Review by New York Times Review
In watercolors, ink and acrylics, Floca lays out colorfully and succinctly how the Apollo 11 mission unfolded. Crew and machinery are equally brought to life. One second before lift-off an astronaut gives a sidelong glance, full of suspense, and then . . . page turn: the rocket blasting off fills the spread (seeming to weigh every bit of its six million pounds). Inside, the airborne capsule is homey, with stuff floating around, in contrast to the black ink of space. CAT BURGLAR BLACK Written and illustrated by Richard Sala. First Second. $16.99. (Ages 11 and up) From its cinematic opening - a cliffhanger cutaway of a girl being chased by a wild boar - this noir comic sets up an inviting oddball mystery. K. Westree arrives at the remote Bellsong Academy for Girls to discover that school isn't in session. Instead, a cruel headmistress is training the other three "students" to be thieves as part of some grand scheme, and K. has been tapped to join them. Sala's style is cheerfully over-the-top, and the well-constructed plot, which is big on girl-power, as well as the sharply drawn characters will pull readers in. FIRST COME THE ZEBRA Written and illustrated by Lynne Barasch. Lee & Low. $18.95. (Ages 6 to 11) Barasch successfully dramatizes a real-life conflict between the Kikuyu and Masai peoples in Kenya, by telling the story of two boys. Abaani, a Masai herder, and Haki, a Kikuyu whose family are farmers, immediately begin fighting when they first meet. Things escalate until a baby wanders into danger and they both help in the rescue. The scenes are simply drawn, and the resolution feels hopeful and realistic; endnotes provide helpful context. FROM "FIRST COME THE ZEBRA" MULE TRAIN MAIL Written and illustrated by Craig Brown. Charlesbridge. $16.95. (Ages 4 to 7) There's one place left in the United States where the mail is delivered by mule train: from the rim of the Grand Canyon a mile down to Supai, on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. "The mules carry letters and packages, along with groceries, water, clothes and even computers," Brown writes, and neither 100-degree heat nor ice has ever stopped the trip. In the village, there are no cars; only mules and horses. In dusty brown pastels, he draws a quietly fascinating picture of a rare way of life. THE FASTEST GAME ON TWO FEET And Other Poems About How Sports Began. By Alice Low. Illustrated by John O'Brien. Holiday House. $17.95. (Ages 6 to 10) "Long ago, people all over the world played games with stones or ball-shaped objects." This is a fine idea for a book, and Low's light-hearted poems are both informative and amusing. In "They Ran for Their Lives," we're told, "It wasn't just a form of play,/ For when they ran/ They ran away" (from wild beasts). Also covered are skating using animal bones, early bowling - in church, circa A.D. 300 - and "kicking the Dane's head," or soccer. I DON'T WANT A POSH DOG! Written and illustrated by Emma Dodd. Little, Brown. $15.99. (Ages 4 to 8) Dodd's catchy text and handsome art make an appealing picture book for dog lovers (and those hoping to win a pet of their own). "I don't want a posh dog. A blow-dry-when-washed dog," says a small girl dressed in pink, who then goes on to list other things she doesn't want: "a growly, never-happy dog," "a grunty, wheezy, tough dog" - this while she hands a tissue to a doubtful-looking bulldog with spikes on his collar. The concept is simple and the execution charming. JULIE JUST
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [October 27, 2009]
Review by Booklist Review
In Kenya's grasslands, we are told, zebras eat the tops of the plants, wildebeests eat the middle sections, and gazelles eat the remaining stalks. A Maasai boy leads the family's cattle to graze. Spotting a Kikuyu boy setting up a new vegetable stall, he taunts him with accusations he's heard from his elders, and the boys quarrel. When warthogs threaten a wandering toddler, though, both boys spring into action to save him. In the end, they become friends, learning to share their land as the animals do. An author's note offers background information about the peoples of Kenya and how their old, hostile attitudes toward one another are beginning to change. A punctuation guide and glossary are appended. While the story may sound a bit purposeful, it is not lacking in drama or human interest. The writing is straightforward, the parallel with the animals is effective, and the ink-and-watercolor illustrations portray the Kenyan countryside with grace and the characters with empathy.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-In Kenya, the Maasai are cattle herders and the more numerous Kikuyu are farmers. The two groups often fight about land use. This story uses that age-old conflict as a vehicle for contemplating enmity and friendship. When Abaani, a Maasai boy, sees young Haki's Kikuyu vegetable stall near his family's grazing land, he repeats what he's heard from his elders: "You destroy our land!" Haki, of course, takes offense, and the boys are ready to become enemies. However, they see one another's good qualities when circumstances force them together to rescue a straying toddler. Repeated exposure and a few good games of mancala finally bring about a mutual trust, and they take a real step toward peace when they decide to trade veggies for milk, and to introduce their families. A framing metaphor about the harmony between zebra, wildebeests, and the Thomson's gazelle gently reinforces the lesson. Heartfelt storytelling and strong research combine to offer a universal message with a unique setting. The clear, light-filled illustrations are expressive and create a sense of place. A lovely, hopeful story that manages to convey its message with minimal didacticism.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After the rainy season, Kenya's animals work in concert, each type eating from a specific niche of the lush grasslands, shown here in appealing, expansive ink-and-watercolor illustrations. This sets the stage for the story of Abaani, a young Maasai herder, and Haki, a Kikuyu farm boy who works in a market stall, in a picture book with nonfiction flavor. The two groups are at odds over land use, so the boys initially exchange angry insults. Thrown together in a moment of danger, the two work together to save a toddler caught in the path of warthogs, which makes both reconsider the aforementioned hatred. Gradually, a friendship and a partnership form, inspiring the boys to hope that their families and people will find a similar way to appreciate one another and share Kenya's resources. Thought-provoking if a little blue-sky optimistic, this tale of Kenya serves as an accessible exploration of the concept of tribal disputes and more general themes of friendship and conflict resolution. A nice choice for classroom use and home reading. (map, author's note, glossary, source notes) (Picture book. 5-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
