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Happy Saturday, guys!
Today, we have an amazing treat for you. Not only are we reviewing Aaron Becker's Journey and Quest in preparation for the release of Return in August, we also have two copies to giveaway! Read on for our thoughts and more! -J |
A review of Journey (Candlewick)
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Hardcover, 40 pages
Published August 6th 2013 by Candlewick Press ISBN: 0763660531 Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship. A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all. Amazon | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads |
While I generally am interested by most everything I read, there are very few books that transport me back to what it felt like to be young, and full of imagination. However, Aaron Becker's beautiful Journey absolutely fit the bill.
In a wordless text, Becker walks readers alongside a young female protagonist who is being ignored by everyone in her life. But when she draws a door on her bedroom wall, she transports herself to a world of adventure of potential danger...
Much like the book itself, I wish I could draw out the emotions that Becker brought out in me while reading, since I'm not sure words would do it justice. Becker transports readers from the boxy, isolated daily life of our young female protagonist, to a lush, glowing world that's brightly illustrated by pen, ink and watercolor.
It's the type of thoughtfully created, expansive world that readers will typically associate with fairytales and epic adventures like The Narnian Chronicles or Lord of the Rings, and one will undoubtedly feel that same thrill as they travel alongside the female protagonist through exploration and adventure.
Readers will appreciate the subplot of the protagonist's selflessness in freeing a beautiful bird, and how the bird helps open up even more doors for her, that leave her no longer feeling so alone. Paired hand-in-hand with Becker's beautiful drawings, and this is a book that everyone should get for themselves and the loved ones in their lives.
In a wordless text, Becker walks readers alongside a young female protagonist who is being ignored by everyone in her life. But when she draws a door on her bedroom wall, she transports herself to a world of adventure of potential danger...
Much like the book itself, I wish I could draw out the emotions that Becker brought out in me while reading, since I'm not sure words would do it justice. Becker transports readers from the boxy, isolated daily life of our young female protagonist, to a lush, glowing world that's brightly illustrated by pen, ink and watercolor.
It's the type of thoughtfully created, expansive world that readers will typically associate with fairytales and epic adventures like The Narnian Chronicles or Lord of the Rings, and one will undoubtedly feel that same thrill as they travel alongside the female protagonist through exploration and adventure.
Readers will appreciate the subplot of the protagonist's selflessness in freeing a beautiful bird, and how the bird helps open up even more doors for her, that leave her no longer feeling so alone. Paired hand-in-hand with Becker's beautiful drawings, and this is a book that everyone should get for themselves and the loved ones in their lives.
(C) Candlewick/Random House via Edelweiss
A review of Quest (Candlewick)
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Hardcover, 40 pages
Published August 26th 2014 by Candlewick Press (first published January 1st 2014) ISBN: 0763665959 A king emerges from a hidden door in a city park, startling two children sheltering from the rain. No sooner does he push a map and some strange objects into their hands than he is captured by hostile forces that whisk him back through the enchanted door. Just like that, the children are caught up in a quest to rescue the king and his kingdom from darkness, while illuminating the farthest reaches of their imagination. Colored markers in hand, they make their own way through the portal, under the sea, through a tropical paradise, over a perilous bridge, and high in the air with the help of a winged friend. Journey lovers will be thrilled to follow its characters on a new adventure threaded with familiar elements, while new fans will be swept into a visually captivating story that is even richer and more exhilarating than the first. Amazon | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads |
I was curious how Becker would continue the beautiful world that he had created in Journey, and started reading Quest with great anticipation.
Our protagonist from the first book is back in the second, alongside the friend she had made at the end of the book. They're brought back to their world when a king hands them a map, and it's up to the pair to rescue the king when he's taken into custody.
The journey is just as magical this time around, with some additional stakes added to heighten their adventure. The two protagonists have to use their gumption and their artistic talent to draw their way in and out of several slightly nerve-wrecking situations, and do so with the type of ingenuity that will have readers of all ages cheering.
The art is just as spectacular as the first book - honestly, I kind of wish I could just spend some time in Becker's imagination at this point, since it's clearly a beautiful one - and readers will love the glowing watercolor, ink and visual images that bring them back to a familiar, likable world.
Much like The Narnian Chronicles, Becker's Journey trilogy will be a place that readers wish they could visit themselves, and will do so via reading - time and time again.
Our protagonist from the first book is back in the second, alongside the friend she had made at the end of the book. They're brought back to their world when a king hands them a map, and it's up to the pair to rescue the king when he's taken into custody.
The journey is just as magical this time around, with some additional stakes added to heighten their adventure. The two protagonists have to use their gumption and their artistic talent to draw their way in and out of several slightly nerve-wrecking situations, and do so with the type of ingenuity that will have readers of all ages cheering.
The art is just as spectacular as the first book - honestly, I kind of wish I could just spend some time in Becker's imagination at this point, since it's clearly a beautiful one - and readers will love the glowing watercolor, ink and visual images that bring them back to a familiar, likable world.
Much like The Narnian Chronicles, Becker's Journey trilogy will be a place that readers wish they could visit themselves, and will do so via reading - time and time again.
(C) Candlewick/Random House via Edelweiss
But that's not all!
Aaron is completing this trilogy with Return which comes out in August! Check out the synopsis and a piece of art below!
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Hardcover, 40 pages
Expected publication: August 2nd 2016 by Candlewick Press ISBN: 0763677302 Failing to get the attention of her busy father, a lonely girl turns back to a fantastic world for friendship and adventure. It’s her third journey into the enticing realm of kings and emperors, castles and canals, exotic creatures and enchanting landscapes. This time, it will take something truly powerful to persuade her to return home, as a gripping backstory is revealed that will hold readers in its thrall. Caldecott Honor winner Aaron Becker delivers a suspenseful and moving climax to his wordless trilogy, an epic that began with the award-winning Journey and continued with the celebrated follow-up Quest. Amazon | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads |
(C) Candlewick/Random House via Edelweiss!
Giveaway time!
Thanks to our generous friends at Candlewick, we have a finished copy of each book to giveaway for US/CAN readers.
Enter below and don't forget to also check out Return, which is out in August!
Enter below and don't forget to also check out Return, which is out in August!
About the author:
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Aaron Becker dreamed of traveling to castles when he was a boy. At age ten, he was lucky enough to visit the walled island of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. Many years later, that visit inspired him to create the palatial castle featured throughout the Journey trilogy.
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