursts the balloon of a lost child, but redeems himself by returning her to the safety of her mother’s arms. Is it any wonder that Henry wins a blue ribbon? Ingraham’s illustrations capture all of the highlights and atmosphere of a county fair in the summertime. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: May 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-688-14674-0

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
FLOOD
by Mary Calhoun & illustrated by Erick Ingraham

- BOOK REVIEW
TONIO'S CAT
by Mary Calhoun & illustrated by Edward Martinez

- BOOK REVIEW
HENRY THE SAILOR CAT
by Mary Calhoun & illustrated by Erick Ingraham

bookshelf

QUACK AND COUNT

by Keith Baker & illustrated by Keith Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

bookshelf

Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-292858-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
LMNO PEA-QUEL
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
HAP-PEA ALL YEAR
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE GREEN PEAS
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

bookshelf

BIG BROWN BEAR

by David McPhail & illustrated by David McPhail ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999

bookshelf

Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)