Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind - Hardcover

Ross, Gary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763649201 ISBN 13: 9780763649203

Publisher: Candlewick, 2012

Synopsis

A soaring bedsheet carries a young boy on three incredible adventures in this compelling debut by acclaimed film director Gary Ross.

Bartholomew Biddle’s life has always been pretty ordinary, but when a huge wind blows past his window one night, he feels the call of adventure — and he can’t resist the urge to grab his bedsheet and catch a ride. Soon he’s soaring far above his little town, heading wherever the wind takes him! After spending time on an island full of pleasure-seeking pirates and at a prep school that boasts a hundred shades of gray, Bart finds himself in a mysterious cove where the wind doesn’t blow. Stuck, Bart is forced to face the fact that his flying days might be over. Will he ever get home again?

About this title

About the Author:

Gary Ross is a critically acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer who has been nominated for four Academy Awards. His films include Big, Dave, Pleasantville, Seabiscuit, and The Tale of Despereaux. Most recently, he directed The Hunger Games, the first movie based on Suzanne Collins’s best-selling dystopian trilogy. He has also served as president of the Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Public Library, as well as on the boards of many other organizations. Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind is his first children’s book. Gary Ross lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Matthew Myers is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including Tyrannosaurus Dad by Liz Rosenberg and Clink by Kelly DiPucchio. Matthew Myers lives in Brooklyn.

Review:

With a seductively Seuss-ean cadence, Ross’s verse adventure delightfully dares young and old to seize the day.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Ross’s screenwriter background serves his debut well—this novella-in-verse boasts engaging characters, a sturdy plot, and the never-fail enchantment of flying. . . . It’s not hard to imagine this on a big screen.
—Publishers Weekly

Myers’ bold, vibrantly hued oil illustrations add a dynamic touch, alternating between full spreads and spot illustrations that highlight key details from the text.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This book uses poetic text and beautiful illustrations to follow the adventures of a young boy as he uses his bed sheet to fly...With the emphasis that Common Core Standards place on reading closely, this book provides a good opportunity to dig deeper...The book will be enjoyed on many levels.
—Library Media Connection

The abrupt scene changes, plot, and wonderful characters suggest a movie script. This story would make a great one!
—School Library Journal

With the rhythm of a tight-knit poem and a sweeping sense of adventure, this is a tale of a boy curious and brave enough to fly (literally) like a kite over his sleepy little town, and beyond. It features intricate illustrations by Matthew Myers. Sure to become a classic.
—USA Today

Wonderful textured oil paintings by Matthew Myers give a feeling of old-fashioned drama to this rhyming story told in the modern vernacular.
—Wall Street Journal

BARTHOLOMEW BIDDLE AND THE VERY BIG WIND is a fun and exciting read, perfect for reading aloud.
—KidsReads.com

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0763649201
• ISBN 13: 9780763649203
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Myers Matthew