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Tillman, Nancy
7 Reviews
(4)
K-3
This celebration of individuality is told in singsongy rhymes, accompanied by fanciful illustrations featuring a wide range of children interacting with animals in somewhat surreal settings. Sappy but encouraging, the text explains that each of us is born with our own bells, though it may take time to learn what makes them ring. The overall self-esteem message is reassuring if sentimental.
Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee
(4)
K-3
A brilliant orange wishing tree grants a child and a parent a happy but unusual day of wish fulfillment. Rhymes in the parent's voice enumerate the day's pleasures: the child flies, breakfasts with bears, plays with penguins, and becomes invisible. The overly sentimental text conveys the parent's deep love for the child. Colorful, surreal mixed-media illustrations capture the whimsy of the child's wishes and the joy they generate.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
(4)
K-3
"You're here for a reason, you certainly are. / The world would be different without you, by far." So begins Tillman's message-y paean to the individual. She isn't Dr. Seuss, but her rhymes are tight, and her every-voice-matters message is Seussian. In almost-painterly mixed-media composite illustrations, a child romps with one or more non-domesticated animals in a picturesque outdoor setting.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(4)
PS
Translated by Teresa Mlawer.
In this soothing Spanish translation of On the Night You Were Born, a parent recounts a tale of the joyful state of the world on the night the child was born. Poetic and sometimes rhyming, the gentle but sentimental litany takes on a lullaby-like quality as it recounts whimsical events both subtle and magical. Tillman's multimedia illustrations are surreal and dreamlike.
Reviewer: Siena Leslie
(4)
K-3
Cat Tumford is a rude "noise-making machine" (slurping, burping, and worse)--just for attention. Put in a time-out, the kitty heeds advice readers are prompted to give--"Whisper these words in Tumford's ear if you would..."--and he henceforth behaves himself. Silly illustrations of the mischievous cat pair with peppy rhyming couplets containing frequent direct-addresses that are overtly preachy but also engaging.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(4)
K-3
Cat Tumford is an unrepentant troublemaker: "Of all of the things / he thought were the worst... / saying 'I'm sorry' most surely came first." After shaming his owners, he decides to apologize and immediately feels better. The story's rhymes, generally snappy, may distract readers from the overtness of the message. Illustrations show the kitty as more curious than malicious.
Reviewer: Sophie Williamson
(4)
K-3
"My love is so high, and so wide and so deep, it's always right there, even when you're asleep." Tillman's thoroughly unsubtle message about unconditional love is related in treacly rhymes. More interesting are the visually engaging mixed-media illustrations portraying a child's world in which bunnies play hide-and-seek and kangaroos jump on trampolines.
Reviewer: Sophie Williamson
7 reviews
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