Fairy tales run amok in this great poke at the stories of “unfortunate events.” Maestro Von Haughty is the curly-mustachioed director of the Wayward Orphans Theatre. He plans to present three “tales of terror and misfortune.” But it seems as though his young charges have had enough trouble in their lives, as they attempt to liven up the tales and cause disaster for the director. Lilly Riley-Hood chooses to act out the part of a fairy princess in the Wild West. The cast begins again, but Jack’s Giant turns out to be a huge bunny—definitely not dark and dreadful. And when the giant bunny rescues Hansel and Gretel, the curtain closes on Von Haughty and his cheer-seeking orphans. Villainous-looking Von Haughty narrates, while the illustrations are interspersed with the hilarious and often astute comments of the child actors. Cecil’s illustrations are definitely a high point; readers will see orphans holding up the props and standing on each other’s shoulders to act out the grown-up parts, and small details will keep them searching the pictures even after countless retellings. A hysterical addition to any fractured-fairytale collection. (Picture book. 4-10)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-8050-6779-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2004
One of the watershed moments in African-American history—the defeat of James Braddock at the hands of Joe Louis—is here given an earnest picture-book treatment. Despite his lack of athletic ability, Sammy wants desperately to be a great boxer, like his hero, getting boxing lessons from his friend Ernie in exchange for help with schoolwork. However hard he tries, though, Sammy just can’t box, and his father comforts him, reminding him that he doesn’t need to box: Joe Louis has shown him that he “can be the champion at anything [he] want[s].” The high point of this offering is the big fight itself, everyone crowded around the radio in Mister Jake’s general store, the imagined fight scenes played out in soft-edged sepia frames. The main story, however, is so bent on providing Sammy and the reader with object lessons that all subtlety is lost, as Mister Jake, Sammy’s father, and even Ernie hammer home the message. Both text and oil-on-canvas-paper illustrations go for the obvious angle, making the effort as a whole worthy, but just a little too heavy-handed. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: May 1, 2004
ISBN: 1-58430-161-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
Give this child’s-eye view of a day at the beach with an attentive father high marks for coziness: “When your ball blows across the sand and into the ocean and starts to drift away, your daddy could say, Didn’t I tell you not to play too close to the waves? But he doesn’t. He wades out into the cold water. And he brings your ball back to the beach and plays roll and catch with you.” Alley depicts a moppet and her relaxed-looking dad (to all appearances a single parent) in informally drawn beach and domestic settings: playing together, snuggling up on the sofa and finally hugging each other goodnight. The third-person voice is a bit distancing, but it makes the togetherness less treacly, and Dad’s mix of love and competence is less insulting, to parents and children both, than Douglas Wood’s What Dads Can’t Do (2000), illus by Doug Cushman. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: May 23, 2005
ISBN: 0-618-00361-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2005
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