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Summary
Summary
A boy is trapped on the page. How did he get there? Why is he there? What does it all mean? And can he escape? Or is there no other place he'd rather be?
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-At first glance, this may seem like a merely a charming but simple story about a boy who tumbles into the pages of a book. However, when children reread the story, they will discover a whimsical tale about the meaning of life. Through the actions of a young boy who grows older over the course of the story, readers realize that leading a beautiful life can be as easy and unplanned as climbing mountains, falling in love, saving animals, planting a tree, standing in the pouring rain, or paddling a canoe (onto a whale!). This would make a lovely story for parents to read at bedtime, where contemplation and reflection with children can be accommodated. Carnavas's expressive and playful illustrations are reminiscent of Peter Reynolds's drawings and enrich the spare text. Throughout the story, youngsters will enjoy finding the pig and the yellow bird-the constant companions of the main character. At the very end of the book, the man realizes that it is enough to have cared for others and to have received love in return. A worthy message for young and old alike.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A picture-book allegory about life and, to some extent, love. It is undeniably adorable, with a winsome protagonist, sweet animals, and great but not aggressive production (lovely paper and a light-catching glaze). Less a meditation on metafictional existence than a stand-in story for an existential quest (why am I here?), the tale of this "boy" is actually fairly low-key: "One quiet morning, a small boy landed on the page." Though a little nonplussed, the boy quickly finds himself exploring the limits of his world. His animal companionsa friendly pig and a small yellow birdstick with him as he experiences art, music and adventure. Later, he grows a beard, still looking endearingly like his young self despite facial hair, and becomes a partner and a father. Near the book's endthe pages' endthe elusive, universal "why" has him leaping into the unknownwhether disconcertingly or boldly will depend on individual readers or listeners: "Looking for answers, he tried something he had never tried before. / Jumping off the page // waiting for him there was everyperson he had ever loved." The boy, now clearly a grown and elderly man, is both enlightened and reassured. Will the young readers and listeners feel the same way? The impressive kindness of the art has its own power and could make it workthe ambiguity inherent in this sort of question does not guarantee success. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
