Children's Book Reviews
Page One of ThreeBig Time Olie by William Joyce
Laura Geringer Books, October, 2002Picture Book, 40 pages
ISBN: 0060088109
Ages 2-8
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Olie's Mom and Dad have left
on a trip, but they tell Olie he is too little to go. This
does not sit well at all with Olie. "I'm not the right
size for anything!" he shouts. But Olie finds a
shrink-and-grow-a-lator, a device than can make his little body
larger or smaller. Of course, Olie wants to be bigger
and he turns on the machine by pressing the button.
Unfortunately, Olie presses the wrong button and
he shrinks himself. Suddenly, the world is very dangerous
and he has to avoid his sister Zowie who thinks he is a
little dolly. Fortunately, his dog spot rescues him. Olie
tries the machine again and manages
to super-size himself. He goes off to have fun as his
new greatly expanded self. The
gigantic Rolie leaps into outer space and gets ice cream
at the ice cream planet. But the good times
quickly come to an end when Olie bumps his head
on the Moon and scalds his bottom on the hot Sun.
Sad Olie crash lands on Mount Big Ball where he cries and
cries for his family. He is tired of being shrunken
Olie or enlarged Olie. He only wants to be
a regular-sized Polie. Luckily, his family shows up and
they use the device to return Olie back to his regular
size. Olie is so happy to be back to normal and with his
family that he sings a song about it. "I was a sorry, sad
Olie. I've been a mad and bad Polie. I won't be in such
a hurry to grow all Rolie up!"
The latest Rolie book is absolutely charming and is full of delightful, colorful drawings from William Joyce. Joyce draws the characters' heads very large so children can easily tell whether Olie is sad, worried or happy, and share in his moods. Joyce even draws curious little faces on other objects: a bowl, a swing set, a house and planets. Like the others in the series, this new Rolie adventure teaches an important message in a fun and exciting way. Children will stay happily entertained with Joyce's fun story and large, amusing drawings.
The Christmas Story, Gospel According to St. Luke by Julia Alvarez
HarperCollins, October, 2002Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0060288825
All Ages
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Artist James Bernadin creates an inspiring and
beautiful book with his latest project: the illustration of the
story of the birth of Jesus, as told in the Gospel according
to St. Luke in the St. James version of the bible. "And it
came to pass in those day, that there went out a decree
from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city."
So starts the story, which sets Mary and Joseph on the
path to Bethlehem. Bernadin's paintings are dreamy
and awe-inspiring; the scene of the shepherds who are visited
by the angel of the Lord is depicted in cool
blue and white tones which suggest a heavenly visitor.
The baby Jesus is shown in the manger with his
adoring parents; a golden light shines from the infant.
This is a must-have for Christian parents who
wish to share the story of Jesus' birth with their children.
The simple text and the lovely paintings which radiate
love and joy make this a
perfect book to be read aloud every Christmas Eve.
Children's Book Reviews
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