I was intrigued by this book. The cover alone caught my attention: a deep, almost brick red with a faded circle enclosing what looks like a tulip on a mountain with tulip arms. I didn't have the version with a background of sky surrounding Wesley amongst his flowers, looking out in the distance. This one felt unique because it just had the hardcover, not a paper slip with a plastic on it like many children's books at the library. The check-out librarian even commented on the cover as I handed her my card.
The illustrations were done in acrylic, but no matter how many colors are used, my eyes went directly to the red in each page. My eyes were drawn to that color almost uncontrollably, whether it was a central color or only used to accent something else. The color was a great choice for the unique "swists" inside, connecting the illustrations with the cover. As for the actual acrylic painting, I loved seeing edges fade away, and yet have visual confirmation that they had ended. For example, in the first few pages Wesley's father is sitting in a green chair covered with yellow flowers. Now, it is obvious that there are multiple flowers on this chair, but up close, the yellow edges fade into the green and then begin again. Much of the book felt this way - a visual experience to see where each brushstroke started and ended. I almost feel like I, too, could paint, knowing I just had to put multiple colors on top of each other until either I liked it, or a deadline decided I was finished.
With the illustrations and the text, I found myself wanting to read everything on each page. I then realized I couldn't because it was Wesley's hierglyphic new language. I noticed how closely the pictures related to the text. Each could stand alone, but they complement each other so well! The first page of text offers insight into Wesley's relationship with his parents and indeed the outside world, and then the illustration humorously plays on that relationship: "He sticks out." "Like a nose" - Wesley's father has a big nose that sticks out and his mom has big hair! Ha, and his father even bribes him to shave half his head... hm, really? I think my parents would bribe me to keep my hair on.
I enjoyed Wesley's character, his bright-eyed enthusiasm for creating a world all his own. (As a side note, this story makes me wonder about broad generalizations or stereotypes we place on people as 'outcasts'. How much could the world change if everyone either believed in themselves or was believed in by someone else?) Wesley is eager to learn and believes in his talents and his knowledge to support himself. That is why in just 3 short months of summer vacation, he was able to grow and found his own little world, with bridges and hammocks, and ink and food and shelter for even the animals. In the middle of cookie-cutter suburbia, Wesley was able to make friends by providing joy and a sense of awe for the unusual. I was impressed with the way Wesley was able to go back to school. I have to admit, I expected some kind of remorse or regret for leaving his summer wonderland, but Fleischman only chose to write positively about the experience of return to school in September. Weslandia was not something only he had known - it was known by every child in the neighborhood as something they could share together, something they could look forward to and dream about for the future.
The story itself is definitely fantastical. There's a certain suspension of belief for a wind that can carry large numbers of the same kind of seed directly into a turned-over plot of land overnight. But hey, if I looked like Harry Potter and played quidditch on stilts in my new civilization, I would believe anything too.
The illustrations were done in acrylic, but no matter how many colors are used, my eyes went directly to the red in each page. My eyes were drawn to that color almost uncontrollably, whether it was a central color or only used to accent something else. The color was a great choice for the unique "swists" inside, connecting the illustrations with the cover. As for the actual acrylic painting, I loved seeing edges fade away, and yet have visual confirmation that they had ended. For example, in the first few pages Wesley's father is sitting in a green chair covered with yellow flowers. Now, it is obvious that there are multiple flowers on this chair, but up close, the yellow edges fade into the green and then begin again. Much of the book felt this way - a visual experience to see where each brushstroke started and ended. I almost feel like I, too, could paint, knowing I just had to put multiple colors on top of each other until either I liked it, or a deadline decided I was finished.
With the illustrations and the text, I found myself wanting to read everything on each page. I then realized I couldn't because it was Wesley's hierglyphic new language. I noticed how closely the pictures related to the text. Each could stand alone, but they complement each other so well! The first page of text offers insight into Wesley's relationship with his parents and indeed the outside world, and then the illustration humorously plays on that relationship: "He sticks out." "Like a nose" - Wesley's father has a big nose that sticks out and his mom has big hair! Ha, and his father even bribes him to shave half his head... hm, really? I think my parents would bribe me to keep my hair on.
I enjoyed Wesley's character, his bright-eyed enthusiasm for creating a world all his own. (As a side note, this story makes me wonder about broad generalizations or stereotypes we place on people as 'outcasts'. How much could the world change if everyone either believed in themselves or was believed in by someone else?) Wesley is eager to learn and believes in his talents and his knowledge to support himself. That is why in just 3 short months of summer vacation, he was able to grow and found his own little world, with bridges and hammocks, and ink and food and shelter for even the animals. In the middle of cookie-cutter suburbia, Wesley was able to make friends by providing joy and a sense of awe for the unusual. I was impressed with the way Wesley was able to go back to school. I have to admit, I expected some kind of remorse or regret for leaving his summer wonderland, but Fleischman only chose to write positively about the experience of return to school in September. Weslandia was not something only he had known - it was known by every child in the neighborhood as something they could share together, something they could look forward to and dream about for the future.
The story itself is definitely fantastical. There's a certain suspension of belief for a wind that can carry large numbers of the same kind of seed directly into a turned-over plot of land overnight. But hey, if I looked like Harry Potter and played quidditch on stilts in my new civilization, I would believe anything too.
1 comment:
I was intrigued by how the illustrations and the text worked together, too. My favorite page was when the illustrations showed all the inventions Wesley had created for eating, drying, etc the fruit. I felt the illustrations added so much to my understanding of how "special" Wesley really is.
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