Alistair and Kip's Great Adventure!

by John Segal, John Segal (Illustrator)

Overview

One bossy cat.
One nervous beagle.
Two best friends.

When Alistair and Kip set out to sea, they quickly find themselves in deep water.

Who will come to the rescue?

Join them and have a whale of a time in John Segal's charming tale of adventure and friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442427006
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	11/16/2010
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	49 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

John Segal has illustrated many books for children, including Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon, retold by Robert D. San Souci, and The Musicians of Bremen by Jane Yolen. His drawings have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Gourmet, and Travel&Leisure, and he is an award-winning designer of greeting cards for the Museum of Modern Art. This is the first book he has both written and illustrated.

John Segal lives in New York City and has two children, Emily and Josh.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 2- When one friend with a big imagination is bored, the other friend better watch out! So it is with Alistair, an orange cat who comes up with an idea for a new and exciting project and enlists the help of Kip, a beagle with a less- adventurous spirit. Determined to see the world, Alistair decides that they will build a boat and set sail for "far and distant lands." The two work together, measuring, hammering, and gluing, and before long, their craft is completed. Somewhat nervous about the actual idea of disembarking, Kip jumps in at the last minute and joins Alistair on a journey that is anything but boring, as they row down a creek and eventually make their way into the open sea. When a giant wave capsizes their small vessel, they swim for an island, only to discover that it's actually a kindly whale that safely shepherds them home. After thanking the whale, Alistair begins speculating about what they'll do next as poor Kip's ears rise in alarm. The quick-paced story is told through both dialogue and simple narrative. Beautifully rendered watercolors in bright hues comically depict the self-confident cat and his smaller canine pal. This tale of two friends who have a whale of a time will delight children who often use the dreaded "b" (bored) word.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

School Library Journal

Segal pairs an impulsive cat and a hesitant dog on a quick but exciting nautical outing. Bored one Tuesday, marmalade Alistair pushes the smaller Kip into helping to build a boat. Off the two float, downstream and into the ocean-where a huge wave plunges them into a sea thick with menacing sharks and other creatures. Then they crawl onto an island that turns out to be a friendly whale who ferries them back home. "That was fun, Kip. Tomorrow let's build an airplane!" Tales with a similar plot, such as Jason Chapman's Ted, Bo, and Diz (2007) or Linda Bailey's Stanley At Sea (2008), illustrated by Bill Slavin, tend to have subplots or side business; here there is barely a pause in the action, and the text, which is printed over the simple watercolors, is so pared-down that it several times gives way to wordless pages or spreads. Even pre-readers will have no trouble following along on this up-and-down ride. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews