Though it's not clear whether this is an original or a traditional tale, it's an appealing addition to the pourquoi shelf.
A tale from an Inuit folklorist and her husband explains how the walrus' tusks came to be straight.
Long ago, the tale begins, creatures could draw upon the Land's mystical Strength to take whatever shape they liked. Walrus uses his lovely, long spiraled tusks to scoop clams up from the seabed. Raven, who loves clams, was envious. Not brave enough to change shape to dive for them herself, she just digs "each clam from the icky shore." One day Walrus makes the mistake of mocking Raven, and she uses the Strength of the Land to freeze the walrus in ice; only his head and snout are above its surface. After Raven's protracted gloating, Walrus finally summons the Strength to break free, emerging with red eyes and straight tusks. The Qitsualik-Tinsleys tell an elemental tale, humor and emotions equally broad and visceral. Short sentences both evoke the oral experience and keep the pacing brisk. Brennan's illustrations meld an animation aesthetic with a cool palette appropriate to the setting. They are at their most successful when depicting the tale's emotional high points; Raven's crackling anger is made manifest with lightning bolts, while Walrus' icy fury is barely contained in his looming bulk. Less emotive moments are weaker, but throughout, there's a pleasing child-friendliness.
Though it's not clear whether this is an original or a traditional tale, it's an appealing addition to the pourquoi shelf. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-927095-68-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Inhabit Media
Review Posted Online: Nov. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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