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Searching... Stillwater Public Library | EASY FRE MOTHERS DAY | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
A new charmer by Vivian French celebrates the innocent gift of a child's love. Mother's Day is tomorrow, and all of Stanley's siblings have something special to give to Mom. Everyone except Stanley, that is. Being the baby of the family, Stanley is having a very hard time finding just the right gift. But after a night of fretful dreams - when it's almost too late - Stanley comes up with an idea for a present that will last forever. With winsome illustrations by Dana Kubick, Vivian French's story of a memorable Mother's Day will resonate with children and parents all year long.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This charming Mother's Day story depicts family togetherness and love in a single-parent household. Stanley, the youngest of four kittens, can't decide on a gift for his mother. Stumped, he asks each of his siblings what they are giving. His brother says he will give their mother flowers. "`Good idea,' said Stanley" and he rushes off to pick some flowers from the garden. But "by the time he got back inside, all the petals had fallen off." Stanley then goes on to ask his two older sisters for advice but comes up with no ideas. Troubled, the kitten tosses and turns all night, worrying about what to do. The next morning, his siblings gather in Stanley's room to offer last-minute advice, triggering an idea for the perfect present. The cartoon illustrations, done in watercolor, gouache, and pencil, dominate the book, showing the dejected kitten as his ears droop, whiskers quiver, and tail drags with each failed effort to produce a gift. One very nice touch is the progression of family photos on the endpapers and title pages. The bright colors and expressive characters combined with the heartwarming story make this a noteworthy addition to picture-book collections. Children will identify with Stanley, his quest, and his ultimate triumph.-Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
French (The Thistle Princess) brings a fresh, warm delivery to a familiar premise. It is the day before Mother's Day, and Stanley, a winsome feline shown outfitted with overalls, rumpled whiskers and untied shoelaces, has yet to find a present. He questions his older siblings about their gifts and, when his brother reports that he will be giving flowers, Stanley rushes off to pick some; but by the time he returns, the petals have blown away. Further plans to duplicate his siblings' ideas fail until Stanley arrives at his own, very well-received solution: a cardboard box full of kisses. French's use of detail gives her story its individuality. When Stanley looks for money, for example, his piggy bank falls open, and "it was empty except for one piece of a jigsaw puzzle. `Oh, no,' said Stanley, and his whiskers quivered." Kubick (Something's Coming!) evokes the sweetness of an earlier era with elements reminiscent of Mary Engelbreit: rounded, stubby bodies, props of traditional furniture and clothing, bright colors and inventive composition. Taking the place of Engelbreit's heavy patterning, though, is a healthy dose of white space and rhythmically deployed vignettes, so that the characters get all the attention they deserve. Ages 3-up. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Stanley the cat can't think of the right gift for his mother for Mother's Day until he decides to fill a large cardboard box with kisses that will last forever. French tells the familiar sentimental story well.áReaders are carried along in gentleásuspense through Stanley's failed efforts until the very last page, while Kubick's illustrations convey Stanley's roller coaster emotions through slumped shoulders or droopy whiskers. From HORN BOOK Fall 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
With Mother's Day fast approaching, young Stanley feverishly attempts to find the perfect present for his dear old mum. After all, his three older siblings have already found their ideal gifts. Yet somehow, their offerings just aren't the right choice for Stanley: his handpicked flowers quickly shed their petals, a raid on his bank box elicits a lone puzzle piece, and his mud cake turns into a mud slide. Forlorn, the kitten retires to bed with dreams of elusive gifts flitting through his head. A little advice from his oldest sister sets Stanley in the right direction and he learns that a gift doesn't have to be costly or elaborate-just full of good intentions. When Mother's Day dawns, Stanley's box of kisses turns out to be the best present he could give. French's (Oliver's Milk Shake, 2001, etc.) simple tale rings true for little ones, reminding them that their love is truly the most precious gift of all. Kubick's (Cats, Cats, and More Cats, not reviewed) watercolor and gouache illustrations are precisely drawn and vividly hued, filled with pattern and detail. Whimsical touches are freely scattered throughout the pictures, from the cat motif of the upholstery to the feline-shaped teapot perched on the kitchen shelf. Little Stanley, with his sooty ears and crumpled whiskers, is bound to work his way into reader's affections. (Picture book. 3-7)
