Review by Booklist Review
Browne's familiar Willy returns to explore classic literature in this picture book celebrating the joys of reading. Each two-page spread features a striking painting of Willy on an adventure he's tracking footprints on a desert island in one, peering out the window of a house swept up in a tornado in another, and so on while on the facing page, in a plainspoken paragraph, he describes a moment from a classic story. There are only a few clues in the text, usually a name or iconic quote, and since many of the stories will likely be unfamiliar to the typical picture-book reader, little ones might not know what stories he's referencing. Cleverly, however, Browne ends each brief story with a question to readers, inviting them to imagine what happens next and encouraging flights of fancy. In a warm, saturated palette, Browne's paintings are filled with charming visual hints, such as books that appear in unusual places, which emphasize the transformative power of imagination. A good choice for read-alouds, particularly at a library.--Miller, Annie Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Former British Children's Laureate Browne paints his famous chimpanzee hero Willy into 10 scenes from classic children's literature in a bid to fire readers' interest in them-and in the libraries where these books can be found. With text on the left-hand pages opposite one of Browne's splendid paintings, each spread offers a plot description that ends with a cliffhanger question. Willy is seen standing in for Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and others. "I'm youth, I'm joy," Willy-as-Peter taunts Captain Hook, reciting the boy's famous lines. "It was all nonsense of course," Willy continues, addressing readers, "but something very strange happened next.... What do you think it was?" In the paintings readers will discover books standing in for the rungs of ladders, walls of houses, and even seagulls. Many children will be familiar with at least some of the stories, and they will quickly learn about new ones. While less lighthearted than the winning mischief of Willy's Pictures, Browne's project provides a doorway into these sometimes intimidating works. Ages 5-8. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-The author of One Gorilla (2013) and Willy's Pictures (1999, both Candlewick) brings back chimpanzee Willy, a mild-mannered dreamer in a sweater vest, for an imaginative tour of classic Western literature. Upon entering an unmarked library, Willy immediately places himself in the heart of the action of a string of well-known tales. Each verso offers a brief, first-person retelling of a classic story, breaking off at a cliff-hanger moment to ask readers a breathless question. Browne completes each spread with his signature primate-populated and gently surreal artwork, depicting a reimagined scene from each tale. Browne peppers the mixed-media pictures with clever touches: books or pencils appear in every image, serving as swords, trees, shark teeth, and even the building material for Dorothy's tornado-swept house. The book's distinguished design matches the weight of the centuries of stories found within, from the marbled endpapers to the decorative initial caps leading off each episode from Robinson Crusoe, The Tinderbox, The Wind in the Willows, and more. Younger picture book readers will experience few thrills of recognition, most having not yet encountered Treasure Island or The Adventures of Pinocchio, but some may be inspired to investigate the originals. Older readers may identify a few of the tales, and likely everyone will enjoy predicting the next episode in each adventure. VERDICT In a paean to storytelling and imagination, Browne offers introductions to his favorite literary thrills, but it's not clear that young readers will want to explore them too.-Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY © 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
Willy the chimp recounts the adventures he experiences through his favorite books and invites readers to join him. Each full-page painting is both a Browne original and a visual reference to other famous works of art. Willy's reading list includes classics such as Robinson Crusoe, Peter Pan, and The Tinderbox, giving readers something of an education about the history of children's literature. (c) Copyright 2016. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ten classic tales serve as backdrops for one primate's book-hopping adventures at a local library. Every time Willy walks through a pair of nondescript black doors, he knows to expect "something incredible" to happen on the other side. Aboard a ship he hides inside an apple barrel and overhears a sailor named Long John Silver plot for treasure and murder. In a forest, he encounters an old woman who asks him to plunge into a "very deep and very dark" hollow tree trunk to retrieve a tinderbox. Browne applies subtle stylistic differences to each world he re-creates, reimagining well-known stories for adult and child readers alike. Half the thrill arises from wondering what will come next for Willy. The subsequent momentum steadily encourages curiosity, an effect heightened when the chimp directly poses questions to readers ("Can you guess what happened next?"). Whether in Wonderland or the Wild Wood, actual books appear as trees, houses, and even the teeth of a monstrous sea creature, hinting at the underlying role of books in shaping imagination. Details specific to each story vary in degree from spread to spread, but Willy remains a constant source of amusement during every excursion. His good-humored facial expressions say more about each tale than words do. This chimp is a worthwhile companion; young readers will no doubt answer his call. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
