Children's Book Reviews
Page Three of ThreeLisa's Airplane Trip by Anne Gutman, Illustrated by Goerg Hallensleben
Knopf, March, 2001.Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0375811141
Ages 4-8
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Lisa is an adorable little white dog who is taking her
first airplane trip alone; she is flying on a jumbo jet from
Paris to New York. At first she sits next to a blue lady (she's
wearing a blue dress), but Lisa squirms around so much that
the blue lady moves to another seat. So Lisa stretches out for
a little nap, then wakes up in time for lunch. A full-color
page shows in detail all the food you get on an airplane, including
a giant glass of orange juice which Lisa splashes everywhere in
her attempt to see the in-flight movie. This leads to a bath in
the sink administered by the stewardess, and a trip to see the cockpit.
The pilot remarks that the little dog smells
nice -- "It was the soap," remarks Lisa. They land without
further incident, Lisa meets her uncle and they head off
for a vacation in New York -- after waking up her parents
with a transatlantic phone call to let them know that
Lisa arrived safely.
The Misadventures of Gaspard and Lisa is a wonderful series, translated from the original French version. The story is one that any child can relate to. Told from Lisa's point of view, the narrative is funny, yet reassuring. Georg Hallensleben's acrylic paintings are really wonderful, with bright colors and a lively energy which really takes the story to another level. This is an absolutely charming and funny series which the preschool set and their parents will truly enjoy.
See You Soon Moon by Donna Conrad, Illustrated by Don Carter
Knopf, March, 2001.Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0375806563
Ages 2-4
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
See You Soon, Moon, by Donna Conrad evokes the
excitement that a young child feels about an adventure
which involves going somewhere and staying up late.
Older children, when asked to write about an adventure,
almost always write about the excitement of packing for
a family trip. Ms. Conrad's little story is told by a little boy
who is very excited about going on a family trip to see that
special person in the lives of little ones everywhere, Grandma.
The little boy must make important decisions such as whether or not to take his blanket. (He decides that the blanket needs to go with him.) He must also say goodbye to his bedroom, rocking horse, teddy bear and backyard swings with their long strings reaching up to the sky. Soon the little boy realizes that no matter how far they go, the moon is coming along with the family. The moon follows in a most reassuring way up the hill and around the lake. It follows over the bridge, along the highway and waits for the family car to emerge from the tunnel. Finally, in the city where there are many lights and people walking about the family arrives at Grandma's house, and the moon has come along too.
Don Carter's very tactile illustrations, done with foam board, plaster, acrylic paint and push pins, give a three dimensional appearance to the story. This particular technique is very attractive to a very young child who feels that these pictures could be touched and felt. After all, two years and up is an age of tactile learning, so this style of illustration will no doubt communicate very directly with a very young person. See You Soon, Moon is an excellent book for reading with and to a child of two years and older.
--Sarah Reaves White
The Sick Day by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Jane Dyer
Doubleday, April, 2001.Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0385321503
Ages 4-8
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
The Sick Day is about a great deal more than how a child
feels when sick. This wise and wonderful book touches
on several subjects, such as needing comforting possessions
when one feels ill, how comforting and funny an inept but
kindly father can be, and how a little girl can also help take
care of a sick father. The Sick Day was originally published
in 1979, and was the first children's book written by Patricia
MacLachlan. She went on to write the well-known Sarah,
Plain and Tall and Skylark. Therefore, it is interesting to see
how Ms. MacLachlan's special talent was obvious from her
first effort. She writes with a sure understanding of human
relationships and how they grow stronger when they share
a little hardship.
Emily begins her bad day by announcing to her father that she has a stomachache in her head and a headache in her throat. She also decides to mention a toe that was stubbed the previous year, since she already has her dad's attention. Dad dutifully puts Emily to bed and brings the requested favorite stuffed animals. Of course, one called Moosie is missing. Dad finds a doll named Freda while looking for Moosie and Emily's money while looking for the thermometer. Father pulls out all the towels and sheets while continuing his search for the missing thermometer, but only finds hair elastics with which he complies with Emily's request for ponytails. One by one, the loving father's misadventures with home nursing care add up to a bearable day for Emily. And Emily is only too happy to try to take care of her father when the obviously exhausted parent succumbs to his daughter's virus. Mother stays home from work to put away towels, sheets and to restore order. The underlying humor of the situation serves to lighten the story and the lessons it teaches.
The Sick Day is recommended for ages five to eight. Most five year olds would find reading the book alone to be challenging. But this is not a book to read alone. It is a book to be shared. Jane Dyer's light touch with the illustrations matches the story very well. Since this is a story about love and tender feelings, pastels shades done in water colors add to the overall tone of the story. Emily's eyes are big, and a beautiful chocolate brown. Father is large, but gentle, and when he finally comes down with Emily's complaint he looks appealingly pathetic. You have to feel sorry for him.
Bringing back The Sick Day in 2001 was an excellent idea, and bringing it back with Ms. Dyer's illustrations helps a new generation enjoy the story. After all, as we all know, an excellent story deserves to be revisited many times.
--Sarah Reaves White
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