Damon Lehrer

Drawing in his room one night, the young boy in this wordless picture-book is surprised to see the rocket he has just finished blasting off from the page, and heading out the window and into the sky. Drawing himself a convertible next, the boy follows his rocket, having a magical nighttime adventure visiting a young girl and her animal friends in some other part of the world. Eventually the boy returns home, but he has the drawing he has made of the girl to remind him of his adventure...

Damon Lehrer, who has taught at a number of well-regarded art schools, and who, in 2010, founded the Boston Figurative Art Center, makes his children's book debut with Rocket Boy. Hopefully it will not be his only foray into the world of picture-books! Created using graphite pencils, the detailed illustrations here are more than enough to convey the story, which has a magical quality suggesting both a dream and an imaginative game. My favorite scene was the one in which the boy, sitting in his self-created car, confronts the girl with her animal entourage. Just enchanting! Recommended to fans of wordless picture-books, and to those looking for children's stories about the creative process, and the wonderful places your imagination can take you.… (mehr)