HONORS
& REVIEWS


A CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB Main Selection

A NICK JR BLUE'S BOOK CLUB SELECTION


"An entertaining tale in which a girl's vivid imagination whisks her away to Africa. The richly colored pictures and constant action make this a good choice for storytime. Ashman's Sailing Off to Sleep has a similar, though quieter, ending while this title is a rip-roaring, exciting excursion." School Library Journal

"This adventurous romp through the before-bedtime jungle is accentuated by fantastic sound effects: 'Beep! Beep! Beep!' and 'Screeeeeeech!' as the safari-bound youngster races his (or her) jeep through the terrain, passing the likes of zebras and wildebeests. With full-page waggish illustrations painted in thick strokes with lively colors, this mini-thriller is proof that imaginations really can go wild." Kirkus Reviews

"Racing through the jungle in her sturdy jeep, the unnamed narrator encounters threatening wildebeests, a giraffe, an angry rhino, an ostrich, a 'roadblock buffalo,' and more. Preschoolers will giggle with delight when they realize this is a bedtime tale -- and immediately begin planning their own imaginative safari." Booklist

"Energetic rhymes and action-packed spreads from the team behind Rub-a-Dub Sub chronicle a child's wild safari adventure. Only in the final pages does the author reveal (with the intrusion of two grown-up feet) that this safari has taken place in the comfort of home." Publisher's Weekly

"Action packed from beginning to end, STARRY SAFARI is a rhyming adventure that will keep young readers on the edge of their seats." SirReadALot.org



Find Authors

STARRY SAFARI

View it on Google Books here. Find out more about the illustrator and download some terrific activity sheets at Jeff Mack's website.

From STARRY SAFARI. Illustrations copyright 2005 by Jeff Mack. With permission of Harcourt.

Author's Note


Racing in my sturdy jeep --
On safari! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Passing fields where zebras feast.
Trailing herds of wildebeest.

Gazing at a tall giraffe,
Bump into a rhino calf.

Angry rhino starts to chase.
Lanky ostrich joins the race.

Floor the jeep, and go, go, go!
Screeeeech! A roadblock! Buffalo!




I really enjoyed the process of working with Harcourt editor Karrie Oswald and illustrator Jeff Mack on RUB-A-DUB SUB, and asked Karrie about doing a companion book. She liked the idea, so I began mulling over possible settings. After several false starts, I came up with the African Safari idea, which had so much potential for interesting animal encounters and lively illustrations.

As with RUB-A-DUB SUB, I love Jeff's vibrant colors, adorable animals and the sense of excitement he conveys in his paintings. And I love how he captures this girl's adventurous spirit.

To learn more about Jeff and his work, click on the link below:

LINDA'S BOOKS:

New
CREAKY OLD HOUSE: A Topsy-Turvy Tale of a Real Fixer-Upper
"The clever, rhyming text bounces along with perfect cadence." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
COME TO THE CASTLE! A Visit to a Castle in Thirteenth Century England
"Quirky, sarcastic, and rather educational, too." BOOKLIST
WHEN I WAS KING
"This one's a keeper." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
M IS FOR MISCHIEF
"Ashman's poetic portraits are packed with lots of tasty assonance and alliteration." Starred Review, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
STELLA, UNLEASHED: Notes from the Doghouse
"A hilarious look at the world through the sharp eyes and nose of a dog." SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
Other Books
BABIES ON THE GO
"A 10 on the "aw"-inspiring scale." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
CASTLES, CAVES & HONEYCOMBS
"Beautifully crafted and satisfying." Starred Review, BOOKLIST
TO THE BEACH!
"A family outing gone hilariously awry." BOOKLIST
STARRY SAFARI
"A rip-roaring, exciting excursion." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
RUB-A-DUB SUB
An "enchanting ride." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
MAMA'S DAY
A "lovely reverie on the joys of being alive and being loved." Starred Review, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THIS?
"Youngsters will find nothing but comfort in these pages." KIRKUS
CAN YOU MAKE A PIGGY GIGGLE?
"Vibrant, playful text . . . excellent for storytimes." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
DESMOND & THE NAUGHTYBUGS
"A lighthearted look at bad behavior." KIRKUS
THE ESSENTIAL WORLDWIDE MONSTER GUIDE
"As pithy and clever as Ogden Nash at his best." Starred Review, KIRKUS
MAXWELL'S MAGIC MIX-UP
"A riotous adventure." HORN BOOK MAGAZINE
JUST ANOTHER MORNING
"Ashman captures the non-stop action in rollicking rhyme." KIRKUS
HOW TO MAKE A NIGHT
A "captivating collaboration." Starred Review, KIRKUS
SAILING OFF TO SLEEP
"A splendid bedtime fantasy." KIRKUS
THE TALE OF WAGMORE GENTLY
Wagmore is "a charming, gentle hero." KIRKUS REVIEWS