10/02/2017
When winter comes, “most birds go Somewhere,” explains Gordon (The Catawampus Cat). Some birds even use a travel agency (“Italy? Good choice!” chirps one headset-wearing bird agent). But a duck named George Laurent stubbornly clings to home base. It isn’t that George is a recluse: he’s a gifted baker and has plenty of friends who extol his craft (“This éclair is almost as spectacular as soaring high above a sunrise in the Andes!”) and urge him to travel with them. A gently persistent bear named Pascal Lombard finally uncovers George’s secret—he was at the carnival when everyone else learned to fly—and persuades the duck that a little adventure is a good thing. There are some logical quirks (why can’t George take the bus as readers see flightless penguins do, and why is Pascal, a bear, awake during winter anyway?), but it’s a lovely story with a conclusion that soars. Gordon’s illustrations eclectically mix wistful watercolor-and-ink drawings with vintage photos (George’s oven and tweed cap look like clippings from old catalogues), and his voice is chatty and elegant, irreverent and deeply empathic. Ages 4–8. Agent: Charlie Olson, Inkwell Management. (Dec.)
"This charming tale, with a decidedly international feel, is funny, warmhearted, and a joy to read."—Booklist, starred review
"A lovely story with a conclusion that soars."—Publishers Weekly
11/01/2017
K-Gr 2—A flightless bird gets a chance to see the world in this gentle picture book. "George Laurent wasn't like most birds." While his feathered compatriots travel the world, flying north and south, taking the bus, even booking vacations through a travel agency, George appears content to stay home and bake pastries. Then one lonely winter, Pascal Lombard, a bespectacled bear, arrives looking for a warm place to stay. He quickly sees through George's excuses—George would actually like to travel, but never learned to fly. Fortunately, Pascal has "an uncanny knack for solving problems" (not really), and is "remarkably good with his hands" (also false). Failing to teach George to fly, the two friends build a hot-air balloon instead and take off for all the places George has missed. The world is much bigger than they ever imagined, but home is where the pie is, so they head back for pastry and plan their future adventures. Gordon's narrative feels longer than necessary, and could benefit from stronger threads tying the story together. Neither a friendship saga nor simply a tale of leaving home to see the world, in the end, it's a blend in need of definition. Fortunately, charming watercolor, pencil, and crayon drawings complemented by vintage cut-paper images elevate the text, providing an old-fashioned sensibility and a childlike simplicity. VERDICT While unlikely to bring young audiences back for multiple readings, this is a sweet story and a solid additional purchase for larger collections.—Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN
2017-09-18
Don't put off until tomorrow what can be accomplished with a hot air balloon today.George Laurent, a duck, has many skills. His baking is magnifique! His yoga is skillful! And his ironing is…prompt. But George is missing one important skill that every duck should have: George never learned how to fly and has been procrastinating ever since. Procrastinating, that is, until one winter when George finds himself alone. Mostly alone, anyway; George's bearish neighbor, Pascal Lombard, is still around, and he quickly helps George face his dillydallying. Pascal's attempts to help George lead to some creative solutions, which ultimately end in the creation of the aforementioned hot air balloon and some fabulous travels. Gordon's story will amuse readers with its snappy narration and dry-as-a-pizzelle wit, but some of his choices may lead to a few head scratches. For example: how is a traditionally Austrian strudel evocative of Paris, as a friend claims? Likewise, is an éclair reminiscent of the Andes? Less-ambiguous visual cues might have helped decode these quirks. The illustrations, a mix of watercolor, pencil, crayon, and cut paper, are a delectable treat, but they're best served up close as a lap-read as opposed to in a crowded storytime. Readers who enjoy Angela Dominguez's Let's Go, Hugo! and Ryan T. Higgins' Mother Bruce will particularly appreciate meeting George.Successful overall, if not without a few puzzlements. (Picture book. 6-8)
