Weslandia (Paperback)

~ (Author), Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What do the children you know usually do when school is out for the summer? Go crazy with boredom? Head poolside with friends? Plan a self-sufficient civilization with its own staple food crop? That is precisely how Wesley decides to spend his summer vacation. Wesley is not an ordinary boy: "He alone in his town disliked pizza and soda, alarming his mother and the school nurse. He found professional football stupid. He'd refused to shave half his head, the hairstyle worn by all the other boys, despite his father's bribe of five dollars." It all starts (the civilization, that is) when Wesley overturns a plot of ground in his yard to see what new and unknown seeds might blow into it. Curiously, just one kind of plant grows--an unusual, flowering, fruit-bearing plant that tastes of "peach, strawberry, pumpkin pie, and flavors he had no name for." Soon, Wesley is literally reaping the fruits of his labors--using the fruit rind to make a cup for the juice he squeezes, barbecuing the root tubers, and weaving the bark into a hat to keep off the sun.

In Wesley's new world, he no longer needs a watch because he uses a flower stalk as a sundial, dividing the day into 8 segments, one for each of the flower's petals. A new language (based on an 80-letter alphabet) and counting system (based on the number 8) soon follow. Ah, Weslandia. Slowly but surely his once-tormenting classmates become curious. And soon enough, Wesley allows them to help him crush seeds for oil, which "had a tangy scent and served him both as suntan lotion and mosquito repellent." He also invents sports that are less distasteful to him than football--"games rich with strategy and complex scoring systems," and watches patiently as his classmates blunder. Wesley's parents say that he looks happy for the first time in years. And when he returns to school in September? "He had no shortage of friends." Newbery Medal winner and onetime alternate-world creator Paul Fleischman shines in this deadpan-but-hilarious picture book, and illustrator Kevin Hawkes's splendid paintings will delight young readers with the explosion of colorful, comical details. Kids young and old will love the once-outcast hero Wesley and his Robinson Crusoe-style triumphs. (Ages 8 to 11, or for reading aloud to younger children) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

A young nonconformist invents a self-sufficient civilization in his suburban backyard. "Words and images fluidly play off one another as Wesley creates a language for his new produce and the crop erupts into a lush tropical landscape," wrote PW in our Best Books citation. Ages 4-9. (Aug.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763610526
• ISBN-13: 978-0763610524
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,293 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weslandia is a Great Book, December 4, 1999

By	Elizabeth Abramson (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weslandia (Hardcover)

This is the only children's book that I have found worth buying (as opposed to the library). It has a multitude of themes, such as weather, math, and language. Not only that, but this book was actually fun and interesting. As a teacher, I know that it apeals to a large audience- including adults! buy the book, you won't regret it

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weslandia, January 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Weslandia (Hardcover)

A profoundly thought provoking look at how people fit into the world, or make worlds to fit into. A story of a unique soul who chose not to accept rejection, but use his individuality to create beauty. Told simply, but with deep, far reaching effects for any reader.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration for the underdog, October 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Weslandia (Hardcover)

Wonderful and inspiring. I suspect this book is appropriate for many more people than the simple picture book format would suggest--I found Wesley's struggle to reflect my own although I am older than the intended audience. Wesley manages to change the society he lives in very much and for the better, a fantasy many of us have. This book narrowly escapes becoming a handbook for revolution by containing a few small fictional elements, though, mostly that bizarre plant.

Every former geek, weirdo and outcast needs to read it, as it is a testimony to origionality and honesty. Perfect. I am glad I found it, and I hope many others do. Easily one of my favorite books, and one I'll cherish and give to as many people as I can. Happy reading.