Three Magic Balls($11.95Value)

Description

When Uncle Dinkleschmidt buys three rubber balls for his toy store, it's up to Rudy to take very good care of them. But as soon as he is left alone in the shop, Rudy discovers that these are no ordinary balls, and that's when the magic begins. . . PreSchool-Grade 2-Young Rudy works part-time at Uncle Dinkleschmidt's rare-and-antique toy shop. One afternoon, an old woman comes by with some rubber balls to sell: "They're too much trouble for me," she claims. Uncle Dinkleschmidt buys them and sets them on a shelf while Rudy takes a gold whistle the woman offers. A bit later, a simple action-who can resist bouncing a rubber ball?-results in a magical flight for the boy, accompanied by three large, round rubber men, and the rescue of an airplane about to crash. The conclusion encourages readers to imagine further adventures. This colorful urban world is a bit less gritty than that in Egielski's wonderful The Gingerbread Boy (HarperCollins, 1997); here he has tempered it with a German fairy-tale look (especially in the old lady's appearance, with her pointy hat and bright green clogs). While the story is fun, the progression of events doesn't have the absolute conviction or emotional resonance that the best fantasy requires. Still, Rudy is an active and appealing hero, the rubber men (big babies like Maurice Sendak's bakers from In the Night Kitchen [HarperCollins, 1996]) are powerful yet comically unwieldy, and the artwork is great. The dynamic compositions, soft bright colors, and strong and supple lines are all first-rate. The figures have the look of real substance, and the action has the look of real motion, both wonderful things to accomplish on a flat page. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. When Uncle Dinkleschmidt buys three rubber balls for his toy store, it's up to Rudy to take very good care of them. But as soon as he is left alone in the shop, Rudy discovers that these are no ordinary balls, and that's when the magic begins. . . Richard Egielski is the Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator of Hey, Al and many other books for children, including the Tub People series by Pam Conrad. He is also the author and illustrator of Buz and Jazper , both New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Three Magic Balls , and The Gingerbread Boy . Mr. Egielski lives in Milford, New Jersey, with his wife and son.