Karen GoatKeeper's Blog, page 11
October 15, 2024
"The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship" and "Big Chickens"
One is a traditional fairy tale and the other is lots of fun.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
4 stars
Author: Arthur Ransome
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Although this version is retold from a Russian tale, it is similar to ones in the European tradition where the youngest succeeds when the elders fail.
A Czar announces the one who brings him a flying ship will marry his lovely daughter. Two brothers insist they can succeed and set off never to be heard of again. The youngest brother, one long considered to be a fool, decides he will try.
He meets many strange people and overcomes several challenges set by the Czar.
The illustrations preserve a Russian flavor for the tale in the dress, landscapes and people. They are filled with details and interesting to explore on their own.
Big Chickens
5 stars
Author: Leslie Helakoski
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Four big hens panic at the sight of a wolf, tumbling into each other, out of their coop and head for the woods. They get into several difficulties, each one triggering the four to tumble into each other and so fall into trouble again. When they finally face the wolf, the ending is not the expected wolf dinner. this is one fun, funny book, especially if you have ever owned chickens.
The illustrations are big, bold, colorful and full of fun. The expressions on the faces of the hens are fantastic.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
4 stars
Author: Arthur Ransome
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Although this version is retold from a Russian tale, it is similar to ones in the European tradition where the youngest succeeds when the elders fail.
A Czar announces the one who brings him a flying ship will marry his lovely daughter. Two brothers insist they can succeed and set off never to be heard of again. The youngest brother, one long considered to be a fool, decides he will try.
He meets many strange people and overcomes several challenges set by the Czar.
The illustrations preserve a Russian flavor for the tale in the dress, landscapes and people. They are filled with details and interesting to explore on their own.
Big Chickens
5 stars
Author: Leslie Helakoski
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Four big hens panic at the sight of a wolf, tumbling into each other, out of their coop and head for the woods. They get into several difficulties, each one triggering the four to tumble into each other and so fall into trouble again. When they finally face the wolf, the ending is not the expected wolf dinner. this is one fun, funny book, especially if you have ever owned chickens.
The illustrations are big, bold, colorful and full of fun. The expressions on the faces of the hens are fantastic.
October 11, 2024
"Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet" and "The Little Ghost Who was a Quilt"
Halloween is coming...
Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Diane de Groat
Gilbert designs his Halloween costume to be different. His younger sister Lola plans to be a ballerina.
He is in school. She wants to be and copies him. That's how Gilbert gets to school with the wrong costume.
This is a family that looks like opossums. They are cute.
The title? What to say when going around the neighborhood.
The Little Ghost Who was a Quilt
4 stars
Author: Riel Nason
Illustrator: Byron Eggenschwiler
All the ghosts are sheets except one. True, he had ancestors who were other things. He is a quilt.
A quilt is heavier than a sheet. This ghost gets left behind.
Being a quilt turns out to be a good thing one Halloween night.
Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Diane de Groat
Gilbert designs his Halloween costume to be different. His younger sister Lola plans to be a ballerina.
He is in school. She wants to be and copies him. That's how Gilbert gets to school with the wrong costume.
This is a family that looks like opossums. They are cute.
The title? What to say when going around the neighborhood.
The Little Ghost Who was a Quilt
4 stars
Author: Riel Nason
Illustrator: Byron Eggenschwiler
All the ghosts are sheets except one. True, he had ancestors who were other things. He is a quilt.
A quilt is heavier than a sheet. This ghost gets left behind.
Being a quilt turns out to be a good thing one Halloween night.
October 8, 2024
"Smoky Nights", "/a Home in the Barn" and "The Horse that Jumped"
Many people may think picture books are just for fun. This is true of many. But others deal with issues children may face.
Smoky Night
5 stars
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: David Diaz
Riots make the news with video of rampaging people and burning cars and buildings. This book is about a child and mother threatened by a riot. It talks about what they see and what happens to them in a simple, nonthreatening manner.
The illustrations are different. Each has some background as pavement or crumpled paper. The text and a painting is over this. The drawings have bold, black outlines like some impressionist paintings.
A Home in the Barn
5 stars
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Winter is coming. Already the cows are snug in their barn. Now the other creatures, both livestock and wild, are taking shelter from the cold and wet.
The illustrations bring the animals to life with their weeping strokes, expressions and colors.
The Horse That Jumped
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Thomas Docherty
Pure fantasy for horse lovers. A horse out having fun jumping over any and every thing ends up in a girl's bedroom. Together they go out racing, jumping impossible things until she floats down into her bed asleep. The horse is off again.
The images show the pure joy of both the horse and the girl as they have this magical adventure.
Smoky Night
5 stars
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: David Diaz
Riots make the news with video of rampaging people and burning cars and buildings. This book is about a child and mother threatened by a riot. It talks about what they see and what happens to them in a simple, nonthreatening manner.
The illustrations are different. Each has some background as pavement or crumpled paper. The text and a painting is over this. The drawings have bold, black outlines like some impressionist paintings.
A Home in the Barn
5 stars
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Winter is coming. Already the cows are snug in their barn. Now the other creatures, both livestock and wild, are taking shelter from the cold and wet.
The illustrations bring the animals to life with their weeping strokes, expressions and colors.
The Horse That Jumped
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Thomas Docherty
Pure fantasy for horse lovers. A horse out having fun jumping over any and every thing ends up in a girl's bedroom. Together they go out racing, jumping impossible things until she floats down into her bed asleep. The horse is off again.
The images show the pure joy of both the horse and the girl as they have this magical adventure.
October 4, 2024
"Chocolatina" and "At the Old Haunted House"
Candy and spooks, a Halloween combination was on the list this week.
Chocolatina
4 stars
Author: Erik Kraft
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Tina loves chocolate. She includes it in some form at every meal.
Tina's health teacher insists that "You are what you eat." Tina wishes this were true and wakes up to find herself made of chocolate.
The illustrations are definitely going to make any chocolate lover hungry. But being made of chocolate will lose its appeal.
At the Old Haunted House
4 stars
Author: Helen Ketteman
Illustrator: Nate Wragg
The text begins as a counting and rhyming book. When the count gets to ten, three trick-or-treaters bring in a fun rhyming party.
The illustrations have a cartoon look that makes them fun and fit the text which uses its font to become part of the illustrations. they are a fun look at a fantasy Halloween party.
Chocolatina
4 stars
Author: Erik Kraft
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Tina loves chocolate. She includes it in some form at every meal.
Tina's health teacher insists that "You are what you eat." Tina wishes this were true and wakes up to find herself made of chocolate.
The illustrations are definitely going to make any chocolate lover hungry. But being made of chocolate will lose its appeal.
At the Old Haunted House
4 stars
Author: Helen Ketteman
Illustrator: Nate Wragg
The text begins as a counting and rhyming book. When the count gets to ten, three trick-or-treaters bring in a fun rhyming party.
The illustrations have a cartoon look that makes them fun and fit the text which uses its font to become part of the illustrations. they are a fun look at a fantasy Halloween party.
October 1, 2024
"The Little Yellow Leaf" and "ABC's of Halloween"
Fall topics for reading in the fall.
The Little Yellow Leaf
3 stars
Author/Illustrator: Carin Berger
Fall means falling leaves. A single yellow leaf isn't ready to drop off the branch yet. It holds on and watches the fall season unfold. The story is very simple and augmented greatly by the illustrations.
The illustrations are done with cut paper. They are nice. I did find some of the pieces had printing on them which was annoying.
ABC's of Halloween
5 stars favorite
Author/Illustrator: Patricia Reeder Eubank
The letters are carved into pumpkins. The black cats romp through the pages. Each letter has words starting with the letter and related to Halloween.
Each illustration has so much packed into it. All are Halloween related. Every one requires careful inspection to find all the creatures and goings on.
The illustrations are beautifully detailed, colorful. The witches, dragons and cats steal the show.
The Little Yellow Leaf
3 stars
Author/Illustrator: Carin Berger
Fall means falling leaves. A single yellow leaf isn't ready to drop off the branch yet. It holds on and watches the fall season unfold. The story is very simple and augmented greatly by the illustrations.
The illustrations are done with cut paper. They are nice. I did find some of the pieces had printing on them which was annoying.
ABC's of Halloween
5 stars favorite
Author/Illustrator: Patricia Reeder Eubank
The letters are carved into pumpkins. The black cats romp through the pages. Each letter has words starting with the letter and related to Halloween.
Each illustration has so much packed into it. All are Halloween related. Every one requires careful inspection to find all the creatures and goings on.
The illustrations are beautifully detailed, colorful. The witches, dragons and cats steal the show.
September 27, 2024
"Soar High, Dragonfly!", "The Mare on the Hill" and "Cloud Dance"
All of these look at nature. Fall is a time to admire nature.
Soar High, Dragonfly!
4 stars
Author: Sheri Mabry Bestor
Illustrator: Jonny Lambert
Dragonflies are so easy to recognize with their strong flight and large size. The book is written on two levels. One is a simple story about the life of a dragonfly. The other is composed of many informative paragraphs about dragonflies.
The illustrations are evidently assembled from cut paper. They are intricate and interesting.
The Mare on the Hill
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Thomas Locker
The story is about a white mare brought home and turned loose into a hilly pasture. She has been mistreated and trust no one, although the boys never give up trying to win her trust.
What is truly spectacular in this book are the illustrations which look like they belong in an art museum. The attention to detail makes these oil illustrations lure the reader into the mare's world.
Cloud Dance
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Thomas Locker
So often people, especially children draw clouds as blobs of white. Clouds appear in a huge array of shapes. Their colors change from their thickness, their shapes, the time of day, so many factors.
Few of the clouds in the illustrations are white. None of them are blobs. These illustrations are oils looking like art museum entries. The array of clouds and their many colors are beautiful.
There is a page about kinds of clouds at the end.
Soar High, Dragonfly!
4 stars
Author: Sheri Mabry Bestor
Illustrator: Jonny Lambert
Dragonflies are so easy to recognize with their strong flight and large size. The book is written on two levels. One is a simple story about the life of a dragonfly. The other is composed of many informative paragraphs about dragonflies.
The illustrations are evidently assembled from cut paper. They are intricate and interesting.
The Mare on the Hill
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Thomas Locker
The story is about a white mare brought home and turned loose into a hilly pasture. She has been mistreated and trust no one, although the boys never give up trying to win her trust.
What is truly spectacular in this book are the illustrations which look like they belong in an art museum. The attention to detail makes these oil illustrations lure the reader into the mare's world.
Cloud Dance
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Thomas Locker
So often people, especially children draw clouds as blobs of white. Clouds appear in a huge array of shapes. Their colors change from their thickness, their shapes, the time of day, so many factors.
Few of the clouds in the illustrations are white. None of them are blobs. These illustrations are oils looking like art museum entries. The array of clouds and their many colors are beautiful.
There is a page about kinds of clouds at the end.
September 24, 2024
"It's Moving Day" and "Stellaluna"
Nature is a popular subject for picture books. Some are more fact based. Others are closer to fantasy. Still others use the animals as substitute humans. However it's done, nature rules.
It's Moving Day
5 stars
Author: Pamela Hickman
Illustrator: Geraldo Valerio
A groundhog aka woodchuck gets up one spring and leaves his winter den behind. What happens to this great place to live? All kinds of animals make use of this home.
The animals are stylized, but very recognizable. The colors are vivid. This is a fun book.
Stellaluna
5 stars favorite
Author/Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Bats often get a bad rap as flying rats, vampires and more. They are far different as some consume tons of insects, others pollinate flowers and others eat fruit.
This is the story of a young fruit bat trying to grow up after being separated from its mother. It is whimsey, but a really cute story.
As in all her books, the illustrations are fantastic. Stellaluna is so lovable and gets into some really funny situations.
It's Moving Day
5 stars
Author: Pamela Hickman
Illustrator: Geraldo Valerio
A groundhog aka woodchuck gets up one spring and leaves his winter den behind. What happens to this great place to live? All kinds of animals make use of this home.
The animals are stylized, but very recognizable. The colors are vivid. This is a fun book.
Stellaluna
5 stars favorite
Author/Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Bats often get a bad rap as flying rats, vampires and more. They are far different as some consume tons of insects, others pollinate flowers and others eat fruit.
This is the story of a young fruit bat trying to grow up after being separated from its mother. It is whimsey, but a really cute story.
As in all her books, the illustrations are fantastic. Stellaluna is so lovable and gets into some really funny situations.
September 20, 2024
"Verdi", "A Home For the Winter" and "Howling Hill"
This was a week for nature books.
A Home For the Winter
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Second Grade Students, Stoddert Elementary, Washington, D.C.
The story is simple, but interesting. An eagle flying south for the winter wonders how some animals who stay in the north survive the winter. He magically transforms into some of them to find out.
Simple collages form the illustrations. They serve the purpose well.
Howling Hill
5 stars
Author: Will Hobbs
Illustrator: Jill Kastner
Some wolf pups are playing when one drifts away on a log. She finally makes it to shore far from her pack's home. Her challenge is to get home through the snow and, once there, to connect with the other wolves.
The illustrations are done in oils. The animals are in thick smears of paint. These are very effective in creating the wolves and bringing their actions alive.
Verdi
5 stars favorite
Author/Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Green tree pythons are green as adults. Verdi is a hatchling and yellow with black markings. He loves his yellow color and wants to keep it forever. Besides, adult greens are lazy and boring, something he never wants to be.
Verdi's adventures get him into trouble, big trouble. Worst of all, his beautiful yellow turns relentlessly green.
The illustrations are vivid. There are pencil drawings of some things under the text. Some pages are devoted to Verdi's spectacular gymnastics.
The last pages tell about snakes.
A Home For the Winter
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Second Grade Students, Stoddert Elementary, Washington, D.C.
The story is simple, but interesting. An eagle flying south for the winter wonders how some animals who stay in the north survive the winter. He magically transforms into some of them to find out.
Simple collages form the illustrations. They serve the purpose well.
Howling Hill
5 stars
Author: Will Hobbs
Illustrator: Jill Kastner
Some wolf pups are playing when one drifts away on a log. She finally makes it to shore far from her pack's home. Her challenge is to get home through the snow and, once there, to connect with the other wolves.
The illustrations are done in oils. The animals are in thick smears of paint. These are very effective in creating the wolves and bringing their actions alive.
Verdi
5 stars favorite
Author/Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Green tree pythons are green as adults. Verdi is a hatchling and yellow with black markings. He loves his yellow color and wants to keep it forever. Besides, adult greens are lazy and boring, something he never wants to be.
Verdi's adventures get him into trouble, big trouble. Worst of all, his beautiful yellow turns relentlessly green.
The illustrations are vivid. There are pencil drawings of some things under the text. Some pages are devoted to Verdi's spectacular gymnastics.
The last pages tell about snakes.
September 17, 2024
"All About Turkeys", "Shadow the Deer" and "Imogene's Last Stand"
As the year seeps into fall, I'm reading more nature books. The other caught my eye with its cover.
All About Turkeys
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jim Arnosky
We may think of domestic turkeys, but their wild forbearers are fascinating birds. These are about the wariest denizens of forest and field.
This nonfiction book is written for younger children. However, the extra notes make this a book book for older children as well.
The illustrations are great. Many show how turkeys live and interact. What's different are the ones drawn life size. Even though I've lived near and watched wild turkeys for years, I learned a lot from this book.
Shadow the Deer
5 stars
Author: Theresa Radcliffe
Illustrator: John Butler
Shadow is a doe with a three-day-old fawn. Hunger and thirst takes her away from her fawn. A red fox needs to feed her kits and a fawn will do. Shadow races to rescue her baby.
The illustrations are beautiful. They create the forest scene. The animals look touchable, realistic in the detail.
Imogene's Last Stand
5 stars
Author: Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
Imogene is a history buff. She cleans up, renovates and reopens the local historical museum. No one notices.
The town wants to put a shoelace factory where the museum stands. Only Imogene wants to save the museum.
All through this book Imogene uses famous words from many historic people. Short biographies of them are in the front and back of the book.
The book is a fun way to learn some of these quotes. It is also a stretch of the imagination.
The illustrations are rough sketches with color. They look rough, but convey the story well.
All About Turkeys
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jim Arnosky
We may think of domestic turkeys, but their wild forbearers are fascinating birds. These are about the wariest denizens of forest and field.
This nonfiction book is written for younger children. However, the extra notes make this a book book for older children as well.
The illustrations are great. Many show how turkeys live and interact. What's different are the ones drawn life size. Even though I've lived near and watched wild turkeys for years, I learned a lot from this book.
Shadow the Deer
5 stars
Author: Theresa Radcliffe
Illustrator: John Butler
Shadow is a doe with a three-day-old fawn. Hunger and thirst takes her away from her fawn. A red fox needs to feed her kits and a fawn will do. Shadow races to rescue her baby.
The illustrations are beautiful. They create the forest scene. The animals look touchable, realistic in the detail.
Imogene's Last Stand
5 stars
Author: Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
Imogene is a history buff. She cleans up, renovates and reopens the local historical museum. No one notices.
The town wants to put a shoelace factory where the museum stands. Only Imogene wants to save the museum.
All through this book Imogene uses famous words from many historic people. Short biographies of them are in the front and back of the book.
The book is a fun way to learn some of these quotes. It is also a stretch of the imagination.
The illustrations are rough sketches with color. They look rough, but convey the story well.
September 13, 2024
"Help! A Story of Friendship" and "Cecil's Garden"
These two were just grabbed off the shelf as time was short. It's nice to know my library has such good taste in picture books.
Help! A Story of Friendship
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Holly Keller
This is a cute story. As in many animal picture books, they are not true to nature. However, the mouse gets in trouble. Friends gather to help, but the one mouse is afraid of is the only one who can help.
Cecil's Garden
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Holly Keller
The rabbit family wants to plant a garden. Cecil is in charge of the seeds. There are six packets, but only 5 rows. Which one should be left out? Cecil seeks help from others only to find they too have a problem they can only argue about, no solution. There should be a solution. Cecil returns to the garden thinking outside the box to find an answer.
Help! A Story of Friendship
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Holly Keller
This is a cute story. As in many animal picture books, they are not true to nature. However, the mouse gets in trouble. Friends gather to help, but the one mouse is afraid of is the only one who can help.
Cecil's Garden
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Holly Keller
The rabbit family wants to plant a garden. Cecil is in charge of the seeds. There are six packets, but only 5 rows. Which one should be left out? Cecil seeks help from others only to find they too have a problem they can only argue about, no solution. There should be a solution. Cecil returns to the garden thinking outside the box to find an answer.
