Angelo [Hardcover]

David Macaulay (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

High above the rooftops of Rome, Angelo begins his work restoring the façade of a once glorious church. As with every project, he starts his final masterpiece by clearing away the years of debris left behind by the many pigeons who nest in the nooks and crannies of Rome’s great architecture. There, among the sticks and feathers, he discovers a wounded bird. Finding no safe place to leave her, Angelo becomes the bird’s reluctant savior.
As the church nears completion, Angelo begins to worry about the future of his aviary friend. “What will become of you? Where will you go . . . where will you . . . live?” he asks her. Realizing what he must do, Angelo returns to the church to add one final finishing touch. Through his artistry as a master craftsman he answers the questions about his humble friend and assures that he will not be forgotten.
With his expressive illustrations, filled with detail and humor and infused with the warm, terra-cotta glow of the Mediterranean, David Macaulay will once again capture his readers’ hearts and imaginations with this poignant story of enduring friendship.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From the creator of The New Way Things Work, Castle, and Black and White, comes a poignant tale of a very curious friendship. Angelo is an old Italian craftsman who restores facades of Roman buildings. Sweeping away feathers and twigs left "by generations of thoughtless pigeons" one day, Angelo comes face to beak with his nemesis. This pigeon isn't looking so good, though, and in spite of himself, Angelo takes her home and brings her back to health, grumpily commenting, "Mamma mia! I restore walls, not pigeons." It's not long before this lonely old man grows attached to the bird, though, and makes a touching, lasting gesture to her in the final hours before his death.

David Macaulay's unusual story is funny and touching, if jarring at times, as when the narrative makes inexplicable leaps with no transition. He uses his familiar illustrative style to greatest effect in depicting the clutter of Roman rooftops and close-ups of crumbling walls and sculpture's toes. Also lovely are the images of twigs and feathers that frame the book, scattered even across the dedication and copyright pages. (Ages 6 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Despite his "professional dislike" for birds, an elderly plasterer named Angelo reluctantly carries home an injured pigeon he comes across while restoring the exterior of a church. "I restore walls, not pigeons," he grumbles, but an unlikely friendship springs up between the two as he nurses Sylvia (his new pet) back to health. Later, she returns the favor when she sees that her benefactor moves a bit more slowly, she sticks around to "coo encouragement" as he presses on with his work, fanning him with her wings on hot days and entertaining him at lunchtime. Seasoned artist Macaulay (Building Big; Rome Antics) knows how to get the most humor out of his illustrations, both in the finer details (Angelo and Sylvia sporting matching red scarves in winter) and the broader strokes (as Angelo tells Sylvia of the church's restoration as his "crowning achievement," he imagines the building's faeade glimmering in glory, while she imagines pigeons perching on every available surface). He thus balances the melancholy elements of the tale with moments of lightness. Angelo's swan song to Sylvia is especially poignant. Macaulay's artwork conveys respect for Angelo's talent and commitment, and the artist wedges a good deal of architecture and sculpture into his watercolors. Though the setting goes unnamed, the rust-colored tile roofs, domed churches and other details make it clear that readers have been whisked to Italy. All ages.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; New title edition (April 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618168265
• ISBN-13: 978-0618168262
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Macaulay is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books have sold millions of copies in the United States alone, and his work has been translated into a dozen languages. Macaulay has garnered numerous awards including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, an American Institute of Architects Medal, and the Washington Post-Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award. In 2006, he was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, given "to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations." Superb design, magnificent illustrations, and clearly presented information distinguish all of his books. David Macaulay lives with his family in Vermont.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Friendship....., May 30, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angelo (Hardcover)

This restoration was to be Angelo's crowning glory, his masterpiece, and as he begins his work on the old church, brushing away years of debris left by birds, and searching the nooks and crannies for cracks that would need repair, he comes across a sick and injured pigeon. Angelo was not a fan of pigeons, after all they made a mess of his buildings, but he couldn't bear to leave this helpless, "barely breathing" creature to die, So he scoops her up in his hat and takes her home. There he names her Sylvia, nurses her back to health, and they become devoted to each other. As time goes by, Angelo grows older and tires easily, and he worries that he won't be able to finish his "crowning achievement". Sylvia works by his side every day, cooing her encouragement, fanning him with her wings in the hot weather, and entertaining him when he rests. And on a warm November day "Angelo finally applied the last coat of stucco to the cherubs in the high pediment." But he still has one more task to finish before his work is complete..... David Macaulay has authored a captivating and poignant picture book about an unusual and enduring friendship. His gentle text is beautifully enhanced by his evocative and expressive illustrations, full of charm, humor, and marvelous architectural detail. Together word and art tell a heartwarming and endearing story of a life fulfilled by dedication to work and special companionship. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Angelo is told with great insight and wisdom, and makes a terrific read aloud story the entire family can share.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Caldecott contender from Macaulay, June 21, 2002

By 

Timothy Capehart "Review-a-holic" (Dayton, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angelo (Hardcover)

Each day at work I have to read the new picturebooks that have been proccessed. I dislike few of them. I enjoy most of them. I love very few of them...especially on first perusal. "Angelo" is one of the very few.

It's the story of the unlikely friendship between a master plasterer (Angelo) and a pigeon he dubs Sylvia. He finds her wounded on the ledge of a building he is restoring & takes her in despite his negative opinions of birds. (The pigeon hospital bed he rigs up for her is wonderful). She flies off after convalescing...only to return when he needs companionship to see him to the end of his last great job. In thanks, he creates a tribute to her...a tribute only he could create & one only a pigeon could appreciate.

The story is heartwarming, but the pictures are silly, cinematic, and inspired. This is a treat to read (for young and old) and it is my pick (so far) for Caldecott 2002...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story, but a little sad at end, March 3, 2005

By 

Moni - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Angelo (Hardcover)

All of David Macaulay's books are wonderful, and this is no expection. One note of caution, though...I teach elementary school and read this book to a number of students. The story deals with death at the end, and this lead to some sad comments and discussion. Should be prepared to talk about death or loss of a loved one. This is would be a perfect book to deal with that topic.