Amazon.com

Once upon a time three pigs built three houses, out of straw, sticks,and bricks. Along came a wolf, who huffed and puffed... So, you think you knowthe rest? Think again. With David Wiesner at the helm, it's never safe to assumetoo much. When the wolf approaches the first house, for example, and blows itin, he somehow manages to blow the pig right out of the story frame. The textcontinues on schedule--"...and ate the pig up"--but the perplexed expression onthe wolf's face as he looks in vain for his ham dinner is priceless. One by one,the pigs exit the fairy tale's border and set off on an adventure of their own.Folding a page of their own story into a paper airplane, the pigs fly off tovisit other storybooks, rescuing about-to-be-slain dragons and luring the catand the fiddle out of their nursery rhyme.

Wiesner, Caldecott Medal recipient for Tuesday, and Caldecott Honorwinner for both Sector 7and Free Fall, prefersnot to wait around until pigs fly. He gives them wings (or paper airplanes) andsets them on their way! In his latest flight of fancy, Wiesner uses shiftingillustration styles and fonts to startle complacent readers into an imaginaryworld even as they ponder the conventional structure of story. His trademarkcrafty humor and skewed perspectives will tickle readers pink (even thenonporcine variety)! (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Illustrations may be hard for Youngsters to Fully Comprehend
David Wiesner's, clever twist on "The Three Little Pigs," takes a story that we all know, and had the pigs escape from the wolf and out of the story itself. The pigs fly off on a paper airplane stopping periodically at other stories. While they are stopping at other stories, they begin to rescue more and more characters along the way.

The author and artist, David Wiesner, used watercolor, gouache, colored inks, pencil and colored pencil on Fabriano hot press paper in order to capture the illustrations in his book, "The Three Pigs." I enjoy the illustrator's use of two kinds of artistic styles within one picture. For example, on the third page, Wiesner illustrates the pig in the fairytale as more of a cartoon style. Whereas, when the pig is exiting the fairytale, the illustrator makes the pig more realistic by using colored pencils. I think by using the different styles within the picture, it allows the reader to really understand and visualize the pig falling out of the fairytale. This technique is used throughout the book, when a character is leaving or entering a fairytale. The technique is used with different variations on certain pages. In the scene with the, "Cat and the Fiddle," the pigs turn into very cartoon-like characters, and in the tale about the dragon, the pigs turn into black and white pen and ink drawings.
Another technique that I really appreciated in this book was the pages within a page. Wiesner used the play on fairytale pages to illustrate the pigs in the, "real world."
Although, this book uses wonderful and creative illustrations, I think it would be a difficult concept for small children to grasp. Some small children barely have the concept of the original, "Three Little Pigs," let alone a big twist such as this one, especially with the addition of other fairytales. However, I do think that this book would be a good choice for slightly older readers such as kids aged 9-12. They will be able to grasp the concept and follow the storyline a little bit better than their younger counterparts.

CUTE AS....A PIG'S EAR!
Who hasn't heard of the old-time favourite classic for children, "The Three Little Pigs"? This delightful book has all the adventures of the original three little pigs and then some. The illustrations and cute adventures which take place in Wiesner's book are sure to produce a smile or two. You will find a dragon, the cat-in the fiddle and the cow jumping over the moon - and who said, "pigs don't fly?" This is a beautiful book that is bound to warm the heart of any young child. It makes a terrific bedtime story or anytime story and what a wonderful way to share one of those special moments with your child.

Irresistible kid's Pick
I find 'The Three Pigs' - an Irresistible kids Stuff apart from the many stories like Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Cinderella, etc. The kids love to read the tale 'The wolf huffed & puffed' and blew the house is just a repeat that the kids love to say and find out how the pigs escaped and finally, as a great picture read, the book is a imaginery fantasy. Like many other books of this tale, David Wiesner's book is a grab as it has good illustrations, dialogue balloons and style that draw attention, is a great adventure into fantasy world. A good story that kids love and a good Pick 'The Three Pigs by David Wiesner'

The Three Pigs
I am a student at West Virginia State College University. I am currently enrolled in a Children's Literature class. My professor, Mr. Samples had us to choose a Caldecott Award winning book. I chose this book because I have been a huge "three little pigs fan" since I was little. I think it has fabulous pictures. I think the book is unique because the author has changed the plot a little, as opposed to the older version.

A wonderful "what if" tale
This book begins as the story of the three little pigs, but before long the pigs have decided they want to be change the story around a bit. Through their travels, the pigs enter nursery rhymes and other tales, liberating other characters as they go. After awhile the three pigs decide to return to their original story, but they still refuse to follow the instructions of the text. The wolf may still be waiting for them, but he cannot defeat their new friend the dragon.

One of the chief delights of Wiesner's book is the variations in artistic style. When the three pigs are on the pages of their original story, Wiesner draws them in one style. When the pigs escape their tale they become much more realistic looking. For each story they enter, the pigs take on that particular artistic style and color palate. Wiesner's tale is a pleasure, not only for his novel take on the story of the three little pigs, but for the amusing liberties the pigs take with the pages of their story (making paper airplanes) and the text on the page (rearranging it to suit them). ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Tuesday evening, around eight"--a deceptively mundane beginning for what proves to be a thrilling, miraculous, and surreal amphibian journey. Slowly and quietly on this particular Tuesday, a few fat frogs begin hovering over a swamp, riding lily pads like magic carpets. Clearly satisfied and comfortable, the floating frogs are as serene as little green buddhas. Gradually, the flying fleet grows in momentum and number, sailing over the countryside and into an unsuspecting town. These frogs know how to have fun--startling the occasional bird, waving webbed feet at late-night snack-eaters, and even changing the channels on a sleeping granny's television. As day breaks, the frogs lose their lily pads, head back to the pond, and wait impatiently for their next scheduled departure.

Tuesday won the 1992 Caldecott Medal and, among other honors, was named as an ALA Notable Children's Book. The critical acclaim will come as no surprise to anyone who opens the pages of this beautiful and humorous book. With hardly any words (except those noting the time), David Wiesner creates a wondrous romp as silent as the middle of the night. Using the rich purples, blues, and greens of late evening, Wiesner draws readers into the warm, incandescent world of frog flight. "Read" this wordless wonder to children and savor it for yourself as well. Chances are, you and the youngsters will both find yourselves poised at the window, hoping to catch a few airborne frogs in the act. (Ages 4 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Wordless, yet eventful Plot
David Wiesner's, almost wordless, book, "Tuesday," gives the reader a vivid story about a group of frogs who take their lily pads for a ride. Their lily pads fly through the air and through the neighborhood. The frogs' adventure ends when the sun begins to rise. However, the next Tuesday, another animal gets to take a similar adventure.

In the book, "Tuesday," David Wiesner uses watercolor on Arches paper for the illustrations. The illustrator uses dark colors to represent the time of night in this story. The dark colors also give the viewer a sense of mystery as they flip through the pages. However, the illustrator also uses light colors to represent the light from a house, the glow from a television set or the time of day. David Wiesner uses line to show the action of the frogs, by guiding the viewers' eye through the frogs' adventure on their lily pads. Wiesner's choice to make the frogs in the book, "Tuesday," makes the frogs seem friendly and happy.
My favorite aspect of the illustration was that color. The light and dark differences found throughout the book made the story seem very real, even though the plot is very, "magical." The use of blues and grays make the frogs flying through the air seem mysterious. While the fluorescent lights of the kitchen give a very drastic change to the frogs flying in the night outside. I also think that it was very cute for the frog to be waving at the man in the kitchen. I think that is a minor detail that a child will most likely pick up on and appreciate.
The lighting of the television room was another favorite for me. I like how the artist let the glow of the television shadow the frogs and the old woman. I enjoyed the fact that the frogs made themselves at home with the remote control and the cat looking on, in the background.
I think this is a book that a child would definitely enjoy to, "read," especially since they do not have to read. The child is free to let their imagination do the storytelling.

to be read EVERY Tuesday
In the inside of the cover, Wiesner claims these events actually happened one Tuesday and... "all those in doubt are reminded that there is always another Tuesday." Beginning at 8:00pm, we see a three-part picture of a pond that changes perspective to focus on an alarmed turtle. Frogs on lilypads have taken flight and begin to chase after birds, intimidate a dog and confuse a man eating midnight snack. As morning approaches, the frogs return to their pond, leaving their lilypads and the curious detectives behind. The story ends with the words, "next Tuesday" and the shadow of a flying pig.

I've used this book in primary classrooms. It is a very cute story with only a few words. It also provides a wonderful opportunity for children to tell or write their own words. This enables students who cannot read yet to engage in a literate activity.

Why 5 stars?:
This book tells a cute fantasy story with very few words. It lends itself to having children make up their own text, which will support their emerging literacy skills. The illustrations are incredibly lifelike and it is no wonder it won a Caldecott.

Monday you can fall apart. Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
We've all heard the stories of the skies, for whatever reason, raining frogs on innocent town travelers. This natural occurrence of the wild is one of the great weirdnesses of life. So how much odder is it, really, to consider frogs flying? They have all the self-possession required of such a task. Frogs are a uniquely calm species. Confident even. In Dave Wiesner's essentially wordless book "Tuesday", amphibian folk are given the unexplained power of floatation. In his tale, Wiesner considers what exactly frogs would do with the gift of flying if it was granted them.

One of the best pictures in this book is on one of the first pages. There, a turtle cowers into its shell as black eyed pupil-less frogs rise on their lily pads out of the water. The frogs descend, so to speak, on a nearby suburb, and proceed to wreak some minor havok. They disturb a man pausing to eat a late night sandwich. They disturb laundry and enter old ladies' homes to watch a little telly. And they take a great amount of pleasure in scaring a dog that would undoubtedly eat them if it had the chance. As the book ends, the frogs are relieved of their otherworldly powers and hop back to the swamps, leaving only their lily pads behind them. The next Tuesday, at the same time, we're given a hint of how a more porcine animal will handle flight.

Wiesner is a genius at the visual gag. His illustrations are simple watercolors, well-detailed and in-depth. Wiesner knows when to give an animal human expressions and when to leave it looking particularly froggy. He gets every single one of those frogs' spots down , and can manipulate his illustrations in such a way that you never doubt for a moment the ridiculous things you're seeing. To top it all off, the man's a master at conveying light. I'm particularly attached to a scene of flying frogs watching t.v., a wary cat crouching in the background. The old lady asleep in the chair is wearing glasses that are reflecting the light of the television perfectly. On top of that, this is exactly what a room lit only by a single screen looks like. Wiesner's details are marvelous. Make sure to notice the frog appreciatively eyeing the old lady's painting of the forest.

There aren't that many wordless picture books out there these days though Wiesner has made a name for himself by specializing in this area. After reading "Tuesday", you can understand why he deserves this honor. Both witty and perverse, this author/illustrator lets you see into worlds you never could have imagined existed before he came up with them. You'll be thankful that he did.

An imaginative award-winning journey
I discovered this classic over a decade ago when working on my Master's. One of my required classes was a course in children's literature and it turned out to be my favorite. Having long been an avid reader, I was reintroduced to forgotten pleasures and presented with new (at that time) works that were totally fascinating.

"Tuesday" is in the latter category. It is short on prose but makes up for it with engrossing illustrations. The minimum of words allows the "reader" to create a different script with each visit.

My three-year-old niece "eats" the book up every time that either her mom, her grandfather, or even her dotting uncle takes a shine to pull it off the shelf and share it with her. Our respective interpretations of the pictures are limitless, making this a book that will live long after others have faded into obscurity.

Even the book's end allows the child to ponder the events of "Wednesday" and even hypothesize about the events of subsequent days.

Any book that plays on a child's natural tendency to dream is a winner.

Tuesday
I am a student at West Virginia State College, and I was required to read a Caldecott Award winning book for my summer Childrens Literature course. I chose the 1992 Caldecott Medal winner, Tuesay. Without knowing anything about the book I went to the public library and checked it out. To my surprise it was a picture book. The pictures in this book are amazing. They are so realistic and the thought of flying frogs really interests kids. This is a beautifully illustrated book and I would highly recommend this book for children of all ages. All you need is a great imagination to interested in this book. This book rightly bears the Caldecott Medal. I would like to thank my stupendous teacher Roger Samples for this fun and exciting assignment. ... Read more

Book Description

A lovely princess, a brave prince, a wicked stepmother, evil enchantments, magic rowan wood, and an immense, scaly dragon. . . . Favorite fairytale elements sparkle in The Loathsome Dragon, a traditional English tale. Majestic, romantic paintings by two-time Caldecott medalist David Wiesner display the remarkable artistry and dizzying perspectives his work is known for.

Now available once again—with several new illustrations, revised text, and a brief source note—this picture-book classic will delight David Wiesner's many fans, and win him a generation of new ones. ... Read more

Book Description

When a storm is raging, David and George are glad to be inside the house, snug and safe. In this spectacular picture book by Caldecott Honor recipient David Wisener, a fallen tree becomes the threshold to the limitless voyage of the imagination, which David and George share as only true friends--and brothers--can. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Kat's Kind Review
The book Hurricane by David Wiesner was an excellent book. It teaches children that you don't have to always have the new hi-tech toys to have fun. All you need is your imagination. I would recommend this book to all ages. It was about 2 brothers who are waiting for a large hurricane to arrive in their town. When the storm finally hits both of the boys get really scared. After the hurricane lets up and is over the boys notice that there is a large tree that fell down right next to their house. It wasn't their tree it was the neighbors but they decided to play on it one day because they were extremely bored. They played on the tree so much that it became their little adventure world. They would spend as much time as they could with that tree. They felt safe and protected when they would play. But one morning the boys awoke to the sound of chainsaws and axes hacking away at what sounded like... A TREE!!! Could it have been their tree???

Hurricane
Excellent book about two great boys who lived through a terrible hurricane and almost fell in love with a tree. It had a little sadness and happiness. Great illustrations! One of the best children's books I have ever read! The two boys showed a bunch of love for the tree, unfortunately, it would go in the end. Overall, an excellent book for all ages!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In another wondrous, wordless picture book by Caldecott Medal winner David Wiesner (Tuesday and June 29, 1999), a class visiting the Empire State Building finds complete cloud cover and no visibility. One boy makes friends with a cloud (identifiable in the mists by the red mittens, hat, and scarf and swipes from the boy), and goes AWOL on a wonderful adventure. The cloud whisks him away to the "Sector 7" floating cloud factory, a bizarre sky station that looks like a Victorian design for a submarine.

Hiding behind his new cumulonimbus friend, the boy enters an area resembling Grand Central Station (complete with "Arrivals" and "Departures" boards) and watches officious human types in uniform giving the clouds their weather assignments. When the clouds complain to the boy that their assigned shapes are boring, he, a talented artist, creates new blueprints for them. The stuffy grownups are furious when clouds start emerging in the shape of fantastic fish; they shout at the clouds, tear up the new designs, and escort the boy back to his school group. But the revolt of the clouds is unstoppable now, and in the last few pages the skies over Manhattan suddenly get a lot more interesting. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by David Wiesner. With permission of Clarion Books.) (Ages 2 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (20)

If you've ever seen a shape in the clouds, read this book!
This is yet another great book by author/illustrator David Wiesner. This is a story about a boy who goes on a field trip to the Empire State Building. As a result of complete cloud cover the boy makes friends with a unique character, a cloud. The cloud takes the boy to "Sector 7" where all clouds are made by boring, uninspired beings. The boys spices things up by creating factastic shapes for the clouds. The boy is kicked out of Sector 7 by those beings who do not appreciate his artistic ability. After the boy is gone the clouds revolt and what follows is a delight for the eyes! This almost wordless picture book stretches the imagination and keeps you guessing page after page about what you will see next.

A Wordless Piece of Art
David Wiesner's Sector 7 illustrates an artistic young boy's adventure on a school field trip to the Empire State Building, where he meets a "friendly cloud-man." The "friendly cloud-man" takes the boy to "Sector 7," (the place where clouds are formed and placed around the globe). The boy uses his talents to give the unhappy clouds an eye-opening makeover. Wiesner's illustrations create an expressive story. His detailed pictures work together to make the story understandable and interesting. To enhance the mood and atmosphere of the story, Wiesner uses the choice of bold, friendly watercolors and unique frames throughout the book. The frames are presented in chronological order either top to bottom, left to right, or back to front. Sector 7 gives the reader's mind a chance to unwind and expand beyond its imaginable limits. It is definitely a book that will attract those of all ages and test their imagination.

A Great First Book
Sector 7 is a great first book. Since it has essentially no words and requires none to be enjoyed, the book can be "read" and understood by very young children. We all see the clouds in the sky and who hasn't seen something in their shapes?

This book ranks with Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are." To get a child started on the road to reading and loving it, Sector 7 can be enjoyed alone, with a friend or parent.

Every day should be a cloudy day like this one...
Of all the children's books I have read, this one stands out as my all time favorite. I love to write, and treasure the words in good stories, but Sector 7 needs no words to be understood. All you have to do is read the pictures, and let your imagination do the rest.

A little boy with artistic talent draws in the fog on the window of the schoolbus that is taking his class on a field trip to the Empire State Building. When the children arrive, they rush to the top only to find that it is completely cloudy. There is zero visibility, nothing but clouds. This makes it easy for one friendly cloud to make friends with the boy, and whisk him away to Sector 7, a cloud factory in the sky. The clouds are bored with their round and blobby shapes, so the boy puts his talent to work to draw plans for new cloud shapes. The clouds begin to reinvent themselves into interesting new forms. It doesn't take long before the powers that be take notice, and search for the culprit. The boy is immediately caught and sent back to join his class. You'd think it would end there, but his precocious little cloud friends has other plans. The ending of this book is delightful, as the boy begins to see the difference he made take hold in the sky. My favorite illustration is the boy asleep at the end. Even I , as an adult, think that sleeping on a cloud would be heavenly.

This book is magical for children and adults alike. If you are familiar with David Wiesner's work or not, Sector 7 is a special treat.

Gorgeous book
The graphics are incredible in this book. I have 3 children ages 7, 5 and 5 and they were absolutely enchanted with this book as was I. Highly recommend this book for all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

"Culled from 69 stories collected in a [1930s] WPA project, [these 20] tales are organized into sections with themes like 'Tricksters' or 'Virtues and Vices,' each with a thoughtful introduction placing the individual stories in the context of feelings and background of the original tellers.Yep's telling is vigorous, often poetic, imbued with earthy humor and realism touched with fatalism.A handsomely designed collection." —K.

Notable Children's Books of 1989 (ALA)
The USA Through Children's Books 1990 (ALA)
1989 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Nonfiction
1990 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1989 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Notable 1989 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children'sBooks of 1989 (Library of Congress)
1989 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
"The Best Books" 1989 (Parents Magazine) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Source of Chinese and Chinese American Tales
Yep for the most part retells and combines stories collected by Jon Lee in a 1930's WPA project in Oakland's Chinatown from Chinese who would trace their ancestry to Kwangtung, China. (xi)

The stories are broken up into Tricksters, Fools, Virtues and Vices, In Chinese America, and Love tales. Each section has a brief introduction which contains some history and cultural information as well as additional source information.

Each story has a bookmark size brush and ink illustration. The illustrations add a glimpse into the stories.

Yep's stories are very readable, but might need a little trimming for telling. These stories are interesting and offer a look into the lives of the earliest Chinese Americans.

Teaching Tales
Getting students to see the connection between their classes is often difficult. Students in middle school do not see that Literature and Social Studies are interconnected. Yep's tales help suppliment an often "boring" unit on Ancient China. ... Read more

Book Description

The lively imagination of Caldecott medalist David Wiesner forecasts astounding goings-on for a Tuesday in the not too distant future -- an occurrence of gigantic vegetal proportions. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Giant veggies! Aaah!
This is a great idea for a story that worked quite well. The pictures are lovely to look at too. I loved the ending. There are so many children's books out there of varying quality, so I was pleased to come across this little gem.

Artichokes Advance on Anchorage.....
It all started in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey on May 11, 1999. Holly Evans launched her science experiment, flats of vegetable seedlings carried up into the ionosphere by weather balloons, to study "the effects of extra-terrestrial conditions on vegetable growth and development." Fast forward to June 29. All over the country, enormous vegetables are seen floating to earth. "Cucumbers circle Kalamazoo. Lima bearns loom over Levittown. Artichokes advance on Anchorage. Parsnips pass by Providence. And broccoli lands with a big bounce in Holly Evans's backyard." But when "arugula covers Ashtabula" , Holly begins to wonder about this veggie phenomenon. Arugula was not a part of her experiment..... David Wiesner's makes June 29th an unforgettable day in his entertaining classic, and imaginations will soar with each delightful page turn. His minimal text, with its witty, dead-pan delivery, is filled with clever wordplay and alliteration. But it's Mr Wiesner's marvelous illustrations that really make this book stand out and sparkle, and youngsters will enjoy lingering over each outrageously detailed and humorous picture. With an inventive twist at the end to bring the whole story to its logical, though fantastic, conclusion, June 29, 1999 is a masterpiece you and your family don't want to miss.

beautiful story with a fun twist!
The date may have past, but "June 29, 1999" remains a wonderful children's classic!! About a month before the day of the book's title, Young Holly Evans began a special science project. Using weather balloons, she had launched a number of different plants and vegetables in flat boxes into the ionosphere to study their growth. However, on June 29th, a most mysterious event occurred... GIGANTIC vegetables descended from the sky all over the country!! A hiker in the Rocky Mountains discovers turnips the size of houses and "cucumbers circle Kalamazoo".

As they slowly float to the ground (well, the red peppers need some help for some unknown reason), news reports come in from all over the country: gigantic parsnips in Providence, lima beans in Levittown, and arugula in Ashtabula. Wait a second!! Holly is puzzled; she didn't USE arugula as part of her experiment!! What's going on here?? If the arugula, the eggplants and the avocados are NOT part of her experiment, where did they come from??

David Weisner is the author of the Caldecott winning book, "Tuesday" in which frogs on their lily pads suddenly take flight one summer night. His delightful sense of the strange is continued here in "June 29". Like all of his books, the illustrations are lush and meticulously detailed, the reader feels like they could easily walk right into the pictures and be part of the action. The story is short, easy to read, and uses a lot of alliteration, so it can easily graft itself into a language arts lesson.

The story has some wonderfully fun visual jokes that older readers and adults will find fun, for example giant gourds being used as housing in North Carolina and The Big Apple being renamed to The Big Rutabaga (a giant purple rutabaga parades down the streets of New York to a blizzard of ticker tape and streamers). The book does have a wonderful surprise ending that I shall not give away here but will delight readers on the last page or two. If you're a fan of "Tuesday" or merely love an unusual story, you must pick up a copy of "June 29, 1999"!!

Science projects falling from the sky?
By April, most of the children in my kindergarten knew that they had learned absolutely everything about David Wiesner's "Tuesday". I surprised them one Tuesday, with this book, and let them know it was by the same author. "Will there be frogs?" the children clamored. We shared the book, and with growing excitement some of the children exclaimed as we turned the page and I read the date, "That's your birthday! Did Mr. David, the author know that? Did he put it there 'cuz he knows you love frogs and his Tuesday book?"
I must confess, I do not know how the author chose that date to evaluate plants.
This book was a hit in my classroom, a treasured favorite, even though it was a bit beyond K level scientific data collections. We planted seeds, and of course, the children adored the ending, which i shall not give away. We did many extension activities such as veggie trays and a big salad day. Bring this book to your classroom, or your home, and celebrate an oft ignored part of the food pyramid.

June 29, 1999 is awesomely funny!
Just because the date is gone, done give this book a pass. Holly Evans has a great science project with unbelievable results. I read June 29, 1999 on that date because it begged me to do so & what an amazing visual adventure it turned out to be! This otherworldy story will be with us for a long time. I encourage you to read it - it'll change your point of view about vegetables! .................. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone knows that Jamie is a dreamer. When he looks up at the sky, instead of clouds he sees knights and dragons from centuries past and fabulous creatures from far-off lands. But one day he looks up and sees something even more incredible: a man in a business suit parachuting from a plane. "Unpredictable and absorbing."--The Midwest Book Review. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Action Book!
Man from the sky

Would you like to be a kid that likes to look up at the sky and imagine seeing things or to have a neighbor that spies on you? This is a story about Jamie who loves to look up at the sky and daydream. But one day instead of daydreaming Jamie see's a man from the sky parachuting! This amazing 120 page book by Avi is about Jamie's friend, Gillian, who gets into a lot of trouble one day. If you tie everything together, you should be able to guess what happens. If I told you I would spoil it, so you should definitely read it! I would rate it a five star book because of it's exciting and suspenseful characters and what happens. The book has an ok writing style because it doesn't have unique writing every word, but it is still a great book and I strongly recommend it.

-Tomás Sowles

A review of Man From the Sky
Mrs. Davis' 5th grade class at the Hamilton School found these events to be the most exciting in the book. By parachuting from a plane, Ed Goddard was trying to escape with money he had stolen. Unable to remove the parachute he was dragged and injured and lost the briefcase with the money. Jamie saw him parachuting from the plane while studying the clouds. Jamie is dyslexic and struggles to read but can see images in the clouds. Jamie's friend Gillian Lurie found the lost briefcase and was kidnapped by Ed Goddard. She left a clue for Jamie to follow and send help. She used a stick to point in the direction she was being taken. There was some discussion about the chapters changing from one character to another making the book confusing. The class decided that Avi wrote the book this way to give the reader a "split screen" of the same events from the point of view of different characters.

Half the class felt that they would recommend the book to a friend. The whole class agreed that there were exciting moments throughout the book.(Submitted by Ms. Willett, Lower School Librarian)

Man from the Sky is interesting and suspenseful!
Book Review of Avi's Man from the Sky

Man from the Sky , by Avi, takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania near the border of New York. Jamie Peters, age 11, is a dreamer. Although he is unable to read books, Jamie spends his free time reading the sky. Jamie is able to see dragons, castles, and knights. One day while reading the sky, Jamie sees a man named Ed Goddard parachuting with a suitcase. Gillian Lurie, Jamie's neighbor, is jealous of Jamie's interesting hobby of reading the sky. In an attempt to find out how Jamie reads the sky, she watches him one day. While watching him, Gillian discovers a mysterious suitcase that leads her and Jamie into trouble.

My favorite scene in this book is when Ed Goddard makes a gun out of wood. This is impressive because the gun looks real enough to fool people. Also, the fact that Goddard is clever enough to make a wood gun so that it will pass through the metal detectors at the airport is also an exciting part of the book.

Although I enjoyed this book, I found it confusing the way the author continually switched back and forth from scenes and characters in each chapter. For example, in one chapter Ed Goddard is looking at planes, and in the following chapter Jamie is reading the sky. However, eventually the book becomes less confusing when the author brings the characters together. Man from the Sky, by Avi, is suspenseful and interesting. I recommend this book to readers my age.

Submitted by David Apfelbaum, grade 6.

this book is good
This book is a great book because it has some action not to little action and not to much action another reason that i like this book is that it is not a confusing or big long book that takes for ever. and the book is for third grade to fith grade.

ps. this book is a great book i recomend this book and this is especially good for 4th graders ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Endearing, Inquisitive 2 Yr Old..But This One's No Caldecott
Owly is two years old and he wants to know how high, how deep, how far, how much about EVERYTHING! His mother patiently helps him to discover the answers to his numerous questions by seeking the facts himself. He goes off to count exactly how many waves there are in the ocean and finds there are so many he can't count them all. Similar experiments yield similar fruit. The endearing story eventually reaffirms his mother's deep love for him as well. I think this book's message is very sweet and comforting and I think this is a good story. However, I'm not as excited about the illustrations. David Wiesner is one of my very favorite illustrators of children's literature and well deserving of the Caldecott Award he recieved for his book called Tuesday. The pictures in this book while sweet are very much on the dull side. Look at the cover picture and that is essentally all you will see for the rest of the book's 16 illustrations. All of the illustrations are very, very similar. We see baby Owly and his mother (cute brown owls) sitting on a black tree branch with a round white moon and round white stars, or yellowish streaks indicating sunrise, or pale greenish blue indicating daylight. We see Owly take flight in two pictures. We see him sitting on the shore in one. We see the two owls cuddling. The colors are all pale washes in the yellow-blue range. Wiesner has given the two owls cute expressions. I would never say that this fine artist has created bad illustrations. Never! But these are dull and take the book from the realm of 5 stars to that of 3. You will never find that this book creates anything but positive memories...but that is only IF it creates a memory at all.

GREAT BOOK
MY BOYS ARE NOW 19 AND 15 AND I USED TO READ THEM THIS BOOK WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. ONE IS NOW IN AWAY IN COLLEGE, THE OTHER IS, WELL, 15. BUT WHENEVER WE SAY GOODNIGHT OR SO LONG WE WOULD SAY I LOVE YOU-----AS MANY STARS AS THERE ARE IN THE SKY, ETC. I AM NOW PREPARING FOR ANOTHER BABY AND I WANT TO SHARE THE SAME JOY THAT WE GET NOW. IT IS AN EXCELLENT BOOKS. HOLD ON TO THESE STORIES AND TREASURE YOUR CHILDREN. ENJOY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

A beautiful work of art.
This is a great book. I would recomend it to anyone young or old

Owly is a perfect read aloud for children of all ages.
As an elementary school librarian, I have read Owly so many times, I could recite it. Always, it holds the children as if they were experiencing Owly's adventures in answering his own questions and, ultimately, hearing from his mother how much she loves him. Every child should hear Owly read to him by someone who loves him without limit.

The Easiet Way To Explain a Parent's Love
When my son was a toddler reading him "Owly" was the best way for me to explain to him how very much he was loved.This simple story tells children, in measurements they understand, the boundless love of a parent. Seven years after first reading "Owly", whenever my son asks how much I love him, my immediate response is still "more than there are stars in the sky". Any child, regardless of age, should read this beautiful story. ... Read more

Book Description

When he falls asleep with a book in his arms, a young boy dreams an amazing dream-about dragons, about castles, and about an unchartered, faraway land. And you can come along.

Reviews (4)

Picture Book Review
Free Fall By: David Wiesner David Wiesner sends the reader on a magical journey through a young boy's dream to a far off land in his creative picture book titled, Free Fall. He does this by using only detailed pictures. Free Fall is an Caldecott honor award winning book for its excellent use of the imagination. Free Fall begins with a young boy fast asleep with a storybook lying open on his chest. The boy begins to dream while the pages of the book start to fly and take life. He becomes a character in the book as the chess pieces begin to talk with him. He then goes through many exciting adventures during the course of the book. He protects the town from a frightening dragon, becomes an oversized boy towering above all, and even becomes so small that he can fly on a single leaf. He flies right next to the swans just above the waters, and then he...wakes to the daylight shining through his window. He sits up, looks at his fish bowl beside his bed, and admires the seagulls at his windowpane with a smile on his face. David Wiesner uses fantasy and adventure to give a child an unlimited imagination in his book, Free Fall. The title page automatically sets the reader up for a fulfilled magical ride. The title page looks like a map made out of the boy's bed sheet to give the reader a sense of where the story will take us. The first page of the book lets the reader know that the boy fell asleep while reading a book. Then the reader turns the page, and night suddenly turns into day from one page to the next. The boy's room starts to disappear into rolling open fields with mountains towering in the background through clouds. The boy becomes as small as a chess piece, and starts to have conversations with the other pieces. On the next page, the chess pieces turn into a beautiful life-size castle, and the people have shrunk to a smaller size. Then, a dragon appears, and the boy is left to protect the people using only a sword and shield. As the reader turns the page, the pages of the young boy's storybook begin to turn also, while characters in his book suddenly jump into his dream. The reader can see the people coming out of the pages. The boy then grows vast, soaring over all. He takes adventures though the mountains, as well as takes flight though the air. He flies along with the swans until the waters subtly turns back into his bed sheets. A foggy haze once again appears, and the boy is awakened by the light of the morning. Wiesner takes the reader, the child, on an adventure though another child's dream. The colors of the pictures are subtle and dull, so that it reflects that of a hazy dream-like state. The picture book is put together very well as the pages slowly drift into the next scene of the boy's thoughts. For example, the boy's bed sheets blend into rolling hills, the hills fade into a chessboard, and the pieces convert into the towers of a castle. The pages of the book turn gradually into steps, and then transform into sides of buildings. The mountains then turn into bread as the boy's bed sheet reappears as a tablecloth. The tablecloth suddenly transforms into rough waters, as the food breaks into pieces forming into fish. As daylight breaks through, the waters turn into the boy's bed sheets once again. The transformation of the bed sheet into so many different items may relate to what a child can imagine a bed sheet to become. The uses of objects, such as the boy's bed sheet, for more then one purpose is a great way to express an exploring, creative mind, such as the young boy's in the book Wiesner's Free Fall, creates an adventure for the child through the great usage of imagination. This allows the child to not only enjoy the book, but also relate to the book. The child learns that bedtime, an often unpopular time, can open up a world of excitement for them.

A visual and imaginitive journey
Free Fall is a series of wonderful illustrations of apparently unrelated imaginary worlds seamlessly stitched together by familiar textures. As with other books by David Wiesner, the closer you look the more you will appreciate his work.

Warning: This is not a traditional story. Young children probably will need your help to follow along.

If you appreciate creativity, imagination and quality illustration and want to pass this on to your children this book is a must have.

A Beautifully Illustrated Imaginative Dream
"Free Fall" by David Wiesner is a wordless book about imagination. It begins with a boy who is escorted through a very imaginative dream. Throughout the book, the illustrations change subtly to form new scenarios as the dream continues. Eventually, the boy wakes up only to realize that a map and his own toys are the items that initiated his dream. "Free Fall" is a wonderfully illustrated book. It contains very clear illustrations with quite a bit of detail. Because the theme focuses on imagination, many of the illustrations are out of the ordinary and are abstract. However, the same concept is persistent throughout the book providing continuity for the reader. "Free Fall" will provide children of different ages the opportunity to explore their own imagination. It will also give children the opportunity to develop their vocabulary as they describe what each page means to them. However, some younger children might not be able to understand the complete meaning contained within the book. Furthermore, they might not have the vocabulary to describe all that they see. In spite of this, most children will truly enjoy this book. I do recommend it highly to any home or classroom.

Fantasy dreamland illustrations captivate young children.
This Caldecott Honor winner captivates young children with its entrancing illustrations of a boy's journey through a fantasy dreamland. Since there is no text, children (and adults) are free to make up the story to fit the illustrations in any way they see fit. Another wonderful wordless book by Wiesner is Tuesday ... Read more

Book Description

In this stunning collaboration of two exceptional talents, the striking charcoal illustrations and nimble text reveal what happens at night when the gargoyles come to life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not Just for Kids!
I checked out this book from my local library for my four-year-old daughter who wanted a "scary" book, and the first thing that caught my eye was the excellent art work. It's absolutely stunning. Each page is a work of art unto itself, with blacks, whites, and grays that add immeasurably to this gothic little poem about mischievous gargoyle statues that come alive at night to frolic and play jokes on human beings. I can see how the book might be a little too scary for some children, but my daughter seems to find it "just right," as do I. Yes, the gargoyles look a little menacing and the overall tone of the book is a little dark, but it's also fun in the same way that Halloween is fun. Furthermore, I as an adult get a kick out of reading the book, the text of which is not necessary so simple that only young children will appreciate it; both kids and adults will enjoy it, in my opinion. I plan to buy a copy from Amazon for my own library, in fact.

Review from a regular mom:
Bought this book for my 5 year old son who is interested in gargoyles. The book has beautiful black and white illustrations. The story uses poetic descriptions too difficult for younger children. You won't get through the book without stopping at least 5 times to answer questions. For ages 4-8? I don't think so!

Frolicking gargoyles will bewitch readers with their revelry
Visions of frolicking gargoyles delighting in night, splish-splashing in watery fountains, and spooking unwanted humans tempt the senses of readers as Eve Bunting nimbly weaves her silvery text around these stony figures. Each page sets forth a new scene of the gargoyles' brief revelry before they are destined, once again, to return to "squat high on corners...empty eyes unblinking...". The text is intertwined from page to page with a lyrical yet unconscious rhythm, permeating each scene with a spookiness enhanced by the onminous repetition "till night comes". Wiesner's two-toned pastels soften the contrast of light to dark, enhancing the story's black and white ghostliness as the gargoyles come to life-lounging in trees, spewing water, and making faces at one another. His illustrations animate these "pock-marked" characters in a way that text alone cannot. Shadowy visages added to haunted expressions reveal an underlying tone whispering hints of the supernatural. Perfectly mysterious for reading out loud, this book will bewitch readers and listeners, school-age and beyond, with its timeless tale of the creepy-crawlies that come out at night. ... Read more

Book Description

Joe Slattermill is about to experience a night he'll never forget. Tired of his decrepit house, he leaves his wife and mother behind and sets out for a night at The Boneyard. Joe has a knack for dice throwing and figures he can take on any opponent. But can he win when the stakes are raised, and it's his life he's gambling for? A classic fable in the tradition of "The Devil and Daniel Webster." ... Read more

Book Description

This is a fantasy, a la C.S.Lewis, about twins (boy and girl) who find their way into a parallel world in which there are strange creatures, strange people, strange topography, and evil kings and warlocks trying to rule the entire land of Messmeria. The twins join the "good" forces to help overcome the evil ones. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Happily re-released
I first encountered this book about 15 years ago. After much searching in the past 5 I was overjoyed at it's re-release. The book is a wistful journey, fraught with the type of characters which abound in the Chronicles of Narnia, but without as many religious undertones. The creatures created by Eckert are reminiscent of the fantasy epics "Labyrinth" and "The Never Ending Story." The book is as fantastical now as it was waaaaaay back in grade school. My only regret is that it took so long to be re-published.

I LOVED this book!
This book was wonderful! It is the story of the twins Lara and Barnaby and their cousin William (I think that's what his name was, I haven't read the book for a while) who go into the world of Mesmeria one day by following an owl through the Everglades, only to find that they're destined to save this land.This book is an incredible fantasy (take it from a fanatic bookworm) that I completely loved, and the sequel "The Wand: Return to Mesmeria" is just as good...

An imaginative fantasy quest through a C.S. Lewis world!
This is the greatest book I have ever read...in other words, my most favorite of all books! It has absolutely everything I dream of in a fantasy novel: an entrance to another world; fantastic and outer-worldly creatures, characters and obstacles; an imaginative and original plot combining the elements of fantasy, fiction, adventure, mystery and suspense; and an almost perfect combination of surrealistic lands and characters. Even though this is the only book of Allan's that I have read, I believe that this is the most different from his others. No other novel I have read let me enter such an incredible world as this one or make my own imagination stronger than it had ever been before! To summarize this enchanted adventure, the two main adventurers-Laura and Barnaby-set off to a secret spot (known by their cousin and the third adventurer, William) in the Florida Everglades. As their small motorboat ventures further in, William's secret owl reveals a hidden passage trhough the side of the walls of the cavernous secret spot, just large enough for the boat. As they make their way through the dark green tunnel, a whole other world is discovered through these three children and an incredible adventure is about to begin! There is only one problem...Laura and Barnaby are twin brother and sister...and in this new world, twins are forbidden ... Read more

Book Description

The twins, Lara and Barnaby, find a new way back into Mesmeria, but in a time frame different than originally. The good Queen Mag Namodder has been kidnapped by the evil King of Bluggia and will die unless the twins and their friends can rescue her. In the effort, they encounter many dreadful hazards…and Lara becomes a witch. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This book is GREAT!
I loved this book! This superb sequel to "The Dark Green Tunnel" takes place a month after the first book in our time, and about 750 years after the first in Mesmerian time! The twins Lara and Barnaby return to thebeautiful kingdom of Twilandia only to find it in tatters and the goodwitch Mag Nammoder gone! Upon meeting the dwarf Quill, they discover thatMesmeria is once again under oppresion; but this time, an evil wizard holdsthe throne. To save Mag Nammoder and free all Mesmeria, the twins mustinvoke spells from the hidden "Secret Volumes of Warp" with thehelp of the extremely powerful Wand. But in order to do this, the twinsmust first invade the heavily guarded Black Castle. And if they succeed,Lara has an inportant decision to make...

This book is GREAT!
I loved this book! This superb sequel to "The Dark Green Tunnel" takes place a month after the first book in our tim, and about 750 years after the first in Mesmerian time! The twins Lara and Barnaby return to thebeautiful kingdom of Twilandia only to find it in tatters and the goodwitch Mag Nammoder gone! Upon meeting the dwarf Quill, they discover thatMesmeria is once again under oppresion; but this time, an evil wizard holdsthe throne. To save Mag Nammoder and free all Mesmeria, the twins mustinvoke spells from the hidden "Secret Volumes of Warp" with thehelp of the extremely powerful wand. But in order to do this, the twinsmust first invade the heavily guarded Black Castle. And if they succeed,Lara has an inportant decision to make... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Neptune Rising... A Wonderful Tale of the Sea
Neptune Rising is one of those fabulous books that fascinates not only children, but adults as well. The stories themselves weave throughout your head until you too want to become one with the sea and swim with the characters. Jane Yolen transcends most authors' stories of the sea, with both new and old fables in this powerful book. I remember as a child being enthralled with her books, sitting on the floor of my public library for hours. As an adult with my own collection of her works, I escape into that same dreamworld whenever I read Neptune Rising again. ... Read more