Reviews

Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook by Jason Rekulak, Kim Smith

luthien3720's review

4.0

Home Alone was part of the fabric of my childhood; I saw both movies many, many times, and I was nearly the same age as the character Kevin McCallister. This book is a lovely retelling of the movie's story, necessarily simplified for the picture book format. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful; for example, Kevin's utter delight when he realizes "I made my family disappear!" Kim Smith's illustration perfectly captures the feeling of the moment in the movie, without being a copy of the film (famously Macaulay Culkin waggles his eyebrows knowingly at the fourth wall, but that would never work in book format). The only thing left out is showing why Kevin was left behind, and his family, specifically his mother's, attempts to get home to him. But this is very minor (though I would have loved to have seen Smith's illustration of John Candy (Gus). The illustration of Kate McCallister, Kevin's mother, did look a bit on the 21st-century side in her hair and clothing, whereas in the movie she's very 80s "Dynasty"-looking, which is part of the movie's charm. It's practically a period piece nowadays.

Now, where's the Classic Illustrated Storybook of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York? I will buy it, Quirk Books!

silelda's review

4.0

This was absolutely adorable! I'd love to read this with my nephew and any little kid.

rgag86's review

3.0

A very simplified version of the movie. The more violent pranks were left out - no firecrackers, nails, or fire here! And they left out one of my favorite parts - when he pretends he's having a big house party with mannequins and cardboard Michael Jordan. Cute book overall.