10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm going on an adventure!, December 13, 2007
This review is from: Fabian Escapes (Hardcover)
As a children's librarian, I advise my little ones to examine a book when they first get it. Look at the cover. Look at the color and prints of the endpages. Look at the title page. As a rarity and for this particular book, remove the dust jacket to examine the front board (top outside covering). There is a story already going on before they turn to page one.
Dust jacket: Hondo rests his head on the windowsill as he looks out the window; Fabian is grinning because he is outside! The title: Fabian escapes! Endpages: Fabian and Hondo are each galloping across the pages. Title page: Fabian is jumping out the window. Cover of book: Fabian is jumping over a fence, obviously back into the yard! Page one: Fabian in the window, Hondo on the floor, awaking from naps.
Wait! This page is deja vu! This is how Hondo and Fabian begin the first of Peter McCarty's books about these adorable friends. In the first book Hondo goes on an adventure to the beach; Fabian stays home with the BABY. It just had to be, it was just inevitable, it was only fair that McCarty create an adventure for Fabian. Thus, book two.
Fabian is in the window, Hondo on the floor. Their people take Hondo for a walk. As Hondo re-enters the house, Fabian slips out as only cats with their invisibility factor can do. He eats flowers and meets up with "the neighbors," three inquisitive dogs. The two stories continue parallel actions also used in the first book. In this one Hondo walks to the butter and eats it, he meets up with the BABY who makes him play dress-up (pretty much comparable to a face-off with three dogs). Fabian leaps over the fence and escapes; Hondo leaps up the stairs and escapes. Fabian hides out under the porch until the people come home and he can slip back in; Hondo naps the day away on a people bed.
Finally, when Fabian returns, Hondo says, "Where have you been, Fabian?" and walks with him to the favorite window to welcome him home. These two really are friends.
This brief summary surely does no justice to the power and magic of this artwork to insinuate itself into your heart and your mind. According to the verso (copyright) page, McCarty used pencil on watercolor paper to get this softened, almost nostalgic appearance of his animals. They look special even beyond the softness. Their eyes are reminiscent of stuffed animals in the way they are slightly indented in the facial area, their legs are foreshortened, and they have that over-fed look, if you get my drift. Loved, happy, contented inside pets with an occasional romp outside. What more could a dog want? What more could a cat want? Peter McCarty will let us know in the next episode of Hondo and Fabian. There will be another episode, yes, Peter? We love these guys as our own!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Illustrations, February 8, 2008
This review is from: Fabian Escapes (Hardcover)
This is my first experience with the wonderful characters, Hondo and Fabian. This dynamic duo are their adventures are charming. The illustrations are some of the most beautiful I've seen. I can't wait to explore other books by McCarty.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous!, March 6, 2010
This review is from: Fabian Escapes (Hardcover)
I love this book! Even better,so do my almost 3 and almost 5 year old grand daughters. They request this 'again and again', and Hondo and Fabian;the first one I bought for them. I wish Hondo and Fabian would have more adventures!
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