Stanley Goes for a Drive

September 13, 2004
Frazier's (The Illustrated Voice
) graphically expressive debut children's title innocuously begins as the story of a man and his truck on a searing, dusty day. But it soon sheds its initial pragmatism for a dreamlike flight of fancy. Reflecting the author's background in design and illustration, the full-bleed, digitally colored artwork consists of simple forms and silhouettes with occasional pixel-like shadows suggesting three-dimensionality. Stanley, a typical Frazier figure, " out on a drive with little on his mind" in his red, vintage pickup truck, sporting a vest, shirtsleeves and brimmed hat. Austere sentences underscore the normalcy: "There wasn't a cloud in the sky, just the baking hot sun…. The pond was so dry that it couldn't even make a reflection." Passing a herd of black cows, however, Stanley brings his truck to a halt; he approaches the lone spotted one with buckets, a stool and "an idea." After milking the animal, he tosses the buckets' contents into the air, and the milk fluidly morphs into clouds. A storm brings rain and respite, transforming the parched and yellowed landscape into a verdant wonderland. The theme of finding magic in the mundane should appeal to readers of all ages who are perhaps already familiar with the enchantments that can be found in a seemingly ordinary day in the country. Ages 4-8

September 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 3-Imagination and creativity are quietly, but fantastically, at work here. Stanley goes for a drive in his pickup on a hot, dry day when there isn't a cloud in the sky. "The pond was so dry that it couldn't even make a reflection." Suddenly, he sees a black-and-white spotted cow amid a herd of black bovines. He milks it, and the spots drain off. He tosses the milk into the sky, where it forms puffy white clouds that darken and pour rain. The earth turns green, the pond fills up, the air cools down, and Stanley heads home. Life has returned to normal. The brevity of the text and the simplicity of the illustrations create a fine-tuned balance. Hand-drawn and colored on the computer, the graphics are reminiscent of 1950s advertisements. Crisp, clean edges contain the flat color. The limited palette is powerful: warm browns and oranges heat up the beginning pages; monochromatic greens cool and refresh the final ones. The masterful use of composition surprises readers with large shapes in the foreground that contrast with small, multiple figures in the background to create asymmetric balance and depth, drawing viewers in from near to far. Repetition of shapes and color provides a rhythmic flow and continuity throughout. Children will read both pictures and words in this visually outstanding work and then use their imaginations to drive beyond them.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.