Review Detail

A new boy moves to the neighborhood, and his outlook on what is in store is quite gloomy. When his mother sends him on a walk down the block, he is less than hopeful about meeting new friends. His frustration leads him to try something out-of-the-ordinary, but the results end up being better than he expected!

The author of the now-classic The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster's skill at expressing a child's emotions and point-of-view is insightful and fun. The illustrations are endearing and the scenes make the reader feel what the boy is feeling: dejected, disheartened, and then excited and anticipating what's to come. Cute, creative use of texts within the scenes add to the ingenuity of the boy's roundabout way of introducing himself.