Author/ Illustrator: Barbara Lehman
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Lehman
Date published: 2004
ISBN: 9780618428588
About the book:
In another one of Barbara Lehman's wordless picture books, she takes us on an journey with a young girl who comes across a red book on her way to school. She takes the book to school with her and as she opens the book and begins to turn the pages, she realizes it's not just an ordinary book, but a magical book that takes her on an adventure. Beginning with a map of an island, Lehman uses a series of frames to illustrate a child on the island, also holding a red book that shows the young girl's snowy city. Both of the children are able to see one another through their books. When class is over, the little girl has to pack up her book, which makes the boy sad because he thinks she is gone. However, on her way home from school the little girl picks up a bunch of balloons and uses them to fly far away to the island where her new friend is. As floats away she drops the red book and leaves it behind. The little boy is so happy and surprised to see her and now the young girl becomes part of the little boys story, too! At the end of the story, a new friend comes across the book that the little girl leaves behind and rescues it. What do you think will happen next?
Book Review:
I give this book 4 out of 5 owls. This book is a great opportunity for children to use their imagination and allows them to determine different interpretations about what is going on in the book. That is one my favorite qualities about wordless picture books, the opportunity for creativity and different perspectives that are all accepted. The sketches are simple. There's not a lot going on which will keep the readers focused and prevent them from getting distracted by all the detail. The color choice of the book cover also ties into the story line and can make children feel like they found the red book in the story.
As a kid I used to love to read books that had maps in the beginning, it made me feel like I was going on an adventure like how you said! Sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of Owen's favorite books as a little kid. He loved it! I always wonder what the little girl is planning to do at the end when she has flown away from home seemingly forever. The picture within the picture within the picture construct is something you also see in Flotsam by David Wiesner.
ReplyDeleteAww yes! I love that the this book shows a story in which each there are two readers involved and start to develop a friendship. It makes it that much more interesting to read.
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