By Astrid Sheckels
The Barnabus Project
By The Fan Brothers
Lori the Librarian |
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Hector Fox and the Giant Quest By Astrid Sheckels The Barnabus Project By The Fan Brothers If you have a preschooler who loves to hear about quests and who has an eye for detail then let me recommend this picture book to you. Astrid Sheckels has created a thoroughly engaging woodland world, including a map, where fairy tales might truly exist. Five friends explore the Green Wood and beyond in search of a possible giant that they have heard about in their read aloud. Each double spread page is filled with rich illustrations that take the reader from the quiet, peaceful setting of Hector Fox’s living space into the full and then mysterious woods. As they near the Forbidden Marsh the tension builds as these friends encounter mishaps. Sheckels paces the story and pictures well by adding shadows and gasping comments until the group finally finds the Giant. Your book reader will want to hear more from Hector and his friends as their next read aloud is a mystery. Thankfully there are two more books in the series, (although I have not had the opportunity to read them yet.) If you both can’t wait then I strongly suggest that you go on your own bear/Giant hunt and create your own mystery. Have fun! I found this picture book in a small children’s store and was enchanted by the story and thought it would make a great gift for a preschooler. I’m unsure now if this copy will make it as a present. I may have to buy another copy to give away. Our main character, Barnabus, is half elephant and half mouse and cute as can be. He is hidden away in a laboratory with other not quite perfect pets who don’t quite meet the requirements as perfect, genetically engineered pets for sale. Barnabus likes his bell jar home but yearns to see the outdoors as described to him by his friend, Pip, the cockroach. When Barnabus and his lab mates are labeled as failed projects and the thought of being recycled is too much, Barnabus stages a breakout and declares that, “Nothing is impossible.” He leads the others out of the lab overcoming many obstacles as all of them work together to get to freedom before they are captured by the Green Rubber Suits. I love when Barnabus exclaims, “He might not be perfect…But he was free,” What a great line! What a powerful message in this wonderfully illustrated tale of deep friendship and self appreciation!
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Author For 29 years I had the best job as School Librarian in the Aaron Kushner Library for grades Pre K-3 at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston. Although I am retired, I remain Lori the Librarian. Archives
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