Pithy tellings accompanied by sumptuous illustrations make for a delightful collection.
From a Dutch Iraqi author and storyteller, a collection of folktales that take place in ancient Iraq and Persia.
Characters range from humble to royal and include animals and even magical speaking objects. Familiar themes such as staying true to oneself and finding contentment in one’s circumstances are woven into the tales, sometimes as straightforward adages (“If you are satisfied with what you have, then you are rich”; “we must not listen to others, but to…our own hearts”), other times with complex twists and turns that challenge readers to deduce their own moral before arriving at the ending. Many stories are presented within frames, and the relationship between storyteller and listener changes throughout; sometimes it’s father and son, other times grandmother and grandchild; still others it’s friends. There is a strong undercurrent of humor, as in the tale told by one traveler to another—who falls asleep before the raconteur is finished. Aalders’ vivid, brilliantly colored cut-paper illustrations present insects and vegetables with the same loving level of detail as scenes of the Euphrates, palaces, and expansive deserts. Two stories feature characters who twist Islam into a bitter, untrue faith, to be corrected by a loving God in the end; they are the only explicitly religious characters in the book. Short, witty, and direct, these tales make perfect short bedtime reads or interludes during the day.
Pithy tellings accompanied by sumptuous illustrations make for a delightful collection. (collector’s note) (Folktales. 7-12)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1450-5
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
After Castro’s takeover, nine-year-old Julian and his older brothers are sent away by their fearful parents via “Operation Pedro Pan” to a camp in Miami for Cuban-exile children. Here he discovers that a ruthless bully has essentially been put in charge. Julian is quicker-witted than his brothers or anyone else ever imagined, though, and with his inherent smarts, developing maturity and the help of child and adult friends, he learns to navigate the dynamics of the camp and surroundings and grows from the former baby of the family to independence and self-confidence. A daring rescue mission at the end of the novel will have readers rooting for Julian even as it opens his family’s eyes to his courage and resourcefulness. This autobiographical novel is a well-meaning, fast-paced and often exciting read, though at times the writing feels choppy. It will introduce readers to a not-so-distant period whose echoes are still felt today and inspire admiration for young people who had to be brave despite frightening and lonely odds. (Historical fiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59643-168-3
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
A fast and funny alternative to the Wimpy Kid.
Black sixth-grader Jake Liston can only play one song on the piano. He can’t read music very well, and he can’t improvise. So how did Jake get accepted to the Music and Art Academy? He faked it.
Alongside an eclectic group of academy classmates, and with advice from his best friend, Jake tries to fit in at a school where things like garbage sculpting and writing art reviews of bird poop splatter are the norm. All is well until Jake discovers that the end-of-the-semester talent show is only two weeks away, and Jake is short one very important thing…talent. Or is he? It’s up to Jake to either find the talent that lies within or embarrass himself in front of the entire school. Light and humorous, with Knight’s illustrations adding to the fun, Jake’s story will likely appeal to many middle-grade readers, especially those who might otherwise be reluctant to pick up a book. While the artsy antics may be over-the-top at times, this is a story about something that most preteens can relate to: the struggle to find your authentic self. And in a world filled with books about wanting to fit in with the athletically gifted supercliques, this novel unabashedly celebrates the artsy crowd in all of its quirky, creative glory.
A fast and funny alternative to the Wimpy Kid. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-553-52351-5
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
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