Albert Goes to Town - Hardcover

Jordan, Jennifer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0811808602 ISBN 13: 9780811808606

Publisher: Chronicle Books Llc, 1997

Synopsis

After playing with toy cars, Albert wants to give a real car a test drive, so when he is given one that is just his size, he happily jumps in, starts it up and takes it for a spin through an imaginary town.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-K?Young Albert loves cars, and spends most of his time playing with his collection on the wooden play-town that his magical neighbor has made for him. While recuperating from a bout with the flu, he sees Mr. Appleby working on something; it turns out to be a boy-sized car that Albert can drive. At this point, the book leaps into fantasyland, following the child as he drives around the wooden village. Readers may have difficulty distinguishing reality from the dreamlike world that Mr. Appleby has created, but most won't care. Youngsters obsessed with cars will delight in Albert's journey. The fantastic cartoon illustrations breathe life into the book, McNeill's odd angles, varied perspectives, and sunny colors forming a whimsical match for this offbeat story. Albert, who is light skinned, has a warm and touching relationship with African-American Mr. Appleby. This is an additional purchase for most collections, but it will prompt car-crazy kids to smile.?Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews:

Albert takes a mystery tour of his neighbor's backyard in this salute to the workings of imagination. Albert is a car nut, playing with toy versions day and night. His neighbor, Mr. Appleby--a bit of a wizard in the workshop--previously built Albert a cardboard replica of the neighborhood on which he could steer his cars around. When Albert confides that he'd like to be behind the wheel of a real car, Mr. Appleby delivers, by crafting Albert a cherry red sports car, and pointing the boy in the direction of the honeysuckle bush. The clever ending shows the nature of Albert's dream ride through his home turf. Jordan leaves enough of the story unexplained--was Albert's car ride a piece of magic, a hallucination, pure fancy?--allowing readers to exercise a little imagination of their own. McNeill's illustrations, with a retro look and sparkling with color, are ideal. (Picture book. 2-6) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books Llc
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0811808602
• ISBN 13: 9780811808606
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: McNeill Shannon