After a dramatic, nearly tragic escape from their 'paradise,' both man and dog agree: there really is no place like home.Īrthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski have previously collaborated on Sid and Sol, which Maurice Sendak described as a 'wonder' Louis the Fish, named one of the Best Books of 1980 by School Library Journal and It Happened in Pinsk, a Booklist Children's Editors' Choice for 1984. But sometimes, they discover, the grass can be a little too green on the other side. Transported to a gorgeous island in the sky, Al and Eddie are soon living a life of ease and comfort. Al and Eddie are totally miserable until a large and mysterious bird offers them a change of fortune. Their room is crowded and cramped their life is an endless struggle. They eat together, they work together, they do everything together. Though, he famously collaborated with Maurice Sendak and Matthew Reinhart on the pop-up Mommy? a few years back, his best might be the spellbinder It Happened in Pinsk.Al, a janitor, and his faithful dog, Eddie, live in a single room on the West Side. The author started a very interesting theatrical troupe called The Night Kitchen Radio Theater, which to me just adds to the mystery of it all. It took me a few reads to fall in love with this one, but my son dug it so hard, I had to give in. Then, with a few flaps, the bird was gone. 'Al,' said the bird, 'Are you working too hard? Still struggling and going nowhere? Hmmmmm? Listen. One morning, while Al was shaving, a voice called to him. A man and his dog lead a dead end life until a strange bird appears at their window and offers them more. Appearing to be helpful in one minute then revealing their true colors in the next.Īs far as kids' books go, you couldn't get one that is packed with more mystery. The beautiful paintings that illustrate are extremely sophisticated, and I love that the 'bad guys' in this book are birds. The refreshingly unchildlike tone is used to relay the morality tale of the grass is always greener.

Even though it is clearly a kid's book and won the Caldecott Medal as such, the pictures and story hint at adult themes like despair and hopelessness. There is a lot to be creeped out about when it comes to this book.

Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks