[3]
By
Published: 2007
Category: Children [4]
We've been reading to the little one all her young life, so Flotsam [5] was a huge hit.
At last! A book that she could read to us. Or, rather, “read,” because actually recognizing words and sentences is, at 5, still pretty much beyond her. But when she tells us a story, based on her understanding of pictures arranged in a narrative ---- she loves that. Makes her feel big. Smart. No wonder she says, “I'm five...but in my head, I'm seven.”
Emboldened by a good first experience, we risked a second book told completely in pictures: The Adventures of Polo [6], by the French illustrator Regis Faller. As with “Flotsam”, this is a story that starts simply and gets increasingly --- and, from the child's point-of-view, delightfully --- complex. You might think complexity is beyond a child who can't read. If so, get this book, ask your kid to “tell me the story,” and see what you get. [“Polo” is said to be appropriate for kids as old as eight. I can't imagine a child beyond six who will respond, but you know your kid.]
Here's what “Polo” gives you: an upbeat little dog in dark pants, a red jacket and a brown backpack. When we meet him, he's just leaving his house --- a giant tree on a tiny island. There's a stake in the ground. And a rope tied to it and leading.... somewhere. Polo unfurls his umbrella, steps up on the rope, and, like a circus performer, balances on it and walks over the ocean.
The taut rope turns into stairs. Polo climbs to the top, descends a rope slide, lands on a cloud. Sailing aloft, he eats a bowl of white cloud. He comes upon another cloud, with another dog, fishing. Polo slides down the fishing line to a boat --- conveniently named “Polo” --- and sails off.
Night falls. Polo dons a diving mask, sinks to the ocean bottom, finds a glowing star in a treasure chest. Naturally, he happens upon the King of Fish, bearing a wand that looks distressingly incomplete. Polo sticks the star on top, returns to his boat and sails on.
Ooops. The boat is beached. Where is he? An island. Wait! It spouts! It has a giant eye! It's a whale! Happily, a friendly one, because after Polo hammers some “wings” on his boat, the whale uses his tail to send him flying. But as Polo zooms over an island, a volcano throws up a rock, and...
And so it goes, one zany adventure after another. And the illustrations! Vibrant primary colors make this a book of incessant good cheer. It's a pleasure just to see “Polo” on a coffee table --- the cover suggests the pleasure within.
There are five Polo books published in France. As yet, there are only two Polos available in this country. Why? It's not like they need to be translated. (In all the books, Faller has said, there are, in fact, three words.)
Not long ago, we knew nothing of Polo. Now the little guy is our daughter's new best friend. As she tells us of his adventures, we turn into goofballs and beam with pride.
This deep pleasure is, I suspect, also available in your home.
To buy “The Adventures of Polo” from Amazon.com, click here. [6]
To buy “Polo: The Runaway Book” from Amazon.com, click here. [7]
To visit Polo's web site, click here. [8]