Hey, Al
by Arthur Yorinks
Our Price: $57.96
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.50 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Arthur YorinksIllustrator: Richard Egielski
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1986-11-01
ISBN: 0374330603
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Book Reviews of Hey, Al
Book Review: Almost Trapped in Paradise!
Summary: 3 Stars
A janitor named Al and his faithful friend, a dog named Eddie live in New York in a cramped, rather dingy apartment. They are pretty sick of it and Eddie gripes about it to Al. One day they fall into a bit of magic and escape the world that they are tired of and end up on a flying island in the air that is populated by all kinds of fantastic tropical birds. They feel like they are in paradise but, of course, they find out that paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be.What I love about this book is the wonderful illustrations, full of bright colors and gentle humour, and the dialog that sounds just the way a janitor from the West Side of New York City might. I love the way Al and Eddie learn to make their lives better by the end of the story. What I don't particularly like is that the "moral" seems to say that you really shouldn't dream of paradise on earth because it's not okay to kick back and luxuriate and live in leisure because that's just not naural for human beings. It's just too preachy and simplistic. Why can't magic take you to paradise and it all turns out GREAT? Why do we have to feel like if we're not struggling along and doing what we've always done, then it's going to come back and haunt us eventually? I did like the way the book emphasized how precious friendship is and how lost we are without it.
This is a book for little ones and they will love the pictures and characters. They will love, as I do, the friendship between Al and Eddie. It got the 1987 Caldecott medal for Illustrations for a reason! I think it's a good book but I was bummed that Al and Eddie couldn't have their cake and eat it, too. I mean if a giant tucan can hoist you aloft to a fantasy island, why can't the fantasy be perfect?!
Birds Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Birds Books
Flight of the Dodoby Peter Brown
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Published: 2010-09-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.68
Price in other shops:
Baby Duck's New Friendby Devin Asch, Frank Asch
Harcourt Children's Books; Published: 2001-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.10
Penguin: A Season in the Life of the Adélie Penguinby Lloyd Spencer Davis
Harcourt; Published: 1994-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $92.22
Jennie's Hat (Picture Puffins)by Ezra Jack Keats
Puffin; Published: 2003-04-28; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
Minerva Louiseby Janet Morgan Stoeke
Puffin; Published: 2012-01-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.69
Price in other shops:
Charlie's Ravenby Jean Craighead George
Puffin; Published: 2006-03-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Abran paso a los patitosby Robert McCloskey, Osvaldo Blanco
Puffin; Published: 1997-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.86
Price in other shops:
Have You Seen My Duckling? (Picture Puffins)by Nancy Tafuri
Puffin; Published: 1986-02-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.99
Hurry! Hurry!by Eve Bunting
Harcourt Children's Books; Published: 2007-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.07
Price in other shops:
The Year the Swallows Came Earlyby Kathryn Fitzmaurice
HarperCollins; Published: 2009-02-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.66
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Tuesdayby David Wiesner
Sandpiper; Clarion Books; Published: 1991-04-22; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Sylvester and the Magic Pebbleby William Steig
Books; Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; Published: 2005-10-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.10
Price in other shops:
Kitten's First Full Moonby Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow Books; Published: 2004-03-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.88
Price in other shops:
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Caldecott Medal Book)Viking Juvenile; Viking Juvenile; Published: 1999-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Saint George and the Dragonby Margaret Hodges
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Published: 1984-10-30; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from ChinaPhilomel Books; Published: 1989-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot July 25, 1909by Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen
Viking Juvenile; Published: 2010-10-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.40
Price in other shops:
Shadowby Marcia Brown
Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Published: 1982-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops:
Song and Dance Manby Karen Ackerman, Stephen Gammell
Knopf Books for Young Readers; Published: 2003-01-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.30
Price in other shops:
Owl Moonby Jane Yolen
Philomel; Philomel; Published: 1987-10-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.62
Price in other shops: