From Publishers Weekly
Author, singer and composer Sarah Weeks adapts one of her original tunes as a picture book in Angel Face, illustrated with swirling, evocative pastels by David Diaz. This tale of how a mother's love makes her child a special angel in her eyes is accompanied by a recording of the poignant, folk-flavored song featuring guitar accompaniment. (Simon & Schuster, hardcover book and CD, $17.95 ISBN 0-689-83302-4, ages 3-7; Apr.)
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
reSchool-Grade 2--While picking blackberries with his mother, Angel follows a butterfly until he roams out of earshot. His mother's cries catch the attention of Old Crow, whom she enlists to search for her son, using the poetic description: "Angel's eyes are dusty almonds,/Angel's mouth's a mango sliver,/Angel's skin is steeping tea,/Angel's hair's a rushing river-." It is at this point that the narrative switches from prose to poetry; the description becomes a repeated refrain; the humor fades. While the opening scene is presented upside down (the blackberries fall up into the bucket, because Angel is standing on his head), ensuing scenes are more melodramatic. Some of the compositions are a bit awkward, due to the depictions of the mango, spoon, almond, etc. in the backgrounds. The blackberry stains on the child's shirt disappear and reappear throughout the story-a minor quibble. The folksy style of the layered pastels is well suited to the breathy vibrato of the author's musical version of the story on the accompanying CD. This brilliantly hued, sentimental package will undoubtedly find its audience, but given the crowded genre, it is not an essential purchase.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public LibraryCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
