  | Hey, Al Author: Yorinks, Arthur | |
| Price: $17.02 | ||
Summary:
When Al, a janitor, and his dog Eddie, trade their drab one room apartment for paradise a mysterious bird shows them, they soon find out that even paradise has its problems.
| Illustrator: | Egielski, Richard |
Video Preview:
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.10 Points: .5 Quiz: 11174 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: K-2 Reading Level: 4.70 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 05208 | |
Awards:
Caldecott Medal, 1987
Common Core Standards
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → Caldecott Medal
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Craft & Structure
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 2 → Reading → CCR College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards fo
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+)
School Library Journal
Booklist (+)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (A)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/01/1987 K Up The theme here is, ``be happy with who you are,'' or maybe, ``there's no free lunch.'' Al, a janitor, lives a meager existence with his companion (dog) Eddie in New York City. They complain to each other about their lot and are ready to take off to a better place with a huge bird who just pops in and invites them. This ``island in the sky'' is perfect. All its inhabitants are friendly birds, and there's nothing to do but enjoy the tropical paradise. But when they both begin to sprout feathers and beaks, they realize that there is a price to pay, so they take off, Icarus-style including a plunge into New York Harbor. Safely home, they discover that ``Paradise lost is sometimes Heaven found.'' Egielski's solid naturalism provides just the visual foil needed to establish the surreal character of this fantasy. The muted earth tones of the one-room flat contrast symbolically with the bright hues of the birds' plumage and the foliage of the floating paradise. The anatomical appropriateness of Al and Eddie plays neatly against the flamboyant depiction of the plants. Text and pictures work together to challenge readers' concept of reality, with touches such as the stacks of delivered newspapers outside Al's door when he returns from his ``dream''? Kenneth Marantz, Art Education Department, Ohio State University, Columbus - Copyright 1987 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
