William Joyce does a lot of stuff but children's books are his true bailiwick (The Guardians series, Dinosaur Bob series, George Shrinks, and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which is also his Academy Award-winning short film, to name a few). He lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. Talk to William Joyce and see upcoming work on Instagram.
The bond betweena child and a toy is a very special thing. For six-year-old Billy thatconnection exists with Ollie, the stuffed animal his mother made him when hewas born. Resembling a teddy bear with rabbit ears, the endearing Ollie isimportant for a reason beyond being Billy's favorite; sewn into Ollie's chestis a tinkling bell from Nina, the precious childhood toy of Billy's mother.With a seasoned storyteller's skill, Joyce sets the stage for an incredibleadventure, using Billy's childish perspective (and vocabulary) to convey thevastness and scariness of the world beyond one's backyard, as well as to createa place where toys can come to life. Not far from Billy's house lie the remainsof an abandoned carnival, where an embittered toy clown, Zozo, has growncrooked and cruel with hate. His army of Creeps (wicked minions built fromscraps) kidnaps the toys Zozo despises most--favorites--and his sights are set onOllie. Joyce's beautiful color illustrations put the sweetness of Billy andOllie's relationship and the creepiness of Zozo's underworld on full display.Sensitive readers may find Zozo too frightening, but many will get a thrillfrom the perilous, high-stakes adventure, where bravery and friendship reign supreme. HIGH-DEMANDBACKSTORY: Astalwart of children's literature, Joyce will drive inherent interest evenfurther with an author tour. --Julia Smith--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW "March 1, 2016"
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
