The Highest Mountain of Books in World

by Bonilla Rocio, Bonilla Rocio (Illustrator), Peter Pauper Press, Inc. (Created by)

Overview

Lucas was convinced he was born to fly. He spent hours watching birds and airplanes in flight and tried to design his own sets of wings — many times. But each time they failed. He wrote letters to Santa, pleading for help, but was disappointed with the toy wings and capes he received. Then one day, something magical happened, without him even knowing it. His mother put a book in his hands — and Lucas began to fly. And fly. And fly. Both a delightful story and a celebration of the wonder of books and their power to transport us to places beyond our imagination.

• Ages 4 to 8.
• Hardcover picture book with dust jacket.
• Full color throughout.
• 42 pages.
• 8-3/4 inches wide by 11-3/4 inches high.

Rocio Bonilla was born in Barcelona, Spain, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Barcelona. She has worked as a photographer, painter, and teacher, and now spends most of her time illustrating books and painting children's murals. As a mother of three, she is continually fascinated by the unique and extraordinary universes that children create, as well as their enormous willingness and generosity to share them with others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441319999
Publisher:	Peter Pauper Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/01/2016
Pages:	42
Sales rank:	731,608
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

06/13/2016
A boy discovers the potential of reading in this lushly illustrated story from Spanish author-artist Bonilla. Lucas dreams of flying but his own inventions can’t get him off the ground, and Santa Claus and birthday wishes aren’t any help. “There are other ways to fly, Lucas,” his mother tells him, handing him a book. Most readers will get the message then and there, but it takes much longer for Lucas to figure it out. Instead, he dives into reading with a passion previously reserved for flying as he reads book after book, ignoring the outside world entirely while sitting on an ever-growing pile of books that attracts media and tourist attention. Though Lucas’s eventual realization that “Even though he couldn’t fly, his imagination could” is far from unique to this story, Bonilla’s irreverent mixed-media images leave no question about her artistic talents. Visual homages to The Little Prince and The Jungle Book, as well as details like a roasted turkey sent up to Lucas via helium balloon, give children plenty of reasons to pore over this book, and maybe follow Lucas’s example and seek out other ones, too. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

08/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—Lucas yearns to fly, but winged inventions and pleas to Santa continue to fail him. Wisely, his mother hands him a book and says, "There are other ways to fly, Lucas." After reading his first book, he is so amazed that he picks up another and another. He parks himself atop them and asks for more. As the stack grows precariously skyward, gap-toothed Lucas becomes oblivious to movements around him. Bonilla's humorous and whimsical paintings, which intersperse everyday scenes with fanciful ones, are captivating and colorful. Perceptive readers will recognize elements from several classic tales represented in the art and can extend the story by discussing the illustrations. VERDICT This tale about the joys of reading and imagination is a worthwhile addition to most collections, perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

School Library Journal

2016-06-01
A picture-book homage to reading. From his earliest days Lucas is determined to fly. The little white boy spends hours watching birds and airplanes when he's not trying to make wings for himself—they never work. Every year on his birthday he makes the same wish with no results—until the year his mother puts a book in his hands. "There are other ways to fly, Lucas." And he's hooked. Before he knows it, he's finished all the books in the house, all of the books friends give him, and vans full of books from the library. His sky-high stack of books grows higher and higher, and he becomes famous. People come from all over to see the highest mountain of books in the world. Then one day, all of a sudden, Lucas understands what his mother meant! Even though he can't fly, his imagination can. The airy illustrations are whimsical, capturing the sensation of flying in softly colored double spreads. Subtle details add to the drollness: a birthday crown made of newsprint and Scotch tape, his sister picking her nose, underwear briefs hanging on a clothesline, a gorilla climbing the pile of books à la King Kong, and a gray cat popping in and out of the scenes. Kids will appreciate Lucas' need to read and imagine and also understand the message that there is more than one way to fly. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews