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Janovitz, Marilyn
9 Reviews
(3)
K-3
I Like to Read series.
In gymnastics class, Ella tries to be as good as Jan, who can split, pose, jump, and spin. When Ella gives up after a fall, Jan encourages her to try again--this time she succeeds. Pictures of jovial cartoonlike characters; large, simple text; and an encouraging message make this a solid offering for young girls just learning to read.
Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee
(3)
K-3
Translated by Queta Fernandez.
Little Wolf helps his father in the garden, with mixed results. Janovitz's endearing cumulative rhyme is expertly translated into Spanish in this bilingual edition. Fernandez has created a text that scans beautifully and will read aloud easily. The Spanish text is differentiated by boldface type, which works effectively from a design standpoint.
Reviewer: Tim Wadham
(4)
PS
"We like gloves. / We like mittens. / We like earmuffs that look like kittens." Two kitties anticipating Christmas detail their favorite things about winter and the holiday season. The rhymes aren't particularly inspired, and some are a stretch (e.g., flowers with ours). The warm-hearted illustrations are full of holiday spirit.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(4)
PS
This day in the life of youngsters at school is set to simple verse. The repeated "we like" is monotonous and uninspired but will encourage young voices to chant along with confidence. Dressed in lively patterned clothing, Janovitz's animals (standing in for children) are both cuddly and spirited, underlining the kids' nonstop energy.
Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi
(3)
PS
Translated by Guillermo Gutiérrez.
"Is it time to brush my fangs? / Yes, it's time to brush your fangs. / Is it time to comb my bangs?" In softly colored illustrations, a young wolf cub and his parent discuss the bedtime routine. The rhythmic, repetitive bilingual text works with both toddlers and early readers, and the Spanish translation mirrors the liveliness of the original.
Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.
(4)
PS
Each letter of the alphabet morphs into an animal in four panels, the last of which is hidden under a question-marked flap, ready for the reader to guess. Some are easier to deduce than others, due to shape or familiarity (U becomes uta lizard, for example). The guessing game wears thin after a few reads, but following the transformations should hold interest.
Reviewer: Susan Halperin
(4)
PS
In this rendition of the well-loved rhyme, the bland watercolors of three identical (except for color) kittens playing outside in a garden add little excitement to the verse, although they do create a cozy mood. A serviceable, if dull, choice.
Reviewer: Anne St. John
(3)
PS
Little Fox and his father think they won't like Mother's breakfast porridge. But doing Saturday chores gives them an appetite, and since there's nothing else to eat, Little Fox suggests they try the porridge. To their surprise, it's tasty after all. The artwork effectively captures the foxes' gestures and expressions; like the humorous text, it highlights the companionable relationship between father and son.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(4)
PS
To Mother Fox's consternation, Little Fox's rough-and-tumble antics break her special chair. Unable to find a suitable replacement, Father Fox and son repair the broken furniture. Colored pencil and pastel watercolor illustrations, set against suffused white space, are pale but expressive. The gentle story has a slow pace that may not hold preschoolers' attention.
Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty
9 reviews
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