Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With his customarily exuberant ink-and-watercolor illustrations, acclaimed author-artist Blake introduces a diverse quintet of "amazing" children with distinct supernatural abilities. Angie, with brown skin and a curly ponytail, "could see a sparrow sitting on top of a statue five miles away." Her friend Ollie wears glasses, but his sense of hearing is equally powerful, and Mario (who uses a wheelchair) and Simona "could lift anything you could think of." Rounding out the group is quiet Eric, who says little besides "erm," but is just as amazing, Blake assures readers. During a bus trip to the countryside, their older companion/driver falls ill; Eric comes through when he's needed most, letting loose a booming "HELP!" that results in a cliff-top helicopter rescue. It isn't entirely clear whether Blake intends to show Eric as developmentally disabled, a stutterer, or simply a bit of an introvert. All are reasonable interpretations, but the message about talents coming in all shapes and sizes (and from all sorts of people) is loud and clear, regardless-just like Eric himself when the situation calls for it. Ages 3-7. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Once upon a time, not long ago and not far away, there lived five friends. And they were all amazing. Angie could see things five miles away. Ollie could hear them. Simona and Mario could lift anything. Eric was "just as amazing," but readers have to wait until the end of the story to find out how. One day, these five otherwise perfectly ordinary friends decide to go on an outing in a large yellow bus driven by Big Eddie. After a lovely lunch beside a remote country road, Big Eddie is taken ill and the friends must find a way to get help quick. Simone and Mario carry him a long way until finally Angie and Ollie see and hear people they hope can help. Alas, a river gorge separates them by miles. This is Eric's opening. Up to this point mostly mute, Eric lets out a gargantuan "HELP!" that results in a speedy helicopter rescue. In his inimitable style, Blake has once again crafted an allegorical tale sure to be understood by even the youngest of readers. With a refreshing simplicity of design and not a smidgen of superfluous text, this book grants readers the freedom to focus on the enchanting illustrations. VERDICT A fine addition.-Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, Oak Bluffs, MA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Each of five friends -- Angie, Ollie, Simona, Mario, and Eric -- has a fantastic physical attribute, such as acute hearing or great upper-body strength. When they go on an outing to the country, they run into a crisis, and each of the talents is brought into play to cooperatively save the day. The story is plainly told, folktale-structured and linear except for one sweet conceal/reveal concerning Eric. The flavor of the outing, the joy the friends take in one anothers company, the beauty of the setting, the tension of the crisis, the mood of every character at every point, and the subplot of Erics promotion from fifth wheel to hero -- all are contained in the pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations. Blakes line here is even looser and more energetic than usual, with every element -- from child to bird to bus to bystander to cheese-and-pickle sandwich -- suffused with personality. A loving celebration of diversity and inclusiveness is slipped in without comment: it is Mario, in the wheelchair, who can hold a couch aloft with a single arm. This is The Five Chinese Brothers for our time. sarah ellis (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
