Our Neighbor is a Strange, Strange Man [Hardcover]

Tres Seymour (Author), Walter Lynn Krudop (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

In illustrations and simple text, tells how Melville Murrell invented the first flying machine in 1876.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Seymour's (Hunting the White Cow) triumphant tale of Melville Murrell, who in 1876 built the first airplane, champions pioneers who dare to step outside familiar territory. The narrator is a boy in Murrell's Tennessee hometown whose obvious fascination with his eccentric neighbor vies with the disapproving local gossip. Krudop's (Black Whiteness) puckish gouaches emphasize the contrast between Murrell and his neighbors: e.g., he is seen, nose buried in a book, high-stepping past a farmer plowing his field. Thoughtful cropping and imaginatively skewed perspectives draw attention to the elements likeliest to intrigue kids: pulleys in Murrell's workroom; Oz-like balloons in his living room; Murrell, clad in hat, suit and tie, up in a tree, taking notes on birds in flight. Seymour's details are equally well chosen ("They say he used to jump off the old stone wall/ flapping cabbage leaves to FLY, for goodness' sake,/ when he was a boy"). The title line repeats throughout and at the end, when Murrell signals for takeoff: "And he expects the clacking, whumping, whizzing thing to go! Our neighbor is a strange, strangeAOH!... It FLIES!/ For goodness' sake." Sure to pique readers' interest. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-The strange neighbor in this brief tale is Melville Murrell, who received a patent in 1877 for the first American "airplane"-a "weird contraption made of wood and pulleys, bolts and strings...." This picture book rescues this little-known eccentric inventor from obscurity. The short, conversational narrative by the boy who lives next door is enhanced by Krudop's bright, full-page paintings. They give life and humor to this brief moment in history when a man flew several yards in a winged platform propelled by other men pulling on ropes. Final notes show the plan of Murrell's construction and tell of its present location in the Smithsonian. The story, a slight bit of Americana, may be useful in a unit on transportation, flight, or history. However, it lacks the depth and richness of the Provensens' story of the French inventor Louis Bleriot in The Glorious Flight (Viking, 1983).
Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY) (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531301079
• ISBN-13: 978-0531301074
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,665,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great American Flying Machine, January 27, 2000

By 

W. Michael Susong (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Neighbor is a Strange, Strange Man (Hardcover)

Seymour's book is a swift parable of success in any age, be it the pre-industrial or internet. Have a dream and don't be swayed. The book's kind message stands to inspire a young dreamer somewhere. "Stange" can be a good personal trait. The launch of the Great American Flying Machine, while the Wright brothers were still in short pants, is a significant achievement not to be overlooked. Put this one in the school libraries.

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Aviation Machine, April 6, 2000

By 

David Halcomb (Williamsburg, Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Neighbor is a Strange, Strange Man (Hardcover)

Tres Seymour does a tremendous job with this historical account of the first expedition of flight. The story is told through the eyes of a teenage boy who wonders at the strange actions of his neighbor, Melville Murrell. The boy has heard of ridiculous tales of Mr. Murrell, but now he is beginning to see them for himself. However, the young boy may find that the strange, strange man isn't so strange after all. This is a great book, which includes a theme of working until ones dreams are fulfilled. The illustrations are lively and entertaning as well. The book is a must-have for all libraries!