Hey, Al (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) [School & Library Binding]

Arthur Yorinks (Author), Richard Egielski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1989 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. A city janitor and his treasured canine companion are transported by a large colorful bird to an island in the sky, where their comfortable paradise existence threatens to turn them into birds as well.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The plot of this book, for 4-year-olds and up, involves the travails of Al, a janitor who lives in a dingy apartment on Manhattan's West Side with his dog Eddie. One day, a funny-looking bird sticks its huge head through Al's bathroom window and proposes a journey to a terrific place where there are "no worries" and "no cares." Al agrees and takes Eddie with him. What the two experience is paradise--butterflies, wildflowers, chirping birds and cool streams--but it soon gives way to the uncertainties of being away from home, and a moral: that home is where the heart is. This sharp, wry and tender story, which won the 1987 Caldecott Medal, marks Yorinks' and Egielski's fourth highly praised collaborative work. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

This Caldecott Medal winner tells of a journey to paradise and the discovery that home is best. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (May 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0833527819
• ISBN-13: 978-0833527813
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for teaching values!, March 17, 2004

By 

D. M ZWIRN "sillygooser" (MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hey, Al (Hardcover)

"Paradise lost is sometimes heaven found" is the closing line in Hey, Al, a wonderful book that has a timeless moral for both kids and adults. Al is a janitor who is not happy with how is life is going. He lives in a room with his dog, Eddie, who is also not happy with his situation. One day a bird appears at the window promising to bring them to a better place, "no worries, no cares". Of course, something that sounds that good probably isn't.

This book is definitely an entertaining story. The pictures are colorful and very detailed. Kids will love looking at them and pointing out all the different birds and laugh at the silly transformation that Al and Eddie go through. I think they will also get the story, that what you have is usually better than what you lust for. Everyone, at some point in their life, dreams about something better. This book is a great reality check for us, giving a serious message in a kid's book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is fun to read!!, June 5, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hey, Al (Paperback)

Hey, Al, by Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski, is a story about Al and Eddie, the dog, going to paradise.
Al, a nice, quiet, janitor, lived in a small but very neat apartment on the West Side of New York City with his faithful dog, Eddie. They were always struggling. Eddie hoped for a house with a backyard.
All that changed one morning when Al was startled by a huge bird said, "tommorow I will bring you to paradise." The bird offers Al and Eddie a change. The next morning, both are ready and waiting in the bathroom.the bird carries them to the paradise.
The theme of this story is that "your own home is the best place to be." Al and Eddie were much happier in their own house than in the paradise. Everyone will like this book, because it has beautiful pictures and ideas.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Illustrations and a Timeless Story of Values, April 23, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hey, Al (Paperback)

This book won the Caldecott Medal as the best illustrated children's book of 1987. The wistful, bright water colors will entrance you and your child as you follow this excursion into fantasy.

Al, who is a janitor, lives in a one room, one bathroom apartment on the West Side of New York City. His only companion is his loyal dog, Eddie. Not only is the place small, it is not very neat and tidy. Eddie yearns vocally for a house with a back yard.

All this changes one morning when Al is startled by a huge rainbow-beaked toucan-like bird poking his head into the bathroom while Al prepares for work. The bird offers Al and Eddie a change. The next morning, both are ready and waiting in the bathroom.

The bird carries them to a misty island high in the sky filled with beautiful pools, waterfalls, vegetation, birds, and butterflies. "Unbelievable" is their reaction. "They never had it so good." They lazed in pools of water, and ate wonderful ripe fruit. What a change from a small apartment!

But one morning, Al and Eddie started to turn into birds. Al said, "I don't want to be a bird. I'd rather mop floors!"

They head back, flapping their wings. Eddie tires and falls into the sea. Al barely gets to the apartment, where he is heartbroken over Eddie's loss. But Al has regained his human form in the process.

Then, Eddie returns, having swum from where he dropped into the ocean back to the shore.

Al realizes that "Paradise lost is sometimes Heaven found."

The last scene shows Al starting to paint the apartment a bright yellow as Eddie looks on.

The story follows the general theme of many children's stories where the reality of experiencing something more that has been yearned for makes the characters realize the greater value of what they already have had. You will find this theme in stories as diverse as Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew.

Naturally, this story is a set-up to help you and your child discuss and count your blessings, including each other. You can also relate the story back to experiences about being glad to return home from a trip or a vacation, even though everyone had a wonderful time.

Put what you have in perspective of the lesser alternatives, and strive to make the best of what you do have!