Reviews for Up

The average rating for Up based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-01-29 00:00:00 Vincent Cavuoto Fabulously talented author/artist Jim LaMarche delivers another beautifully-illustrated, sensitively-told tale of childhood in Up, which chronicles the experiences of Daniel, a young boy who wishes he were older. Longing to join his father and older brother on their family's fishing boat, and sick of his nickname, 'Mouse,' Daniel discovers one day that he has a most unusual ability: he can levitate objects just slightly off the ground, or whatever other surface they lay upon. As he practices this secret new skill, Daniel wonders what use it could possibly be, finding the answer when a whale washes up on the beach close to his house, and his father and the other fishermen have no luck dislodging it... I have enjoyed every book I have read that has been illustrated and/or written by Jim LaMarche, and Up is no different. The story here is engaging and ultimately heartwarming, addressing a common childhood concern - namely, wishing to grow up, and be trusted with more mature tasks - and offering a creative and magical solution, in the form of Daniel's unusual ability. The accompanying artwork, done in acrylic paint and colored pencil, is simply luminous, beautifully capturing the enchantment of Daniel's experiences, and the beauty of the world around him. Highly recommended to all picture-book readers looking for stories about children longing to be more grownup, as well as to fellow fans of Jim LaMarche's artwork.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-10-08 00:00:00 Bob Johnson This little picture book actually has quite a bit of story, even though it only has 32 pages. While the basic premise did remind me a little bit of Roald Dahl's Matilda, the characters and tone of the story were completely different. What really makes this book shine, though, are its illustrations. The watercolour and pencil drawings are downright magical, and really help create the seaside setting. While some of the pictures are better than others, the close-up illustrations of Daniel are downright adorable. This story about magic and finding your own strengths would be a nice addition to any picture book collection. Quotable moment: Every day, like a weightlifter, he got a bit stronger. But though he could lift heavier things, he could never lift them high. Nor could he move them left or right. Never back and forth, just up, and that, not much.