Pluck wins the day in this tale from Australia. Kieran watches Saxon, the paper boy, clamber expertly along the sides of the tram, making change and offering papers to customers speedily, before the tram moves on to the next stop. When he turns nine, Kieran, too, sells papers, but Saxon warns him away from the tram work, firmly claiming his territory. But Kieran soon establishes his competence and his courage in one stunning episode. When it is over, Kieran has a new paper route, but finds himself already planning much grander schemes. Hathorn's story, set in a bygone era, is a simple tale of a child's longing for those things just beyond his reach, and of the ways that dreams enliven everyday events. Vivas imbues her vistas with whimsical watercolors; in rusty browns and coppery shades, she warmly conveys the bustle of a city by the sea, and the tram that is its lifeline. Her characters seem to defy the space constraints of a square page: they reach out to readers, or squabble and taunt one another, filling up backgrounds with activities and inviting a closer look. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-- An Australian picture book about a nine-year-old boy who loves being a paper boy on the trams. The book's strong points lie in the sweeping, translucent watercolors that glide from tram movements, past smiling faces to the uplifted waves at the beach. The characters seem to be swept up in a gentle, constant breeze; the pictures are in motion as the story unfolds. The story focuses on Keiran's new job and his determination to act responsibly. The narrative, while smooth in telling, is a bit too descriptive for a young audience. However the passages are vivid and crackle with sounds such as "rattled" and "flicked," so it would make a good read-aloud for an older group. A pleasant slice of Australian life by the seashore. --Marianne Pilla, Upper Dublin Public Library, Dresher, Pa.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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