Review by New York Times Review
WHILE SOME SEA STORIES are mainly good for a pirate-? thrill, others take young readers a bit deeper. The vast scope and power of the high seas makes the world's oceans a dramatic setting for stories for those just getting their sea-legs as thoughtful, feeling, capable humans. Four new picture books leave dry land behind to reflect on the rewards and perils of friendship, empathy, courage and more. The stakes are high in Mordicai Gerstein's "The Boy and The Whale," a tautly constructed narrative about a fisherman's son who wishes to free a whale from the net his father depends on for his livelihood. As the story unfolds, Gerstein, winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal for "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers," leaves readers in suspense as to whether the whale can in fact be saved, whether the task is too much for a child, and whether sparing an animal's life is worth risking the family's economic survival. In the moral logic of the tale, pragmatic considerations cannot be ignored, but empathy for the suffering takes precedence. Gerstein cinches the case in a scene in which the boy, a nimble diver, comes eye to eye with the captive creature and decides that along with the whale's life his own humanity hangs in the balance. Gerstein draws in a fluid, unfussy penline with overlays of watercolor that wash each scene in a warmly articulated light. He neither names his characters nor identifies their ethnic or national background, wisely so in a story whose underlying dilemma might present itself-whale or no whale-to anyone anywhere. Readers who like their sea sagas with a splash of humor may prefer "The Only Fish in the Sea." When a cartoonish-ly crabby girl named Little Amy Scott hurls an unwanted goldfish from a pier, two indignant friends lay plans for a rescue mission. It is this story's attractive premise- as it is that of children's own make-believe fantasies-that feats of heroism as grand as the one Sadie and Sherman contemplate are well within their grasp. Sure enough, clever Sadie, with easy-going Sherman at her side, knows exactly how to fit out a longboat, assemble a crew of smartly attired sailor-chimps, and make for open waters. As the details of their helter-skelter adventure unspool in Matthew Cordell's frizzy, pert, deadpan drawings, Philip C. Stead, whose tonally adroit knack for comedic dialog recalls Charles Schulz's, lets readers eavesdrop on snippets of the onboard conversation. When sweet, uncomplicated Sherman asks what's next for the goldfish-not if but when they succeed in finding him-Sadie responds by waxing eloquent on the proper care and feeding of those we love. She ends with a few choice words about Little Amy Scott, the cause of all their troubles, and let's just say: no happy-birthday wishes for her. "The Antlered Ship" aims for a dreamier, artier style of sea-faring fantasy. It features a splendid age-of-sail tall ship sporting an impressive antler-themed prow, and a surreal all-animal crew captained by a doe named Sylvia. In port, other creatures sign on as crewmembers, including some venturesome pigeons and a philosopher fox named Marco who is seeking answers to life's big questions, or rather to pretty big ones like, "Why don't trees ever talk?" and "Why is water so wet?" Oh dear-or perhaps, oh deer! As the ship and narrative drift in tandem, readers can only pray that Marco will not redirect his musings to more mundane matters, such as the odds of enjoying a pigeon repast. The illustrations by the brothers Terry and Eric Fan are breathtakingly good. The Fans have an exquisite command of atmosphere and the ability as draftsmen to conjure up a fully realized world-even when, as here, they're starting from a generically written prose text that loses its way in the intriguing scenario it first set in motion. More down to earth is "Robinson," a dream adventure propelled by a schoolchild's decision to attend a costume party dressed as his favorite storybook hero, Robinson Crusoe. Things go badly wrong when young Peter's schoolmates mercilessly mock the elaborate faux-fur costume his mother prepared for him. Surely it would have been better to go in standard-issue pirate gear, as Peter knew the others were all planning to do. Or not: with a gentle nudge from his mother, he opted instead to make a more personal statement, and is repaid for his efforts with a jolt of group rejection that leaves him feeling as alone as any shipwrecked traveler on a desert island. What began as a parent's well-meaning intervention in her child's social affairs morphs for Peter into a developmental flash point. Thrning feverish, the shaken boy escapes into a dream that in some respects mimics Crusoe's island exile (although happily not the part about Friday!). In this dream, Peter forages for food, makes his own clothing and shelter, and keeps an eye out for pesky pirates. Readers can see that on awakening Peter is more his own person than before, and is ready to re-connect on his own terms with school chums who, as children do, have also moved on and are keen for his company. Peter Sis, who grew up in Soviet-Bloc Czechoslovakia and has lived in the United States since 1982, has made a specialty of chronicling the lives of maverick outsiders from Galileo to Darwin. He first told bits and pieces of his own coming-of-age story in "The Wall," but the autobiographical "Robinson" is a more intimate, child's-eye view of a schoolboy's struggles to navigate the treacherous crosscurrents of self and society. It is hard not to feel for this child. In his illustrations for "Robinson," Sis reprises long-time favorite graphic maneuvers-arresting bird's eye perspectives, imaginary landscapes that double as maps of themselves-while also showing a new interest in color that mirrors the story's heightened emotional urgency. Growing up, these evocative images imply, can feel a lot like being lost at sea, but the imagination is a good map to steer by. LEONARDS. MARCUS'S most recent book is "Golden Legacy: The Story of Golden Books."
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [November 12, 2017]
Review by Booklist Review
When Peter shows up at the costume contest dressed as his favorite adventurer, Robinson Crusoe, all his friends do is laugh. Downtrodden, Peter staggers home and goes straight to bed. There he drifts off into a fever dream of a desert island, which Sís depicts in intricate, fanciful watercolor paintings in verdant greens and aqueous blues, looking like something out of a Henri Rousseau painting. Peter is alone on the island, save for some friendly animals, and like Robinson Crusoe, he must learn how to survive alone. Sís' lovely artwork amplifies the dreamlike quality of the story and emphasizes Peter's solitude, which never becomes loneliness; rather, it's an opportunity to learn self-reliance and confidence in his own abilities. He can't be alone forever, of course, and when pirates approach his island, he's initially frightened, but he relaxes once he realizes it's his friends coming to apologize for hurting his feelings. This beautifully illustrated parable about the value of self-reliance and solitude offers a comforting lesson in a whimsical, eye-catching package.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Sís's story, based on a childhood incident, opens at a school's costume party. The narrator, Peter, comes dressed as Robinson Crusoe, in fur garments carefully sewn by his mother. His friends, dressed as pirates, jeer him. Shaken, Peter retreats to his bedroom, where subsequent spreads follow his dream journey to Crusoe's island, a place filled with strange trees, beautiful flowers, and multicolored birds-"Is there no one here but me?" he wonders. Washes of amethyst, rosy pink, indigo, and emerald evoke the scents and sounds of the strange land. An exquisite aerial view shows the boy in a dozen places at once, fishing, farming, and guiding baby sea tortoises into the water; in another, he feasts with animals at a dinner table. Dream morphs into reality as the arrival of pirates turns into a visit from Peter's friends, with an apology. Using the boy to reenact Crusoe's story lovingly underscores the way books allow readers to see themselves in what they read, and to find adventure and solace there. Sís further reflects on his memories in a candid afterword, accompanied by a priceless childhood photo of him dressed as Crusoe. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Sís's latest picture book fuses an episode from his childhood with the plot of Robinson Crusoe-a favorite novel when he was young. Sequential panels lead to full-bleed double spreads as the first-person accounts describe the way a group of five diverse friends play pirates in every conceivable setting, from a backyard tent to the bathtub. When the school costume party is announced, the collective choice is obvious, until Peter's mother suggests that he go as Crusoe. The ensuing drama-contrasting the boy's anticipation about wearing the lovingly crafted outfit with embarrassment as the friends (unfamiliar with the story) tease him-is one that will resonate with many readers. A dream sequence follows the boy's retreat to his room, where the bed becomes a boat, and he floats "in and out of hours, or maybe days." The artist's signature meticulously detailed watercolor and ink scenes become looser, stylized, the colors more saturated-think Matisse's Fauve period. Peter enters lush landscapes, a maze of tropical fruit and wild creatures, and nurturing green and blue scenes of exquisite beauty. He takes on the persona of his favorite protagonist, "owning" the costume at last. Ever on the lookout for pirates, he makes peace with his friends in a deeply satisfying conclusion. Visual references to earlier books, nods to Maurice Sendak, and a photograph with the author's note describing the incident that inspired this tale all provide depth and insight. VERDICT Sís's ability to represent and resolve the theater unfolding in children's minds is unparalleled. A brilliant adventure to share one-on-one or with a small group.-Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library © Copyright 2017. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Sís takes readers on a journey to a Slumberland-esque island that reinforces the joys of storytelling and would make Winsor McCay's Little Nemo proud.In this gorgeously illustrated picture book, the author pays homage to his literary forbears and allows readers to experience the seductive imaginative power that enables readers to disappear into and embody the stories they love. The protagonistbased on Ss himselfand his friends (a multiethnic group) love nothing more than playing at being pirates. When their school hosts a costume contest, the white boy's mother convinces him to dress as Robinson Crusoe, his favorite hero, instead of a pirate. Like Michael Ende's Bastian Balthazar Bux, the boy is teased for daring to be different and escapes into his imagination to find courage and adventure. As the sepia tones of the real world give way to the luxuriant, water-colored dreamscape, readers will lose themselves in the lush greens of the trees used to build the protagonist's forest home and long to swim in the deep blue water swirling around the island paradise (populated only by friendly animalsno Man Friday here). Experimentation in different artistic styles further enhances the creativity and otherworldly quality of Ss' landscape. The author's note at the end also proves delightful. An enchanting love letter to the magic of childhood and the fertile relationship between good literature and young readers' imaginations. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
