Falcon

Starred review from January 2, 2012
A boy reclining in a sunny field imagines what it would be like to be a falcon. Jessell’s majestic paintings alternate panoramic views with closeups of the falcon as he soars over surf and terrain, while other animals look on. “I would fly along the coastline and over the sea, darting above the waves and scattering seabirds before me.” Finally, the falcon takes an unexpected detour to “the man-made cliffs of a great booming city,” where he perches on a tall building, before diving straight down toward the street, skimming the heads of amazed New Yorkers (“I might just do that again”). An exhilarating portrayal of both a falcon’s and a child’s imaginative journey. Ages 3–6.

January 15, 2012
Gorgeous artwork and an unusual subject will likely boost the appeal of this (literal and figurative) flight of fancy. After starting with a single-page, sun-warmed portrait of a Tucson young boy, Jessell's realistic paintings stretch across a series of two-page spreads to offer stunning vistas. Speaking in the first person, the boy describes how he would fly, what he might see and how other animals would respond, "If I were a falcon..." Close-ups show the falcon's sharp gaze, strong wings and fierce beak, all attributes alluded to in the brief, lyrical text. Shifts in perspective provide visual interest and amplify the impact of the prose, as when a blue jay and starling, viewed from below, peer warily up at the falcon flying high overhead. Cliffs, mountains, ocean waves and city skyscrapers loom large, and for the most part realism prevails, though there is just a touch of anthropomorphism (and humor) when the falcon dive-bombs startled pedestrians. The story then comes full circle, back to the boy, this time depicted running across the field, mimicking the falcon's flight and wishing "Oh, if only I were a falcon..." The initial rural setting and avian protagonist may be unfamiliar to some readers, but the author/artist's admiration for the beauty of the natural world and the fascination of imagining another life shine through clearly. (Picture book. 4-7)

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February 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 3-Budding naturalists and lovers of art will be thrilled with this book. The opening line, "If I were a falcon...," invites readers to imagine taking wing. In a series of breathtaking paintings, Jessell provides a bird's-eye view of the raptor in flight, as well as sweeping panoramas that show how it interacts with landscapes as diverse as mountains, sea cliffs, and skyscrapers. While there is no real story line, readers will find this meditation on the pure majesty of the birds satisfying. The slightly anthropomorphized text has the peregrine enjoying the surprised city-dwellers' reactions as it swoops above their heads, but after all, this is the bird as imagined by the narrating boy who frames the story. The solemn, lyrical text suits the feelings usually associated with raptors. The detailed realism, beautiful light, and dynamic perspective in the illustrations reinforce the atmosphere created by the text. The author/illustrator does a masterful job of conveying his own fascination with the birds in this winning book.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

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