TEX
dragon buddy Elridge—only to be seized by Largessa, a giant who has been sleepless for a millennium, ever since that thief Jack stole her singing harp. In consequence, she’s grown understandably irritable and threatens to pelt Ardendale with massive rocks unless the harp is returned in a week. Where is it now? Deep in the treasure vaults of distant Jackopia, a kingdom that after 1,000 years of golden eggs is literally paved, walled, floored, decorated and armored with the glittering stuff. And will Jackopia’s single-minded King Jack the 102nd give the golden harp up when Ivy flies in to ask? As if. Endowing her 14-year-old heroine with engaging stubbornness and plucky allies—notably boyfriend-in-the-bud Owen the stable boy—Lairamore dishes up a lighthearted quest tale (with just a hint of romance). Endearingly, all wrongs result from egotism or thoughtlessness rather than malice and are ultimately righted amid a cascade of breathtaking narrow squeaks and truly monumental quantities of bling. Breezy and entertaining, with more than a few clever folkloric twists. (Fantasy. 10-12)
Lawson, Dorie McCullough Photographer: Lawson, Dorie McCullough Trafalgar (44 pp.) $15.95 | October 15, 2011 978-1-57076-501-8 A little boy longs for a life out on the open frontier. Luke’s dreams transport him from his family near the ocean to his new role as a cowboy at the Wymont Ranch. Photographs capture the change of scenery and his routine; his initially serious, quiet reality (reflected in black-and-white images) morphs into crisp, colored shots. The child is almost too small for his Western britches (accessorized with dangling lasso and wide-brimmed black cowboy hat). He stares intently at the audience, the accompanying one-word block of text (“Tex”) reveals his adopted name. His somber expressions continue until care for his pony Thunder evokes unadulterated joy. Brief statements (“Tex loves mountains”) placed against solid backgrounds describe typical activities but allow the photographs to do most of the talking. The young ranchhand remains hard at work, completing typical chores, then sprawls in relaxation; he herds cattle, irrigates fields and lounges with his cowdog Sue. While he leads his pony into the great unknown, the final page turn returns to sleeping Luke; his wrangler-designed sheets the only remnant of his alter ego. The photographs capture breathtaking natural beauty, though some posed pictures more readily recall advertisements than the genuine experience of a youngster at play. This ode to the range emphasizes the enduring allure of the American West. (Picture book. 3-5)
IF YOU LIVED HERE Houses of the World
Laroche, Giles Illustrator: Laroche, Giles Houghton Mifflin (32 pp.) $16.99 | October 24, 2011 978-0-547-23892-0
Many North American children have a difficult time visualizing places or houses different than their own; this survey will help somewhat. The dwelling places pictured here will enlarge their knowledge base to some extent, but due to the limited representations (only 15 types of housing), readers will still need additional sources to understand shelter in a fuller geographic or historic context. Laroche’s engagingly intricate, bas-relief collages provide a sense of the environments and the people living in the houses. A range from a “dogtrot log house” (midAtlantic or southern U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries) with two living spaces connected by a long roof and walk-through space to a 1986 Dutch high tech” green” floating house that can turn on its own platform. Other houses include a Venetian palazzo (confusingly, the author says… “the floor of the bottom story is water!”) and a Fujian tulou, a round, “rammed earth” structure (the one depicted was built in China in 1912). The text includes house type, materials, location, date and a (sometimes) “fascinating fact.” On a sexist note, the last spread teams to show three boys working on a treehouse. Overall weaknesses involve too much emphasis on European and U.S. examples and a map that links the styles to their geographic areas without marked political boundaries. Best used to encourage children to create their own collages or three-dimensional models, this misses the mark as a strong introduction to domestic architecture. (selected sources) (Informational picture book. 6-9)
|
kirkusreviews.com
WODNEY WAT’S WOBOT
Lester, Helen Illustrator: Munsinger, Lynn Houghton Mifflin (32 pp.) $16.99 | October 3, 2011 978-0-547-36756-9
Wodney Wat, the lovable rodent who cannot pronounce the r sound, receives a remarkable robot as a birthday present (Hooway for Wodney Wat, 1999). This pile of metal can do something that Rodney cannot: It can parrot his speech, correcting the pronunciation. Rodney is having great fun with his new metal companion when the enormous bully, Camilla Capybara, returns. Camilla explodes into the room, terrifying everyone, including the teacher. When the robot malfunctions, developing a RRRRR roar, Camilla’s weaknesses are exposed, allowing Wodney, assisted by his sidekick, to send her rolling out the door. Munsinger’s over-the-top illustrations are the star here. A deft use of humorous expressions on every rodent face will allow young readers to ally with beloved Wodney as he negotiates the challenges of school: ordering wibs and wice (ribs and rice), exercising on the wings (rings) at PE and adding 2+1. With his wobot, it’s a snap! Poured into her pink dress, Camilla bursts onto each spread, the pages barely able to |
children
&
teens
|
15 september 2011
|
1715