Synopsis
Award-winning author Sarah Ellis's new book Next Stop! introduces this acclaimed author to a new, younger audience.
On Saturday, Claire rides the bus and sits right up front so she can help the driver. At the front of the bus Claire can see all of the chaos as people rush to and from their transit rides. Claire helps the bus driver announce the various stops on the route so everyone can get to their destinations. Before long a very special surprise passenger joins Claire and the driver for the final leg of the happy bus ride home.
Sarah Ellis's text is simple and repetitive making it perfect for very young readers. Ruth Ohi's portrayals of the frenzied bus passengers captures a city on the move in this fun tale.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 5-This original fable offers a lesson about faith through the fall and rise of a kingdom. A once-great realm has declined into poverty, both of wealth and of spirit, until a passing stranger loans a magical spyglass to the king. Through it, the ruler and his subjects can see "what might be." A barren pasture appears as a fertile field and a crumbling cathedral looks magnificent when viewed through the spyglass. These images restore faith to the people, who then work together to restore the land to its past prosperity. The stately tone of the narrative keeps readers at a distance, inviting observation rather than true involvement. Children and adults will grasp the obvious message without difficulty, so when the stranger returns to explain the power of faith to the monarch, the revelation lacks impact. Handsome full-page oil paintings accompany the tale, though some figures appear posed and sterile, which adds to the artificiality of the story. Despite these limitations, The Spyglass does succeed as a discussion starter. Those who are looking for substantial storytelling will need to look elsewhere.-Steven Engelfried, Deschutes County Library, Bend, OR Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.