*Starred* Review from Don, SLJ
There is normally no consistency in what I read, whether it be genre, age targeted, new, old, bad, good... I just read.
As such I have recently run across a number of wordless books; some for the younger set such as the one being reviewed here, and some for the older crowd.
One of the nice things about these wordless reads is that they are just as enjoyable for old geezers like myself as they are for the wee ones. This is certainly the case with The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard.
In this book, a little boy is kicking a soccer ball around the street in present day London. As often happens with little boys and sports balls of all makes, the ball ends up crashing through a window-- in this case the window of a very old theater. Needless to say our young delinquent athlete removes some boards from the windows and goes in search of his lost ball.
He ends up going into an old closet where he discovers costumes from an earlier age. He tries some on, finds the ball and then kicks it through a pair of curtains. Again, he gives chase.
BLAM! Our little guy finds himself on an open air stage in Elizabethan London in the middle of a play being directed by the Immortal Bard himself! [We see at this point that there is another side to Shakespeare...he has a temper! Thus the chase is on!]
The boy is pursued through the streets of Elizabethan London by the angry playwright. And along the way he picks up a bear he finds locked in a cage and the two proceed across London Bridge (the heads stuck on pikes are an added touch) and on to the Tower of London where they happen upon an unfortunate Baron awaiting the headman's block.
The boy and the bear help him escape. But as chance would have it when they jump on a barge on the River Thames it happens to be the Queen's own. The boy, the Baron and the bear are introduced to Elizabeth I, and she is smitten by the young Baron. They have a wonderful party. Suddenly Bill S. shows up again and the chase continues.
I won't go on as I do not want to spoil the story by giving away the ending. But I will say that the entire book is hilarious and does end happily and well.
Talking Points:::
The art work here, in particular the facial expressions of the main characters and the people met in the streets, are absolutely a delight. Each drawing --some as large as a full page; others quite small-- are executed perfectly, and absolutely no words are needed to tell this amusing tale.
I like this one as even small children will be able to figure out the story line with little or no problem. And at the same time it's entertaining for the older reader. too It allows both little and big imaginations to soar.
This is a fun book that is heavily used at the school and public library in our area. Kids seem to be fascinated with it ,and I have seen many older persons smirk and grin while going through it.
An while it may not be historically accurate, it is a wonderful way to introduce the small child to the works of Shakespeare and give a very nice history lesson at the same time, rather twisted and tweaked though it may be.
Now reader take note. There are aspects of this work that are pretty sophisticated and it might be wise to read this one with your child through the first time and give little words of explanation as to the context of the story.
As such I have recently run across a number of wordless books; some for the younger set such as the one being reviewed here, and some for the older crowd.
One of the nice things about these wordless reads is that they are just as enjoyable for old geezers like myself as they are for the wee ones. This is certainly the case with The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard.
In this book, a little boy is kicking a soccer ball around the street in present day London. As often happens with little boys and sports balls of all makes, the ball ends up crashing through a window-- in this case the window of a very old theater. Needless to say our young delinquent athlete removes some boards from the windows and goes in search of his lost ball.
He ends up going into an old closet where he discovers costumes from an earlier age. He tries some on, finds the ball and then kicks it through a pair of curtains. Again, he gives chase.
BLAM! Our little guy finds himself on an open air stage in Elizabethan London in the middle of a play being directed by the Immortal Bard himself! [We see at this point that there is another side to Shakespeare...he has a temper! Thus the chase is on!]
The boy is pursued through the streets of Elizabethan London by the angry playwright. And along the way he picks up a bear he finds locked in a cage and the two proceed across London Bridge (the heads stuck on pikes are an added touch) and on to the Tower of London where they happen upon an unfortunate Baron awaiting the headman's block.
The boy and the bear help him escape. But as chance would have it when they jump on a barge on the River Thames it happens to be the Queen's own. The boy, the Baron and the bear are introduced to Elizabeth I, and she is smitten by the young Baron. They have a wonderful party. Suddenly Bill S. shows up again and the chase continues.
I won't go on as I do not want to spoil the story by giving away the ending. But I will say that the entire book is hilarious and does end happily and well.
Talking Points:::
The art work here, in particular the facial expressions of the main characters and the people met in the streets, are absolutely a delight. Each drawing --some as large as a full page; others quite small-- are executed perfectly, and absolutely no words are needed to tell this amusing tale.
I like this one as even small children will be able to figure out the story line with little or no problem. And at the same time it's entertaining for the older reader. too It allows both little and big imaginations to soar.
This is a fun book that is heavily used at the school and public library in our area. Kids seem to be fascinated with it ,and I have seen many older persons smirk and grin while going through it.
An while it may not be historically accurate, it is a wonderful way to introduce the small child to the works of Shakespeare and give a very nice history lesson at the same time, rather twisted and tweaked though it may be.
Now reader take note. There are aspects of this work that are pretty sophisticated and it might be wise to read this one with your child through the first time and give little words of explanation as to the context of the story.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
- Accelerated Reading level : wordless
- Paperback: 32 pages
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (March 29, 2007)
- ISBN-10: 1596432675
- Take-a-Peek
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