This tiny book has been staring at me from the piles of books waiting to be donated to local libraries since I received the ARC last winter. Though I was aware that this wasn't something I'd normally get into, Mr. Fooster Traveling on a Whim intrigued me in an odd sort of way.
It's referred to as a "visual novel," written by Tom Corwin and illustrated by Craig Frazier. In a nutshell, it's sort of a children's book for grownups. I feel that this could be a great work to share with a special child, one who's just learning how wonderful books can be. However, unless you're on the decidedly cheesy side, I doubt that most adults will get their fill from it. But as a sharing experience with a son, daughter, or another child, visiting Mr. Fooster's world of whimsy and imagination could be a real treat.
The premise is that questioning your assumptions could set you free. Mr. Fooster leaves his home one morning, and wandering aimlessly he takes the reader to a strange world. During his travels, his curiosity brings him to reflect on a number of quirky questions such as "Why are bathtubs always too short for comfort?"
Frazier's many illustrations add another dimension to this whimsical tale, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that, again, should appeal to children more than grownups.
Weighing in at only 101 pages, this short work can be read in about 15 minutes. One has to wonder why the publisher opted for a hardback release, as the price tag attached to it is simply too expensive to be worthwhile.
Be that as it may, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Fooster Traveling on a Whim to any parent looking for something to read with their children. To learn more about the visual novel, check out http://www.mrfooster.com/.
As I have nothing to compare it to, I can't possibly "score" this work. . .
3 commentaires:
Hi Pat,
I got all the stuff about this one, too. I read through in about 15 minutes and wasn't sure what to do with it. It was a harmless diversion, if nothing else.
It's interesting to see diverging viewpoints on things at times. Dragon Page just did an interview with the pair that created this book, and they gush. And it actually seems genuine.
I would suggest Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull in particular and also Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petit Prince to a degree as points of comparison. I thought it was a nice, whimsical book that I think would appeal quite a bit to those who like works such as the ones above.
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