Customer Reviews

Albert

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A reviewer said about this book that "It's a little perplexing" as though this is somehow bad. But it is precisely this ambiguity that makes _Albert_ such an appealing and valuable book. More authors should do what Napoli does, and create books that make children think--not books of brainteasers, although these have their place, or books about difficult moral decisions, although these too may be useful.

But books about characters who do things differently, who see the world in what most of us would think a quirky way--there is always room for more of these, especially when they are written with the delicate and beautiful language that are Napoli's hallmark, and when illustrated with such astonishing artwork.

Children--and many adults--may not be familiar with the medieval saint-tales where behavior such as Albert's is seen as miraculous evidence of grace. But they will surely see that he is a special person. They will also see that there is more than one way to gain courage to face what we fear. That Napoli does this without any preaching, and with so much sensitivy, is a great accomplishment.

I bought this book because I had recently purchased (and loved) LaMarche's book "The Raft", a fantastic story with wonderful illustrations. "Albert" is illustrated by LaMarche but it is authored by Donna Jo Napoli. When my copy arrived, I sat down with three of my kids, ages 7, 9, and 11 and read it with them. They really enjoyed it.

LaMarche's sketches are really fantastic, probably the best I have ever seen in any children's books. He seems to capture facial expressions so well that they genuinely add feeling and depth to the prose written on the pages.

I was initially concerned that Albert was an odd character for a children's book..... (Albert, being easily discouraged by problems, or any signs of problems, has begun to isolate himself from the world.....) but my kids loved the book. It is a great story about healing and friendship.

Donna Jo Napoli has written the story in a way that makes it easy to read aloud. Thoughts are carefully constructed so that each page conveys a complete thought, carefully worded for young readers or listeners.

I read this book with my kids in about twenty minutes. Of course each of them wanted to take it to bed with them after we finished..... the true sign of a really good book.

Everyday Albert sticks his hand out the window to see if the weather is just right for him to take a walk. Everyday he decides it is either too windy or too hot because he fears the bad experiences he might have outside-until one day a pair of cardinals force him to open his eyes to the world. Colored pencil illustrations in warm tones. This picture book could be used in a classroom to discuss taking risks, growing up, and `leaving the nest'. As a middle school teacher, I might have my students write journal responses about someone or something that nudged them to take a chance they were not sure they were ready to take.

I would agree that this book is peculiar, rather than whimsical, but also suggest that peculiarity can be used to good effect. Yes, it grates a bit on the adult sensibility to have Albert standing in the window for several weeks, but the author and illustrator collaborate nicely in this exploration of more complex emotions -- the tale of a youthful man's anxiety about the bad things in life and how his finding commitment to something outside himself lends him greater perspective.

Illustrations are lovely, and the content is appropriate for older kids exploring more complex emotions.

I read this and instantly loved it.

This book shows a young man's unintentional therapuedic "exposure" to those things he fears in the outside world. By choosing to stand at a window and hold a nest which birds have built in his hands, he chooses to expose himself to the unsettling things in life. After spending time in the presence of those unsettling things (the rumbling truck, the boisterous people on the street), he discovers that they are not so terrible after all. His anxiety decreases and he is able to go out and join the world. It's about freedom and liberation from anxiety (and anxiety is, after all, just your brain telling you lies about real danger vs perceived danger).

He learns a basic lesson in life: To get rid of fear, do the thing you fear.

I have a family member with a generalized anxiety disorder and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). I'm very familiar with formal therapy. "Albert" speaks to this anxiety in a powerful but tender way.

This is the stuff you can pay $180 per hour for in therapy. However, it's presented in a gentler, more understandable way. Children won't explicity recognize what's going on here. Even the family member who does the therapy completely missed it, and he designs and carries out OCD exposures on a regular basis. But as I drew the parallels, his eyes lit up and he got excited. He was able to "own" the story and write about it as his own.

Kids will see a quirky kid (and aren't we all a bit quirky?) who discovers freedom from needless fear. It's universal. It's liberating. And we want to cheer for him. It's appropriate for school age kids, but even sensitive older kids and adults will appreciate the story.

I'm buying extra copies to give to our therapist, psychiatrist and several friends whose children struggle with fear and anxiety. It's a good one to keep on the shelf and go back to when a child is becoming fearful. It reminds them of the joy of freedom, and that it's really not that hard to break free.

But they'll never know that's what they're learning.

Albert

By Donna Jo Napoli

Illustrated by Jim LaMarche

Albert doesn't have the courage to venture out into the world, so he sits all alone. One day while he investigates the world outside his window, his arm is mistaken, by a bird, for a tree branch. Albert allows the bird to make a nest in his hand and he doesn't want to disturb the nest. Albert becomes a part of the bird family. He chirps and is fed by the father bird, he keeps the eggs warm and encourages young birds to fly. Being part of the world, Albert finds the courage he needs to enter the world around him.

This is a modern fairy tale about belonging and courage.

I recommend this book for children and adults. I was first attracted to this book by the beautiful illustrations.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood, Author

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Great read-together books.