Un barco en el cielo. (A Sailing Boat in the Sky)

By staff -- Críticas, 10/15/2007

Gr 1-3–Wandering along a beach, Isabel and Nicolás come across a wrecked sailboat and carefully repair it. When they are approached by a wounded stork who can’t fly, they rescue the bird as their boat rises into the air following a flock of storks. The children undertake a journey through the sky during which they rescue other children from bullies, forced labor, a polluted city, and a war-torn country. Perhaps more interesting than the book itself, is the story behind it. Blake interviewed 1,800 French-speaking children, all of whom are listed in the end pages, about their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. These interviews, which he conducted in person and through the Internet sparked this story that illustrates the humanitarian concerns of children about the world in which they are growing up. Blake is an international treasure, and this book will resonate in any language. The Spanish translation is suitable both for read-aloud and independent reading. Illustrated in the author’s signature style, this is an excellent choice for picture-book collections in Spanish.—Tim Wadham, Youth Services Coordinator, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ