The first half of 2016 has been filled with a variety of insightful and theatrically designed picture books. But I guarantee that Dan Santat's latest creation takes page turns to a whole new level!
ARE WE THERE YET?
written & illustrated by Dan Santat
Pub by Little, Brown & Company 2016
Summary
A family car ride becomes boring, so boring that "a boy feels time go backward--into the time of pirates! Of princesses! Of dinosaurs! The boy was just trying to get to his grandmother's birthday party, but instead he's traveling through Ancient Egypt and rubbing shoulders with Ben Franklin. When time flies, who knows where--or when--he'll end up."
Summary
A family car ride becomes boring, so boring that "a boy feels time go backward--into the time of pirates! Of princesses! Of dinosaurs! The boy was just trying to get to his grandmother's birthday party, but instead he's traveling through Ancient Egypt and rubbing shoulders with Ben Franklin. When time flies, who knows where--or when--he'll end up."
The story begins by inviting readers to come along to Grandma's birthday party. Turning the page, readers are now inside the family's car. Through the boy's voice the whole story is encapsulated on the first spread.
The care trip to visit Grandma is always exciting!
But after the first hour,
it can feel like an eternity.
The most amazing part of this story is the way readers interact with this book. Pages don't always flip from left to right. And the story doesn't continue in the same direction either. As a writer, I'm intrigued by these time changing page turns.
This book will appeal to those who enjoyed OH NO! NOT AGAIN! (or how I built a time machine to save history) (or at least my history grade) by MacBarnett and Dan Santat.
