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The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
Arthur Ransome
180 books263 followersArthur Michell Ransome (January 18, 1884 – June 3, 1967) was an English author and journalist. He was educated in Windermere and Rugby.
In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book.
An interest in folklore, together with a desire to escape an unhappy first marriage, led Ransome to St. Petersburg, where he was ideally placed to observe and report on the Russian Revolution. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina. These contacts led to persistent but unproven accusations that he "spied" for both the Bolsheviks and Britain.
Ransome married Evgenia and returned to England in 1924. Settling in the Lake District, he spent the late 1920s as a foreign correspondent and highly-respected angling columnist for the Manchester Guardian, before settling down to write Swallows and Amazons and its successors.
Today Ransome is best known for his Swallows and Amazons series of novels, (1931 - 1947). All remain in print and have been widely translated.
Arthur Ransome died in June 1967 and is buried at Rusland in the Lake District.
In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book.
An interest in folklore, together with a desire to escape an unhappy first marriage, led Ransome to St. Petersburg, where he was ideally placed to observe and report on the Russian Revolution. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina. These contacts led to persistent but unproven accusations that he "spied" for both the Bolsheviks and Britain.
Ransome married Evgenia and returned to England in 1924. Settling in the Lake District, he spent the late 1920s as a foreign correspondent and highly-respected angling columnist for the Manchester Guardian, before settling down to write Swallows and Amazons and its successors.
Today Ransome is best known for his Swallows and Amazons series of novels, (1931 - 1947). All remain in print and have been widely translated.
Arthur Ransome died in June 1967 and is buried at Rusland in the Lake District.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
March 19, 2019
This is a long tale, but worth the reading of it. The poor fool is the youngest of 3 boys and the other 2 boys are clever. The parents both love the older boys and ignore the fool. A Czar sends out a message that any man who can bring a flying ship to him can have his daughter’s hand in marriage.
The fool sets off to find a flying ship after his brothers depart. He meets an ancient who likes the lad. The fool shares his meager meal with him and the ancient tells him how to get the ship. Once he has it, he is to pick up everyone he sees along the way.
What I like about this is that, the fool doesn’t over think anything. He simply listens to the ancient man and does what he was told. It is a sort of metaphor for faith and how they tell people to listen to God’s will. When we do this we have to be willing to accept our place. It’s the Forest Gump archetype. The Czar doesn’t want to give his daughter to a peasant, so he devises ways to trick the lad, but all the people he picks up help him with each task.
This was a long story and the kids attention did wander her and there, but once we got to the part where the travelers with the Fool started doing the tasks the kids were really into this. The nephew kept trying to figure out which man was going to do what. He loved this little story by the end of it. He gave it a hearty 5 stars. The niece thought it was a good story and she had fun with it. She gave this 4 stars.
The artwork is lovely. It’s looks like a mix of watercolors and ink or paint or something. I like this book.
The fool sets off to find a flying ship after his brothers depart. He meets an ancient who likes the lad. The fool shares his meager meal with him and the ancient tells him how to get the ship. Once he has it, he is to pick up everyone he sees along the way.
What I like about this is that, the fool doesn’t over think anything. He simply listens to the ancient man and does what he was told. It is a sort of metaphor for faith and how they tell people to listen to God’s will. When we do this we have to be willing to accept our place. It’s the Forest Gump archetype. The Czar doesn’t want to give his daughter to a peasant, so he devises ways to trick the lad, but all the people he picks up help him with each task.
This was a long story and the kids attention did wander her and there, but once we got to the part where the travelers with the Fool started doing the tasks the kids were really into this. The nephew kept trying to figure out which man was going to do what. He loved this little story by the end of it. He gave it a hearty 5 stars. The niece thought it was a good story and she had fun with it. She gave this 4 stars.
The artwork is lovely. It’s looks like a mix of watercolors and ink or paint or something. I like this book.
January 29, 2012
“The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship” has become one of the most popular folktales ever told and is masterfully told by Arthur Ransome. This book is set in a world full of both magic and wonders and shows that even simple folk can accomplish anything they set their minds to.
“The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship” is an extremely imaginative tale of wits and confidence. Arthur Ransome does an excellent job at narrating this story in a more simplistic tone, indicating that this story is told from a peasant’s perspective on the whole incident. The message of this story clearly cuts through as it describes how good-natured people, like the fool, can achieve anything they set their hearts to if they have good friends and believe that they can achieve that goal. Also, the quote that constantly runs throughout the book is this simple quote,
“God loves simple folk.”
Now, this message may seem a bit offensive to some religious audience, but it does show how the fool got through his situation by believing in God.
While Uri Shulevitz’s illustrations are humorously drawn, I thought that the drawings made the story seem a bit too simplistic for my tastes. There is barely any background for most of the story as the sky is just a blank space and very few trees are drawn to emphasize that the fool or his friends are in the forest or any other secluded place. Also, the way that the Tsar’s palace was drawn as a wooden home did not seem to faze me one bit as I imagined the Tsar’s palace to be more miraculous than any other place in the story.
“The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship” is a classic story about a young man’s journey to prove himself worthy in everyone’s eyes and how important true friendship really is. This theme of the story interested me so much that I really enjoyed the creativity and morality of the story and I would strongly recommend this title to anyone interested in Russian folktales. Also, I would recommend the Rabbit Ears version of this classic tale called The Fool and the Flying Ship narrated by Robin Williams which is extremely funny and imaginative and I think that it will make a good impression on the younger audience for all time.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
“The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship” is an extremely imaginative tale of wits and confidence. Arthur Ransome does an excellent job at narrating this story in a more simplistic tone, indicating that this story is told from a peasant’s perspective on the whole incident. The message of this story clearly cuts through as it describes how good-natured people, like the fool, can achieve anything they set their hearts to if they have good friends and believe that they can achieve that goal. Also, the quote that constantly runs throughout the book is this simple quote,
“God loves simple folk.”
Now, this message may seem a bit offensive to some religious audience, but it does show how the fool got through his situation by believing in God.
While Uri Shulevitz’s illustrations are humorously drawn, I thought that the drawings made the story seem a bit too simplistic for my tastes. There is barely any background for most of the story as the sky is just a blank space and very few trees are drawn to emphasize that the fool or his friends are in the forest or any other secluded place. Also, the way that the Tsar’s palace was drawn as a wooden home did not seem to faze me one bit as I imagined the Tsar’s palace to be more miraculous than any other place in the story.
“The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship” is a classic story about a young man’s journey to prove himself worthy in everyone’s eyes and how important true friendship really is. This theme of the story interested me so much that I really enjoyed the creativity and morality of the story and I would strongly recommend this title to anyone interested in Russian folktales. Also, I would recommend the Rabbit Ears version of this classic tale called The Fool and the Flying Ship narrated by Robin Williams which is extremely funny and imaginative and I think that it will make a good impression on the younger audience for all time.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
August 1, 2018
I liked this, but didn't totally love it. It was a fascinating tale and the illustrations were interesting.
The only problem with this book really is that it is about around a 5th grade reading level and is a picture book. This has a lexile level of 810. For the sake of comparison, James Patterson's adult book "Along Came a Spider" is only about a 600 level.
It is also a very wordy picture book with many pages having multiple paragraphs.
If you have a parent who thinks picture books end at first grade, this book is a good argument to the contrary.
Additionally, the only female characters are the uncaring mother and the princess who gets married off; so that's a bit off-putting as well.
The only problem with this book really is that it is about around a 5th grade reading level and is a picture book. This has a lexile level of 810. For the sake of comparison, James Patterson's adult book "Along Came a Spider" is only about a 600 level.
It is also a very wordy picture book with many pages having multiple paragraphs.
If you have a parent who thinks picture books end at first grade, this book is a good argument to the contrary.
Additionally, the only female characters are the uncaring mother and the princess who gets married off; so that's a bit off-putting as well.
October 26, 2021
"... This is a story that shows that God loves simple folk, and turns things to their advantage in the end."
If you've read enough fairy tales, the ending is easy to predict... but oh, how this one was written !
"The Fool of the World put on the fine clothes, and stood there as handsome a young man as a princess could wish for a husband. He presented himself before the tzar, fell in love with the princess and she with him, married her the same day, received with her a rich dowry, and became so clever that all the court repeated everything he said. The tzar and the tzaritza liked him very much, and as for the princess, she loved him to distraction."
Sigh... :)
.
If you've read enough fairy tales, the ending is easy to predict... but oh, how this one was written !
"The Fool of the World put on the fine clothes, and stood there as handsome a young man as a princess could wish for a husband. He presented himself before the tzar, fell in love with the princess and she with him, married her the same day, received with her a rich dowry, and became so clever that all the court repeated everything he said. The tzar and the tzaritza liked him very much, and as for the princess, she loved him to distraction."
Sigh... :)
.
July 19, 2010
I've encountered various versions of this story about a group of friends or brothers who each possess unexplained special abilities. Sometimes this tale is combined with that of the Fool of the World. This version was nothing special, and the rather boring illustrations did not enliven it.
Read
February 8, 2023Unfortunately, real life is more than a tale, still the tale goes on forever.
The Fool of the world flew my thoughts towards other realms. Nothing is certain in our world, with one exception, of course - death. The omnipresence of uncertainty in the human reference system has made a paradoxical observation possible :
It is not certain that everything is certain. I quoted here Blaise Pascal, with an aphorism from his famous " Pensées".
We usually associate the state of certainty, as a rule, with an obtuse typology from the collective mind, the typology of the individual " without dilemmas", never haunted by the shadow of the slightest doubt. I am more drastic about this, and I superimpose this type to the " solemn fool".
The solemn fool , the fool of the world, is only the individual of the present, but who is not quite drowned in carpe diem.
Ultimately, the entire history rests on its charming simplicity, emanating from a philosophy of the moment.
The Fool of the world flew my thoughts towards other realms. Nothing is certain in our world, with one exception, of course - death. The omnipresence of uncertainty in the human reference system has made a paradoxical observation possible :
It is not certain that everything is certain. I quoted here Blaise Pascal, with an aphorism from his famous " Pensées".
We usually associate the state of certainty, as a rule, with an obtuse typology from the collective mind, the typology of the individual " without dilemmas", never haunted by the shadow of the slightest doubt. I am more drastic about this, and I superimpose this type to the " solemn fool".
The solemn fool , the fool of the world, is only the individual of the present, but who is not quite drowned in carpe diem.
Ultimately, the entire history rests on its charming simplicity, emanating from a philosophy of the moment.
April 5, 2015
I have a fondness for stories in which the underdog wins, and in the case of this story about a fool whose parents even seem disinterested in him, that's exactly what happens. After the czar announces that he'll offer his daughter in marriage to the man who brings him a flying ship, The Fool of the World sets off to make his way in the world and find that ship. Along the way, he has several chance encounters that lead to the ship and to his collecting a rowdy and unique group of men, each with his own particular talent. Those abilities come in handy when the czar refuses to make good on his promise since he doesn't want to marry his daughter off to a peasant. But promises are promises, after all, and by the end of the story, readers will be left wondering who the foolish one really is. Although the ending of this version of a classic Russian folktale is a bit abrupt, the rest of the story is worth savoring. young readers will enjoy envisioning that rowdy crew flying through the sky, singing loudly. Color-drenched illustrations are placed against generous white space, allowing readers to follow the flight of the ship as it passes over fields of grain and beautiful farmland. One of the things I really enjoyed about this 1969 Caldecott Medal Winner is how there are pages of text, occasionally followed by two pages of illustrations with no text at all, allowing the illustrations to speak for themselves.
September 2, 2015
I had hoped that as a Caldecott medal winner that this book would have better illustrations than the last version of this story that I'd read, but I was a bit disappointed. The best picture is the two-page spread of the ship setting sail over the countryside. But overall, I didn't really find anything to get excited about here. The tale is well-told. (Not much for mother-love, are we in this one?) but everything feels merely...adequate. A good story, with lots of interesting characters but that's about it. I wish I had more to say about this book that was positive.
December 9, 2013
A great educational book for your children of all ages. My 6 yr old loved it as well as my 3 yr old twins. Lots of good information with beautiful pictures that will help keep children engaged. A great addition to a study on fictions such as folk tales, legends or fables, or a history lesson on Russia. A great addition to any children's library.
August 12, 2019
A Caldecott winner from the late 1960s that I found wordy and sometimes confusing about a fool who is loved by all he meets.
April 16, 2019
What a lovely and magical tale! Expect a thirty minute read-aloud experience.
November 13, 2013
It took me forever to get into this story, but I enjoyed it once it finally got going. When the Fool starts picking up men for his flying ship, I immediately thought of Baron Munchausen, which was originally a book written by a German author named Rudolph Enrich Raspe and also turned into a 1989 cult classic movie called "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (which happens to be one of my favorite childhood movies). I enjoyed the illustrations by Uri Shulevitz, as they definitely helped move the incredibly long story along, and helped him win the 1969 Caldecott Award.
This story was taken from a collection of Russian folktales from the beginning of the 20th century. It is about a boy named the Fool of the World who goes in search of a flying ship to give the Czar so he can marry his daughter. On his way into the world, he meets an old man and because of the Fool's kindness, the old man tells him how to find a flying ship and instructs him to pick up everyone he sees on the way. The Fool does as he is told and soon the ship is full and on its way to the Czar, who of course, must present challenges for the Fool to complete before he just gives his daughter away to a common peasant. With the help of his new friends, the Fool completes the challenges, becomes rich and powerful and wins the Czar's daughter. Recommended for ages 4-10, 4 stars.
This story was taken from a collection of Russian folktales from the beginning of the 20th century. It is about a boy named the Fool of the World who goes in search of a flying ship to give the Czar so he can marry his daughter. On his way into the world, he meets an old man and because of the Fool's kindness, the old man tells him how to find a flying ship and instructs him to pick up everyone he sees on the way. The Fool does as he is told and soon the ship is full and on its way to the Czar, who of course, must present challenges for the Fool to complete before he just gives his daughter away to a common peasant. With the help of his new friends, the Fool completes the challenges, becomes rich and powerful and wins the Czar's daughter. Recommended for ages 4-10, 4 stars.
May 2, 2015
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship is about a peasant who is treated unfairly by everyone, even his family. He goes on a quest to make a flying ship and meets new friends along the way who help him win the heart of a princess. The reading level of this book is first to third grade.
Comments/observations: The text was more focused toward explaining what was happening and not his surroundings so the pictures really helped with visualizing he setting. I also observed that the theme is good and simple win over evil. My emotional readers response was that I was glad the main character was able to prove himself and that good overcame evil. I would read this to my future students.
How I could use this book in my classroom: The fool of the world and the flying ship is retelling a well-known story so I would either introduce or revisit what folktales and fairy tales are. Then I could use the book and say that it is a Russian story. Arthur Ransome tells other stories too and has written more books so I would use this book and another one from Ransome and as a class discuss the similarities and differences of the two books. This would include discussions about both plots.
Ransome, A. (1968). The Fool of the world and the flying ship. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Comments/observations: The text was more focused toward explaining what was happening and not his surroundings so the pictures really helped with visualizing he setting. I also observed that the theme is good and simple win over evil. My emotional readers response was that I was glad the main character was able to prove himself and that good overcame evil. I would read this to my future students.
How I could use this book in my classroom: The fool of the world and the flying ship is retelling a well-known story so I would either introduce or revisit what folktales and fairy tales are. Then I could use the book and say that it is a Russian story. Arthur Ransome tells other stories too and has written more books so I would use this book and another one from Ransome and as a class discuss the similarities and differences of the two books. This would include discussions about both plots.
Ransome, A. (1968). The Fool of the world and the flying ship. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
July 24, 2015
This is a wonderful folktale that tells of luck and cunning, the triumph of good (even if the person is simple or a fool) over that of treachery and deceit.
The pictures complement the story nicely and the story is not so long as to lose a child's interest, but long enough to incorporate some comforting repetition and a fairly predictable ending. Our girls enjoyed this book.
This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2015 - Quarterly Caldecott discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
The pictures complement the story nicely and the story is not so long as to lose a child's interest, but long enough to incorporate some comforting repetition and a fairly predictable ending. Our girls enjoyed this book.
This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2015 - Quarterly Caldecott discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
January 27, 2020
A simple Russian tale of the unfavored son who goes on a quest. Finding a ship that flies, he comes upon many country people who assist him and others along the way. Eventually, with the help of his friends in the flying ship, he is able to win the hand of the Czar's daughter.
This is a Caldecott Medal book, as usual, the illustrations of Uri Schulevitz are colorful and appealing. Though, I thought the story was wonderful for little ones who can learn to appreciate a tale of helping others in succeeding a goal.
This is a Caldecott Medal book, as usual, the illustrations of Uri Schulevitz are colorful and appealing. Though, I thought the story was wonderful for little ones who can learn to appreciate a tale of helping others in succeeding a goal.
March 30, 2010
I love the pictures drawn by Uri Shulevitz for this book. His painting skill makes it look at times as if the pages themselves have depth to them, and the illustrations definitely do form the heart of this story.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship is the retelling of a Russian folktale about a peasant boy who lacks common sense, and how God takes care of the boy and ends up elevating him beyond his smarter brothers (and all others, as well). The peasant boy proves his worth by accepting the seeming fools around him, and all together they make a formidable team capable of achieving almost anything.
The flavor of this tale is distinctly non-American, and would be for younger children an interesting look into the types of morality tales told in other cultures.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship is the retelling of a Russian folktale about a peasant boy who lacks common sense, and how God takes care of the boy and ends up elevating him beyond his smarter brothers (and all others, as well). The peasant boy proves his worth by accepting the seeming fools around him, and all together they make a formidable team capable of achieving almost anything.
The flavor of this tale is distinctly non-American, and would be for younger children an interesting look into the types of morality tales told in other cultures.
March 12, 2013
This Russian folktale tells the story of a poor fool unloved by his parents that gets extremely lucky by winning the hand of a princess with the help of a flying ship and its crew. The images are bright and beautiful with numerous Russian details to supplement the story. Overall, the moral or theme seems to be that God will provide for the good and the simple – not at all a traditional American story. An excellent children’s activity would be to make their own flying ship and crew by allowing them to choose their own cast of characters. Another suggestion would be to make a hat suitable for "air sailing."
January 2, 2008
The fool in the story, who is actually more clever than he appears, goes off to try his hand at adventure, and to win the hand of the Princess (actually, that would be Tsarevna, or, translated, “Grand Princess,” but that’s being extremely picky. Children will get the point) . On the way, he meets several interesting people who wind up playing an important role in his fortunes later. A very charming story, it almost reminds me of the trials of Thor in reverse. The illustrations are simple, “old fashioned,” and appropriate for the tone of the story.
June 14, 2009
One of my all time favorite children's books/ fairy tales.
A young russian peasant, thought to be a bit of a knucklehead by his family and friends, decides to seek out his fortune and enter a contest to win the hand of the Czar's daughter.
Along the way he meets a long parade of people with magic powers who agree to come travel with him and help him out.
Along the way we discover, the Fool might be smarter than he's been getting credit for.
A great story told with wonderful illistrations, full of cool characters and ideas that makes me wish somebody would scoop up the movie rights.
A young russian peasant, thought to be a bit of a knucklehead by his family and friends, decides to seek out his fortune and enter a contest to win the hand of the Czar's daughter.
Along the way he meets a long parade of people with magic powers who agree to come travel with him and help him out.
Along the way we discover, the Fool might be smarter than he's been getting credit for.
A great story told with wonderful illistrations, full of cool characters and ideas that makes me wish somebody would scoop up the movie rights.
March 23, 2009
Illustrated by Uri Shulevitz who wrote and illustrated "How I Learned Geography."
I enjoyed the colorful, interesting illustrations. The kids enjoyed the tale.
"But however it was with his father and mother, this is a story that shows that God loves simple folk, and turns things to their advantage in the end."
I thought that was cool. I don't think a book worded like that would win the Caldecott these days!
I enjoyed the colorful, interesting illustrations. The kids enjoyed the tale.
"But however it was with his father and mother, this is a story that shows that God loves simple folk, and turns things to their advantage in the end."
I thought that was cool. I don't think a book worded like that would win the Caldecott these days!
August 27, 2010
This is a story in which a czar promises his daughter's hand in marriage to anyone who can make a flying ship. Can the Fool do it?
This book was a little long. Too long for a bedtime snuggle. And a little boring as it went on and on and on to a bland ending.
This book was a little long. Too long for a bedtime snuggle. And a little boring as it went on and on and on to a bland ending.
May 24, 2018
"God loves simple folk, and turns things to their advantage in the end."
August 31, 2021
I agree with some of the other reviewers, that the illustrations in this one fell a bit short. However, considering this Caldecott winner was illustrated back in 1968, I'm willing to forgive. They are certainly imaginative, if a bit dated.
I like this take on a fool meeting a stranger in the woods and, being a pure soul, receives the exact help he needs to complete his journey.
This strange collection of talented men in the airship enable our Fool of the World to eventually scare the Czar into giving up his daughter in marriage (hmm), but it's the skills of the individuals themselves which make this story unique. There's enough difference in this tale to make it worth reading and the length is good enough that even early middle readers should be entertained.
I like this take on a fool meeting a stranger in the woods and, being a pure soul, receives the exact help he needs to complete his journey.
This strange collection of talented men in the airship enable our Fool of the World to eventually scare the Czar into giving up his daughter in marriage (hmm), but it's the skills of the individuals themselves which make this story unique. There's enough difference in this tale to make it worth reading and the length is good enough that even early middle readers should be entertained.
April 4, 2019
I've read versions of this story, usually with any random three of the included supernatural peasants, but this is like trying to sit through someone singing every verse of Drunken Sailor they've ever heard.
February 18, 2017
This retelling of a traditional Russian folk tale was awarded the Caldecott Medal for illustrations by Uri Sheulevitz. The fool is a peasant with limited resources; even his parents look down on him. So when the czar announces that the first person to bring him a flying ship will have his daughter’s hand in marriage, no one believes the Fool could possibly succeed. But he sets off anyway, and the adventure begins.
Shulevitz’s beautiful illustrations really enhance the story.
Shulevitz’s beautiful illustrations really enhance the story.
September 23, 2018
the 1969 Caldecott Winner, which is based in part, on a Russian folktale; though I know of the fool of the world and the flying ship through the Germanic legendary Baron Munchausen;
Anyway, the plot tells of a neglected foolish youth whom, after sharing his meager meal with a stranger, is given a gift of a flying ship and told to allow any traveler onboard. The czar is willing to marry off his daughter to anyone who can produce a flying ship.
Along the way the youth meets some very strange but ultimately very friendly and helpful companions: the listener, the marksman, the runner, the drinker, the eater, a magician, and a cook;
The fairytale like elements are all there: kindness and generosity pay off, multiple nearly impossible challenges;
the book is very wordy for even a primary grade reader, BUT the illustrations are soooo incredible, they are sure to keep the readers' attention; great book for parents to read aloud with their kids;
Anyway, the plot tells of a neglected foolish youth whom, after sharing his meager meal with a stranger, is given a gift of a flying ship and told to allow any traveler onboard. The czar is willing to marry off his daughter to anyone who can produce a flying ship.
Along the way the youth meets some very strange but ultimately very friendly and helpful companions: the listener, the marksman, the runner, the drinker, the eater, a magician, and a cook;
The fairytale like elements are all there: kindness and generosity pay off, multiple nearly impossible challenges;
the book is very wordy for even a primary grade reader, BUT the illustrations are soooo incredible, they are sure to keep the readers' attention; great book for parents to read aloud with their kids;
October 22, 2018
This book was so much fun to read! This book might have been intended for 4-6 years of age and even though there are many sentences on each page, this book does supply some repetition. This story was originally published in 1916 and after the pictures were copyrighted in 1968, this book won The Caldecott Metal. The artwork is simply beautiful and rich in color; I was unable to find what Uri Shulevitz chose to use as his media, so my best guess is watercolor with pen to outline. The flying ship's outline is created with a black pen and potentially colored in with watercolor paint. The style the illustrator uses correlates most with impressionism as the artist plays with colors and how they blend together to create characters and scenery. This book would be great for a read aloud with young children because even though the length is a little longer, the book is so much fun and ultimately shares a warming message about what people can accomplish, regardless of social status.
July 22, 2017
This Russian folktale retold by Arthur Ransome is beautifully written and illustrated. This would be a great addition to any folktale unit. I would recommend this for 2nd or 3rd grade due to the length of the text. This book would be a great opportunity to talk about humbleness, perseverance, contentment and sharing. Cheaters never prosper would be a great moral or lesson to learn from this story. This book would be a good resource to teaching comma usage and adjectives. This book could also have a social studies connection with a connection to Russia, traditions and the Czar. You could easily tie in a science lesson on flight as well.
November 27, 2008
This book was pretty interesting, I was reading along wondering how on earth it was all going to work out in the end. It is a fairly predictable beginning (feed the random stranger you meet up on the side of the road and they will give you some awesome gift) with a nice twist at the end.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
June 14, 2009
This story is a bit wordier than your normal "picture book," but it's an interesting Russian tale about a son with the lowest expectations from his family, who ends up with the Princess. The "Fool of the World" gets the prize in the end, beating out his sharper brothers, by sharing his food with a stranger at the beginning of the story, and following that stranger's advice (which, thank goodness, was good in this case!). Enjoyed the illustrations a lot--Uri Schulevitz strikes again!
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