Giant Island

by Jane Yolen, Doug Keith (Illustrator)

Overview

In this wondrous book by award-winning fantasy author Jane Yolen and award-winning fantasy illustrator Doug Keith, two children and a dog explore the coves and caves of a tiny island. Under the watchful eye of Grandpa, the kids are thrilled to discover a huge surprise: the craggy rocks, tufted grass, and wind-swept trees on Giant Island are much more than they seem. Jane Yolen's text entrances readers with hints of age-old magic, and pays tribute to mystery, curiosity, and friendship. Doug Keith's paintings invite readers to discover the giant secret for themselves. Visit Giant Island, where fantastical adventures await.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781947277182
Publisher:	Flashlight Press
Publication date:	08/01/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.25(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Doug Keith has over thirty years’ experience as an illustrator, designer, and fine artist. His resume includes forty plus illustrated books, a Benjamin Franklin Award for interior design, a television Emmy award for graphic design, and commissioned works at Windermere Real Estate and Puget Sound Energy. Doug lives in Seattle, Washington, surrounded by the mountains and water that inspired Giant Island. Jane Yolen is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children’s books. She is the author or editor of over 400 books for children, teens, and adults, including Owl Moon, winner of the Caldecott award, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, and the rest of the beloved How Do Dinosaurs series. She lives in Western Massachusetts. Two islands figure in Jane’s background: Manhattan Island where she spent her early years, and the Isle of Skye in Scotland where she has spent lots of time for the past 30 summers. Either of them could have housed a giant.

Editorial Reviews

"Award-winning author Yolen... sings old songs in new ways." —Publishers Weekly

"Layers of intrigue surround this fun book from Jane Yolen and Doug Keith. [Recommended for] Lovers of Jane Yolen’s picture books and anyone who loves when the illustrations tell a story that the words do not." —Pam WattsFlavin, Head of Children’s Services, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA

Newsweek called Jane Yolen “The Hans Christian Anderson of American children’s literature” due to her significant contributions to children's literature, especially her original and collected fairy tales.

"Ava and Mason are on an outdoor adventure to go fishing and explore Giant Island with their grandpa….After reading this book with enjoyable dialogue and fun illustrations, young outdoor enthusiasts will want to go out and explore an island themselves." — The Columbian for Kids

"The pictures of the giant/island were so fun. And I loved the detail of the end pages. The ones in front showing the islands and the ones in back showing those same islands…. Kids will love comparing the two." —Stacy Bush Putman, Stacy's Books 

"The wonder of childhood comes alive…literally..... Childhood magic shared with a new generation." —Kirkus Reviews

"Jane Yolen, who sees stories everywhere, takes a giant leap here. Through her text and through comic and scintillating illustrations by Doug Keith, we learn that though no man may be an island, an island might be—well, a giant adventure, at least." —Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked

"Jane Yolen, who sees stories everywhere, takes a giant leap here. Through her text and through comic and scintillating illustrations by Doug Keith, we learn that though no man may be an island, an island might be—well, a giant adventure, at least." —Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked

"Lovingly rendered in whimsical illustrations that bring this fairy tale to life." —Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword Review

"A beautifully imaginative tale of discovery and magic and family history on an island that really lives up to its name." —Delia Sherman, anthologist and fantasy writer

"Keep your eyes wide open. There may be more than one giant in this magical place with giants who keep giant secrets." —David L. Harrison, author of The Book of Giant Stories

From the Publisher

2022-05-11
The wonder of childhood comes alive…literally.

When Ava and Mason and their dog, Cooper, visit Giant Island with their Grandpa, they can’t figure out how it got its name; it’s a tiny island where no giant could possibly live. But Grandpa says it’s always been called that, even back when he came there to fish with his own grandpa. As he fishes from the shore, the two children and their dog explore, finding a cave teeming with ocean life, stones “shiny as mirrors,” and a great spot for swimming. As the kids round the island, observant readers will start to see what they haven’t noticed yet: The whole island is a giant: the trees, hair; the cave, an ear; and the stones, eyes. Yolen and Keith could have stopped there—lots of islands are named after what they appear to be. But no, the magic of Giant Island is that this giant is alive and moving, their arms and fingers pointing, grasping, their facial expressions changing. And while Grandpa may pretend not to know what’s going on, he and the giant share parting words and a wave: “Always good to see you, old friend.” Keith’s gouache and colored pencil illustrations wonderfully suit the seaweed tufts and tightly packed rocks of the island and the ocean life that surrounds it. Grandpa and Mason have light skin; Ava’s is slightly darker. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Childhood magic shared with a new generation. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews