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Arlene Sardine
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From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 09:52:24 -0700 (PDT)
Ditto, the remark that for those of us who don't always get to see books before purchase, these longer reviews/articles are very helpful. Not just in evaluating the title at hand, but in thinking about different ways to look at books (especially picture books), since these longer treatments go beyond the usual (and useful) visual and plot descriptions.
These longer articles are also important for spotlighting books that are dramatically different in the field: whether or not we decide they are
"good" or "bad" in the end, there is value in examining innovations.
"Arlene Sardine", beside being an artfully designed picture book, as Hearne points out, has an innovative, tongue-in-cheek plot twist that I find delightful and successful. Taking the standard "normal person in the crowd goes on journey to become individual/heroic" story device and throwing a loop into the middle, rather than the end, I think will give some child readers a great sense of the impowerment in creativity. I don't read "Arlene" as a spiritual treatment of death .... I think that death just stands for the most outrageous and nonsensical hurdle that could befall any hero. Reading this book once-removed from our usual critical stance lets it shine, rather than slither into dismissal. Hearne's review gives us allowance to do this.
Nina
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Sat 12 Sep 1998 11:52:24 AM CDT
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 09:52:24 -0700 (PDT)
Ditto, the remark that for those of us who don't always get to see books before purchase, these longer reviews/articles are very helpful. Not just in evaluating the title at hand, but in thinking about different ways to look at books (especially picture books), since these longer treatments go beyond the usual (and useful) visual and plot descriptions.
These longer articles are also important for spotlighting books that are dramatically different in the field: whether or not we decide they are
"good" or "bad" in the end, there is value in examining innovations.
"Arlene Sardine", beside being an artfully designed picture book, as Hearne points out, has an innovative, tongue-in-cheek plot twist that I find delightful and successful. Taking the standard "normal person in the crowd goes on journey to become individual/heroic" story device and throwing a loop into the middle, rather than the end, I think will give some child readers a great sense of the impowerment in creativity. I don't read "Arlene" as a spiritual treatment of death .... I think that death just stands for the most outrageous and nonsensical hurdle that could befall any hero. Reading this book once-removed from our usual critical stance lets it shine, rather than slither into dismissal. Hearne's review gives us allowance to do this.
Nina
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Sat 12 Sep 1998 11:52:24 AM CDT
