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ellarebee's review against another edition
4.0
Whoa. Just whoa. I was not expecting this from Oliver Jeffers when I picked this up. It's a deep lesson that unfortunately will go over the heads of many younger children, nor will it be one that most families will gravitate towards, despite it being profound and imperative. I knocked off a star because of the illustrations - or lack thereof - on several pages. The minimalist lithography is absolutely stunning - I wish there had been just a few more panels of it to not make the text-only pages so jarring (though that was likely intentional).
jrkrell's review against another edition
4.0
A timely picture book on the destructive power of greed. However, I enjoyed the note on the back from The New Yorker by Kurt Vonnegut 5/16/2005 the most.
rebecca_oneil's review against another edition
4.0
Hmmmm. I'm a big Oliver Jeffers fan, and I appreciate this parable about greed, illustrated (surprisingly -- I didn't know until I read it) via traditional lithographic printmaking. Printmaking takes a LOT of compositional planning, so it's a nice study of the book to know that each of Jeffers' minimal lines and gestures is very intentional, even as they still look loose and childlike. Still, this is one of those extra-long, not-quite-clear-about-audience adult/child picture books. The story would probably be best enjoyed with discussion by kids 8 and up. Bonus: I love a touch of neon. Bonus 2: Don't miss the "moral" via the Vonnegut quote at the end. I love it.
shiloniziolek's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a chapter book, but it turned out to be a cute little picture book about a man who tried to own everything in the world by being angry and demanding, until the fateful day when he tries to own the sea.
kassandrik's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
5.0
moo6789's review against another edition
5.0
Something I really like about children's books are the illustrations, especially. In this book, the illustration was very minimal to non-existent, and I think this represents everything about Fausto very well. He is a man that has very less. Less love, less empathy, less understanding, fewer people that care about him. So he is trying to claim something for himself and declares, that everything is his, if it wants to or not. He starts with a flower and ends with the sea. He is always going on to bigger things, trying to satisfy his emptiness, but it is never satisfied. Furthermore, he is angry and stomps around with his foot out of frustration, if he doesn't get something, because he is impatient with finally feeling loved and satisfied with his life. When he finally reaches the sea, after getting everything he wanted, and making everyone sad in the process, he finally drowns in his greed and the most important thing is, no one cares.
This is a lovely story with a lot of potential for interpretation. I would love to read this to my kids, if I had any... And ask them what they think of the story and what it means.
This is a lovely story with a lot of potential for interpretation. I would love to read this to my kids, if I had any... And ask them what they think of the story and what it means.
erine's review against another edition
A life lesson for everyone from the youngest playground bully who thinks they're the ruler of all they survey, to the oldest dotard who feels entitled to the world around them for the sheer fact that they stamp their feet and say it is so.
Very simple, but timely.
Very simple, but timely.