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juushikaTechnically all illustrated, but the demographics (early reader, MG, and picture book respectively) don't really make for a good grouping, except: I need to clear out that backlog, so here we go.
Title: Bravest Dog Ever: Story of Balto
Author: Natalie Standiford
Illustrator: Donald Cook
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1989
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 50
Total Page Count: 515,450
Text Number: 1870
Read Because: paperback was a Little Free Library find
Review: An interesting peek into an early reader; I'm enthusiastic about picture books, but have no experience reading this category/demographic, even as a young reader IIRC. This is in every way the expected telling of Balto's story, which is to say: simplifying the relay down to the big finale is reductive and aggrandizing. But it's also super engaging, so I can see why it would make this early reader stand out from the crowd. The illustrations don't do much for me; they're remarkably light on atmosphere, which is a lost opportunity given the extremity of the setting. All in all, not for me & not meant for me, but I'm not mad to've read it and gained some understanding of this category of children's books.
Title: This Was Our Pact
Author: Ryan Andrews
Published: First Second, 2019
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 120 of 330
Total Page Count: 544,575
Text Number: 2024
Read Because: more spooky picture books (MG graphic novels can come too), hardback borrowed from the Timberland Regional Library
Review: DNF at 35%. It would be no great burden to finish this, it reads fine, but it's not what I wanted from the premise: a group of kids vow to follow the autumn equinox lanterns all the way down the river, never stopping, never looking back. But instead of an ensemble it's a buddy comedy about a would-be popular kid and the bullied nerd entering a whimsical fairyland. The central dynamic has potential, the panels are dynamic, but I wanted the bridge monster and the spooky onset of autumn and a journey into the unknown, not a funny, whimsical adventure narrative with a talking bear.
Title: The Story of the Snow Children
Author: Sibylle von Olfers
Published: Floris Books, 2005 (1905)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 25
Total Page Count: 562,615
Text Number: 2126
Read Because: casting wider net for spooky picture books & bringing up this instead, hardback borrowed from the Timberland Regional Library
Review: A little girl makes a jaunt to a winter fairyland. This is low on plot and all about atmosphere, with diaphanous, pale illustrations contrasted by the vibrant punch of the protagonist's red; no stakes, just vibes, nature benevolently anthropomorphized. It's a distinctive style, and I'd be interested to read more by the author.
Weird not to credit the translator, though!
Title: Bravest Dog Ever: Story of Balto
Author: Natalie Standiford
Illustrator: Donald Cook
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1989
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 50
Total Page Count: 515,450
Text Number: 1870
Read Because: paperback was a Little Free Library find
Review: An interesting peek into an early reader; I'm enthusiastic about picture books, but have no experience reading this category/demographic, even as a young reader IIRC. This is in every way the expected telling of Balto's story, which is to say: simplifying the relay down to the big finale is reductive and aggrandizing. But it's also super engaging, so I can see why it would make this early reader stand out from the crowd. The illustrations don't do much for me; they're remarkably light on atmosphere, which is a lost opportunity given the extremity of the setting. All in all, not for me & not meant for me, but I'm not mad to've read it and gained some understanding of this category of children's books.
Title: This Was Our Pact
Author: Ryan Andrews
Published: First Second, 2019
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 120 of 330
Total Page Count: 544,575
Text Number: 2024
Read Because: more spooky picture books (MG graphic novels can come too), hardback borrowed from the Timberland Regional Library
Review: DNF at 35%. It would be no great burden to finish this, it reads fine, but it's not what I wanted from the premise: a group of kids vow to follow the autumn equinox lanterns all the way down the river, never stopping, never looking back. But instead of an ensemble it's a buddy comedy about a would-be popular kid and the bullied nerd entering a whimsical fairyland. The central dynamic has potential, the panels are dynamic, but I wanted the bridge monster and the spooky onset of autumn and a journey into the unknown, not a funny, whimsical adventure narrative with a talking bear.
Title: The Story of the Snow Children
Author: Sibylle von Olfers
Published: Floris Books, 2005 (1905)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 25
Total Page Count: 562,615
Text Number: 2126
Read Because: casting wider net for spooky picture books & bringing up this instead, hardback borrowed from the Timberland Regional Library
Review: A little girl makes a jaunt to a winter fairyland. This is low on plot and all about atmosphere, with diaphanous, pale illustrations contrasted by the vibrant punch of the protagonist's red; no stakes, just vibes, nature benevolently anthropomorphized. It's a distinctive style, and I'd be interested to read more by the author.
Weird not to credit the translator, though!
