Father's Day, 1997
The following reviews were presented in our 1997 Father's Day feature.
Reviews
Ali, Child of the DesertJonathan London
Illustrated by Ted Lewin
Ali had been travelling with his father to the market at Rissani when a Sahara desert storm "swallowed the sun, the herd, and his father," and Ali sets out to find them. When he comes upon a Berber herdsman and his flock of goats, he spends the night with them. When they leave in the morning, Ali remains behind with a musket, which he fires periodically to alert the father who must be searching for him. The tale becomes a celebration of the beauty of the desert and of hospitality-the goatherd, who has almost nothing, still shares with a stranger. The illustrations, created from photographs in Ted Lewin's inimitable style, are fantastic. 1997, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, Ages 6 to 9, $16.00 and $15.93. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
All That Glitters
Jean Ferris
When his mother remarries, Brian gets to spend another summer in Florida with Leo, his father, who "hasn't a clue." Brian is thrilled when he is chosen to accompany a diving team searching for a sunken Spanish galleon. As the tale ends, Brian finds more than one kind of "treasure" in his life. 1996, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner
The Always Prayer Shawl
Sheldon Oberman
Illustrated by Ted Lewin
Adam and his parents emigrate to escape the growing hostility toward Jews - leaving forever their homeland and Adam's grandfather. At their departure, the grandfather presents Adam with the prayer shawl that he had received from his grandfather. Settling into their new home, everything was different for Adam - except for the prayer shawl he wore every Shabbat. Adam matures and has his own family, but maintains his Jewish customs, and in the family tradition, he, too, has a grandson named Adam. Time changes, politics change, homes change, and people change, but the Adam's prayer shawl always stays the same. The illustrations are moving and cleverly support the message of the text. 1997 (orig. 1993), Viking Penguin/Boyds Mill Press, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95 and $5.99. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels
The Angel Knew Papa and the Dog
Douglas Kaine McKelvey
This short, sweet tale of faith reads like a song. It tells the story of a little country girl and her Papa, who can't even afford their own mule. They get by on hard work and love, plus a deep appreciation for the beauty around them: "Papa had never been too busy to stop and wonder at the lesser things in the earth." When flood waters threaten their home, and the child finds herself alone and in great peril, she is visited by an angel, "wonderful beyond imagining, shedding light far across the water, like stars spilling from the cupped hand of God." McKelvey's words are rich and eloquent; this book would be a great read-aloud after supper while the whole family is gathered together. Chances are your kids will forget TV or soccer practice until you reach the end of the story. 1996, Philomel, Ages 10 and up, $13.95. Reviewer: Donna Freedman
As the Crow Flies
Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrated by Joan Sandin
Michael's parents are divorced. Michael lives in Arizona with his mother. His father lives in Delaware. When Michael asks his father, "How far away are you?" his father says, "Seven states as the crow flies, two seconds as the heart beats." So begins this story of Michael and his father, and the loving relationship they share in spite of divorce and distance. When Michael is with his mother, he misses his dad. When he is with his father, he misses his mom. He is tired of missing people he loves. Once a year, Michael's father comes to Arizona to visit. The two of them stay in a motel, eat out at restaurants and share puzzles, games, books and memories. And Michael learns some things about his dad that he never knew before. Told in simple and unsentimental language, this is a deeply touching story that both parents and children will want to read again and again. The illustrations, done in watercolor and pencil, eloquently express the beauty in everyday experiences, when shared with those we love. 1997, Clarion Books, Ages 4 to 10, $15.00. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree
Big, Scary Wolf
Harvey Stevenson
Harvey Stevenson knows that a Big, scary wolf wouldn't bother his little girl. But Rose is sure that she's seen one in her room. Papa gets her to imagine how the wolf got into her room, how he wouldn't really like doing things with her, how what he wants to do is play "outside with his friends, under the stars." Stevenson's illustrations are by turns scary, funny, and restful. Just right for a bedtime book, to chase away the wolves. For from 1997, Clarion, Ages 4 to 7, $14.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
Checkers
John Marsden
This is the book that Chelsea Clinton might write if she lived in Australia, was inclined to air the family's secrets, and was less stable than she appears to be. The unnamed teenaged narrator writes from the psychiatric ward where she is living. The reason she has been placed in treatment is, initially, ambiguous. Her peers in group therapy have labels to identify their problems: anorexia, manic depression, obsessive compulsive disorder. The narrator, however, seems to be suffering from a life of over-privilege and a high-profile father. Then, in a series of flashbacks we learn that it is her father's "celebrity" that has caused her breakdown. Her father has been at the center of a financial scandal that reaches as high as the Australian premier and she, quite by accident, is the person who broke the story. Has she been banished to a psychiatric hospital as punishment for her careless chatter, or has her emotionally distant father's anger caused her to crack and kill the family pet, her beloved dog, Checkers? Baby Boomer Americans will recognize the tenuous connection between political scandal and a dog named Checkers, but how many teenagers, either in the U.S. or "down under," will understand that a dog named Checkers was a footnote in 1950s history? The main character evolves nicely from a spoiled teen to a girl desperately trying to keep the pieces of her dysfunctional family from flying apart in the face of a media onslaught. A glossary of Australian slang is provided (and needed!) for this timely book that illustrated the impact of trickle-down wrongdoing on a photo-op family. 1996, Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 12 to 16, $15.00. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross
Cyber.kdz:3 The Great NASA Flu
Bruce Balan
The Cyber kdz are off on their third adventure in this series of Internet mystery stories. Deeder, a teenager in the Netherlands, becomes aware of a plot to sabotage a space shuttle when he and his father are in Florida to install a new computer program for NASA. The program crashes during countdown, only minutes away from blast-off. Last minute computer manipulations avert a tragedy. Deeder's father is blamed for the malfunction and they both return home dejected. Deeder then launches a campaign to vindicate his father. Aided by his cyber friends, Tereza in Brazil and Sanjeev in India, they enlist the help of Becky, Loren and Paul in the U.S. Together, the kids infiltrate NASA's computer network, crash through security precautions in other computers throughout America and eventually, discover the source of the destructive scheme. Predictably, the kids are able to elude the adult malefactors at the heart of the plot. For children to enjoy this book, computer knowledge and sophistication, beyond the casual, are advisable. The author's frequent use of the word 'scum' to describe unscrupulous hackers who break into and damage computer systems may offend some parents. 1997, Avon Books, Ages 12 to 15, $3.99. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson
The Daddy Book
Ann Morris
Photographs by Ken Heyman
The "World's Family" series contains four books: The Mommy Book, The Daddy book, The Baby Book, and The Animal Book. Each book has a photograph on every page and a simple sentence that leaves the reader to wonder if the author is indeed a child who is just learning to write. The Daddy Book contains multi cultural photographs, yet no explanations of the differences between cultures. Furthermore, the books in this series do not teach the reader anything new about the subjects; they simply are full of common generalizations. Each book has an index that gives a small amount of detail about the pictures. The index actually contains more information than the text. 1996, Silver Press, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Susan Fournier
Daddy Calls Me Man
Angela Johnson
Paintings by Rhonda Mitchell
Noah's yearning for big shoes should strike a chord within the hearts of young readers. However, they will discover, along with Noah, that it is not special shoes but love and caring for his baby sister that makes him a man in Dad's eyes. Vivid paintings bring this story to life. 1997, Orchard Books, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95 and 16.99. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
The Dust Bowl
David Booth
Illustrations by Karne Reczuch
A grandfather gives a nostalgic history to his grandson of the long struggle for the family to keep their farm on the American prairie going over the years with special focus on the dust bowl years. The chronological recollections include anecdotes about various family members including the young boy's father. The tale leads them to the present struggle amidst a drought to find the resolve to not give up the farming tradition. Muted illustrations add to the nostalgic view. 1997, Kids Can, Ages 6 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
The Expectant Father
Armin Brott
My husband Christopher is anticipating his first Father's Day with our baby Christy, now eight months old, and happily agreed to be the dad consultant for this review. First on his list of recommendations were Armin Brott's friendly, informative guides: The Expectant Father and The New Father. Interspersed with a month-by-month account of the development of the fetus in the first book and infant in the second are discussions of dad's emotions, tips on financial planning, and ways to support the mother. Cartoons and amusing anecdotes throughout keep the funny bone well tickled. 1995, Abbeville Press, Ages Adults, $15.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
Father and Son
Denize Lauture
Illustrated by Jonathan Green
The simple poetic text reflects on the times that father and son share. From a leisurely stroll, to flying a kite, the two share the same wind and sky. Together they have a very special relationship. The pictures are set in the sun drenched low-country of South Carolina, home of the Gullah people. A pleasant addition to a multicultural collection. 1996 (orig. 1992), Paperstar/Putnam, Ages 2 to 6, $5.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
The Great Blue Grump
Jill Creighton
Art by Kitty Macaulay
A little girl sits on her front steps holding a cautionary sign: Shhh! Great Blue Grump Sleeping. Then, of course, it's necessary to learn what kind of a creature that might be. Bright, Chagall- images of gorillas, bears, lemurs, even asparagus, fly by. The Grump is finally unmasked as a bearded, blue-pajamaed daddy. And he's not very grumpy at all. This Canadian offering is a cheerful paean to sleeping fathers. 1997, Annick Press, Ages 2 to 5, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
It's Little Nutbrown Hare's bedtime. Stalling, he tells his father how much he loves him-as far as he can reach, as high as he can hop. Each time, Big Nutbrown Hare goes him one better-he can reach farther, hop higher. Finally, Little Nutbrown Hare falls asleep. As he gazes protectively at his son, Big Nutbrown Hare whispers some final words of love. Endearing pen and ink/watercolor illustrations complete this sweet tale of familial devotion. It also comes in a board book version and a boxed set that contains stuffed hare and the board book. 1995, Candlewick, Ages 2 to 7, $15.99, $6.99, and $15.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
I Live With Daddy
Judith Vigna
Young Olivia is learning to cope with her parent's divorce. She lives with her daddy because her mother is a reporter and is often out of town. Olivia and her classmates are gearing up for Writer's Day by choosing a subject and compiling the information into their very own books. Choosing to write about her mother's seemingly glamorous career, Olivia enlists the help of her daddy and sets about her task. When Writer's Day arrives, Olivia is bursting with anticipation and hope that her mother, the subject of her book, will show up at school as she promised. When she doesn't, Olivia comes to the realization that her daddy is always there for school events. She feels horrible for not choosing to write about him. After remembering something that their guest author had said, she realizes that she can choose both her parents to be a part of her book, Celia Beta Rollins for PNXT dedicated to "the best daddy ever." Vigna has given us a great book that tells children of divorce that it is, indeed, perfectly acceptable and wonderful to choose both parents. 1997, Albert Whitman & Co., Ages 5 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Trina Heidt
In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers
Javaka Steptoe
These short poems are accompanied by a variety of illustrations created by Javaka Steptoe, son of the late well-known children's illustrator. It's a celebration of father, and African-American fathers in particular. Steptoe opens with an Ashanti proverb "When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him." and closes with "My Father's Eyes" by Sonia Sanchez. Steptoe's first illustration is a striking collage that incorporates mixed media and has a 3D effect, with a young boy trying to place his feet into the giant footprints. The artwork for the last poem occupies both pages and in actual size is ten feet long and five feet high. Brief introductions to the poets and a note about the artwork are found on the last page. Winner of the 1997 Coretta Scott King picture book award. 1997, Lee and Low, Ages 5 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Jaguar
Roland Smith
Jake flies down to Brazil to join his father, a research biologist, on a quest to establish a jaguar preserve. Ostensibly, he is there just for the duration of his spring break, but events soon overtake the original plans. Accompanied by the mysterious skipper Silver and an observant Indian tracker, Raul, the Lansa family is embroiled in a series of frightening encounters that threaten to derail the plans for the preserve. Several plot devices are fairly implausible, and clichés such as the "noble savage" mar what is otherwise a taut thriller. The author's experience as a field biologist lends authority to the information about wildlife research. 1997, Hyperion, Ages 10 up, $15.95 and $15.89. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
Mr. Bear Says Peek-a-boo
Debi Gliori
Papa bear plays simple games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake with the little cub. These first activities are ways of teaching, bringing about giggles and developing a close relationship with little ones. The book is short and is a good selection to introduce babies to books and also have some fun. Also in the "Mr. Bear Says" series are I Love You, Good Night, and A Spoonful for You. 1997 (orig. 1995), Little Simon, Ages 6 mo. to 2, $4.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
More More More Said the Baby
Vera B. Williams
Gouache paintings illustrate the love between three children, Little Guy, Little Pumpkin and Little Bird and the adults in their lives. Little Guy's daddy catches him up to swing him around and kiss his tummy-which makes him cry "more, more, more." Little Pumpkin's grandma loves his toes, and Little Bird's mama loves her sleepy little eyes. A visual celebration of family ties now in a board book format. Caldecott Honor Book. 1997, Hearst Books, Ages 2 to 5, $6.95 (board book). Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
The New Father
Armin Brott
My husband Christopher is anticipating his first Father's Day with our baby Christy, now eight months old, and happily agreed to be the dad consultant for this review. First on his list of recommendations were Armin Brott's friendly, informative guides: The Expectant Father and The New Father. Interspersed with a month-by-month account of the development of the fetus in the first book and infant in the second are discussions of dad's emotions, tips on financial planning, and ways to support the mother. Cartoons and amusing anecdotes throughout keep the funny bone well tickled. 1997 respectively, Abbeville Press, Ages Adults, $15.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum.
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