Another Perfect Day (Single Titles) [Hardcover]

Ross MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Single Titles

"Life is Rich," sighed Jack, as he settled back in his job as Chief Flavor Tester for the World's Best Ice Cream Company. "This is turning out to be my most perfect day yet!"

But just when he thought things couldn't possibly get any better, they started to get a little . . . funny.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 1-Square-jawed, muscle-bound Jack awakens and embarks on a host of fabulous adventures. Shot from a cannon directly into a spiffy blue suit, he grapples with an alligator and conquers a space alien and giant robot from the wings of his personal airplane- all on his way to work as Chief Flavor Tester in the World's Best Ice Cream Company. But then things start going a little funny. Gone is the suit, with a ballerina's pink tutu and baby's bonnet appearing in its place. Gone too is Jack's airplane, replaced by a tricycle. All of a sudden, the coppers are after him. What's happened to Jack's perfect day? Obviously it's all a bad dream and, with a little help from his pajama-clad, apple-cheeked alter ego, young Jack wakes up surrounded by the toys that gave rise to his extraordinary dream in the first place. MacDonald's exuberant illustrations are curvy and bold and hearken back to a bygone era of pulp comics. Characters speak and think in dialogue balloons; exclamations like "Oww!" "Poof!" and "Eeeek!" abound. The book is rich in visual imagery, like a double-page slapstick drawing of a fire hose run amok, or cameos of a chirping robin and warm toast in a toaster. Sepia shades infused with blue and yellow and creamy paper stock reinforce the old-fashioned look. Simple text contrasts delightfully with the energy of the illustrations (a picture of hero Jack holding up a locomotive is accompanied by, "but by now he was running late- so he caught the train-"). Another Perfect Day satisfies the unabashed superhero in all children.
Mary Ann Carcich, Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, Mattituck, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. The art is the thing in this delicious parody of a businessman's day. Jack jumps out of bed, so ready for work that he shoots himself out of a rocket, wrestles an alligator for exercise, and catches the train--in both hands--as a little boy in his pajamas slips in and out of the pictures, watching his accomplishments. "This is going to be my most perfect day yet," he remarks. But then things go horribly wrong. Jack's blue suit suddenly turns into a pink dress, and his mode of transportation becomes a tricycle. The little boy tells him to wake up, and Jack tries, but it's not until the child talks him through--with bluebirds, sunlight, and toast--that he succeeds. Then it's clear that Jack is really the dreaming boy. The it's-all-a-dream plot is old, and the story can best be described as simplistic. But the artwork is fresh and new, even if it is retro. MacDonald, a New Yorker cartoonist, re-creates the cartoon-style artwork of the late 1930s and 1940s, starting with a hero who looks like Superman in his Clark Kent mode. He also captures the feeling of the period in the design, lettering, and in the unusual gold-and-blue palette. Even the buff color of the paper is right. Certainly, this will have lots of appeal for those acquainted with the era MacDonald evokes, but young children will also like the look, just as it delighted people the first time around. Come to think of it, the dream gambit may be new to them, too. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761315950
• ISBN-13: 978-0761315957
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,248,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ross MacDonald is an author, designer, letterpress printer and illustrator.

His illustrations have appeared in many publications including Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Rolling Stone, and was the subject of a one man retrospective show at the New York Times. He has written and illustrated several children's books, and - with co-author James Victore - the recent adult parody In and Out with Dick and Jane. His illustrations for that book won a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators.

He has also worked on many movies as an illustrator, prop maker and consultant on period design, printing, paper and documents.

He Lives in Connecticut with his wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 4 cats and a large collection of 19th century type and printing equipment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great illustrations, cute story!, January 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Another Perfect Day (Single Titles) (Hardcover)

The illustrations in this book are fabulous- they are very old-fashioned & colorful. You will smile as you read through the story- excellent bedtime story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great bedtime read!, July 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Another Perfect Day (Single Titles) (Hardcover)

This has been a favorite of both my sons for a long time. The story is silly and sweet, and the illustrations fairly burst off the page. The end is a pleasant surprise and lesson in developing good interior dialogue.

5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER PERFECT DAY great way to start..., February 25, 2009

By 

Emily Leatha Everson "Emily E.G." (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Another Perfect Day (Paperback)

My family has fallen in LOVE with Ross MacDonald's illustrations and this morning we fell in LOVE with ANOTHER PERFECT DAY! My 6.5 year old son and I read ANOTHER PERFECT for the first time before school today. It was just as good as a cup-o-joe. We were wow'd by the energetic, hysterical, vintage looking illustrations and revved up by the witty, charming humor of the story. We can't wait for more!