Evans (The Tower, not reviewed, etc.) adds to his successful string of sentimental Christmas stories with this longer one of a young boy named Alexander whose kindness to a stranger results in a special honor. The setting is the mythical walled village of Noel, which has a tradition of a huge brass torch that burns each Christmas next to the decorated town tree. This year an additional holiday feature has been announced, with a contest of Christmas gift offerings to determine who will light the flame. On his way to the holiday celebration, Alexander helps an elderly man who has collapsed in the snow outside the city. This man turns out to be the Keeper of the Flame, who declares Alexander’s gift (the offering of kind aid to a stranger) the winner of the contest. The clearly stated lesson is that kind actions toward others supercede the importance of material gifts; other interpretations include Christian symbolism and the parable of the Good Samaritan. In his first work for children, Craig offers realistic, digitally produced illustrations of the snowy village and its inhabitants dressed in old-fashioned garb, all glowing with candlelight, starlight, and the torch’s flame. His illustrations show the Keeper of the Flame as a striking fellow with a huge white beard and flowing robes: part Moses, part God, part saint, part Santa. Some will find this a saccharine story; his audience will see a parable of faith, hope, and charity. Predictable Evans with predictable results. (Picture book. 6-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-689-83468-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
In a snowbound Swiss village, Matti figures it’s a good day to make a gingerbread man. He and his mother mix a batch of gingerbread and tuck it in the oven, but Matti is too impatient to wait ten minutes without peeking. When he opens the door, out pops a gingerbread baby, taunting the familiar refrain, “Catch me if you can.” The brash imp races all over the village, teasing animals and tweaking the noses of the citizenry, until there is a fair crowd on his heels intent on giving him a drubbing. Always he remains just out of reach as he races over the winterscape, beautifully rendered with elegant countryside and architectural details by Brett. All the while, Matti is busy back home, building a gingerbread house to entice the nervy cookie to safe harbor. It works, too, and Matti is able to spirit the gingerbread baby away from the mob. The mischief-maker may be a brat, but the gingerbread cookie is also the agent of good cheer, and Brett allows that spirit to run free on these pages. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-399-23444-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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