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James, Simon
10 Reviews
(2)
PS
Crisp text and joyous art show that the bond between a dog and its person can defy assumptions. After a montage of happy pet/owner look- and sound-alikes, the rhyming narrative introduces a lonely rescue pup: "For Mr. Scruff there's no one." A small boy named Jim visits the shelter and meets old, large Mr. Scruff. "And though it doesn't rhyme, / it's all worked out just fine." This seemingly simple tale offers lots of discoveries and insights.
Reviewer: Julie Roach
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2019
(3)
K-3
New-to-the-river Beaver is oblivious that his newly constructed dam ("the best dam for miles around...Everyone will love it") negatively affects the animal families living downstream. Frog tries to troubleshoot the cohabitants' dilemma until eventually the dam bursts and Beaver needs their help. James's expressive pen and watercolor illustrations help convey the moral that even well-intended actions can hurt others.
Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty
(2)
PS
A just-hatched dinosaur declares a terrifying tyrannosaurus "Dada!" When the tyrannosaurus reminds Rex that he's not his real father, Rex slips away to find where he really belongs. Rex escapes hungry predators using the roar he learned from the big dinosaur, and a true family bond is formed. This warm father-and-son adventure has an exciting plot; expressive watercolor and ink illustrations keep the action nonthreatening.
Reviewer: Julie Roach
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2016
(2)
PS
On her birthday, Clementine gets a first-aid kit. "You can call me Nurse Clementine from now on!" Her ACE bandages heal everything from headaches to hurt paws. While her parents and dog are willing patients, little brother Tommy is less compliant--until he truly needs her help. James's airy watercolors are loosely and wonderfully drawn, allowing the reader to catch nuances of Clementine's mood.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2013
(2)
K-3
Bird George isn't interested in learning to fly. But while his mother is off getting worms, a gust of wind turns his stationary nest into a flying saucer. He's flung into the air--then up to a skyscraper, where his only option is down unless he chooses to fly. James's airy pen-and-ink style is the perfect foil for the cheerful, unflappable George.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2011
(3)
PS
The world's smartest baby returns! This time he invents a robot to help his mom and dad with the hard work of parenting. Naturally, the plan backfires--with comically cataclysmic results--after overly industrious RoboMom hangs Baby Brains out to dry. The story's humor and tenderness are both apparent in the loose-lined watercolor and ink illustrations.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(2)
PS
Baby Brains sure is smart; the infant becomes a practicing M.D., then an astronaut. Alone in space, though, he wants his mommy, and normalcy is restored in the form of a bath, a tickle, and a nap. Pared down to the essentials of plot and character, the story is both poignant and funny. Much of the humor is contained in the illustrations, but it's well supported by the blithe text.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2004
(3)
PS
When three ducklings get lost, the littlest says his legs feel "all wobbly" and he can't go on. His older brothers encourage him to put one foot in front of the other and say, "One step." Repeating this mantra over and over, he leads them home. Expressive ink and watercolor illustrations in pale yellow and muted orange match the gentle, optimistic story.
Reviewer: Patricia Riley
(4)
K-3
Granddad says that interesting things happen when he goes bird watching. For example, he claims that the birds make drawings of him and help him identify them in his bird book. So when Jess joins her grandfather on a birdwatching trek, she turns the tables on Granddad with her own wild tale. Line and wash drawings enhance the thin story.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(2)
PS
At the beach Sally pries a limpet off its rock only to find it has attached itself to her finger. No one, not her muscular dad or even the doctor, can remove it. In frustration Sally runs straight back to the beach and into the water--where the limpet promptly wiggles off. Humorous cartoonlike drawings suit the story.
Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 1991
10 reviews
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