Tots to Teens & in beTween - The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

Title: The Way Back Home

Author: Oliver Jeffers

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publication Date: x

Format: x

Genre: x

Other Books in the Series:

Jeffers' books featuring the boy:

How to Catch a Star (reviewed)
Lost and Found (reviewed)
Up and Down

How I Got It: the library

Goodreads Summary:

When a boy discovers a single-propeller airplane in his closet, he does what any young adventurer would do: He flies it into outer space! Millions of miles from Earth, the plane begins to sputter and quake, its fuel tank on empty. The boy executes a daring landing on the moon . . . but there's no telling what kind of slimy, slithering, tentacled, fangtoothed monsters lurk in the darkness! (Plus, it's dark and lonely out there.) Coincidentally, engine trouble has stranded a young Martian on the other side of the moon, and he's just as frightened and alone. Martian, Earthling—it's all the same when you're in need of a friend.

Review:

Jeffers uses mixed media (but still features the watercolor paintings that I love) to bring the boy's imagination to life in this new book.  One day the boy was putting things back in his closet and he found a life sized airplane.  (I never found stuff like this in my closet... granted I never really put my things away either.)

He didn't remember leaving it in there, 

but he though he'd take it out for a go right away.

Of course it's a perfect lift off and the boy soars as high as he can before his place runs out of fuel.

Courtesy of Oliver Jeffers

Now the boy was stuck on the moon.

What was he to do?

Courtesy of Oliver Jeffers

He was alone and afraid, but he didn't know that high above him somebody else was in trouble too.  Martian's engine had broken and he crash landed his flying saucer on the moon.

The boy heard noises.

The Martian heard noises.

They both feared the worst.

Eventually their eyes got used to the dark and both the boy and the Martian realized that not only had the met someone else in trouble, but they weren't alone anymore.  They worked out a plan to fix their machines and get back to their respective homes.

Courtesy of Oliver Jeffers

The boy dropped down into the sea (because the Earth was closest) and he swam home.  By the time he got home he was tired, so he rested a bit.  And then his favorite TV show came on, so he rested a bit more.  All this time the poor Martian is waiting alone in the dark.  In the middle of his favorite show the boy remembered what he was supposed to be doing.  He ran off and got what he needed and climbed to higher ground.  He called out to the Martian and a rope was lowered.

Courtesy of Oliver Jeffers

They fixed each other's ships, said good-bye and thank you, and wondered if they'd ever meet again.  A little while later the boy receives a walkie talkie in the mail.

The Way Back Home is another lovely and whimsical picture book from Oliver Jeffers.  This one though is a bit sadder in my opinion.  I'm with the story the whole way and then at the very end the walkie talkie confuses the boy and he leaves it.  The last image on the page is the Martian calling "hello" through the walkie talkie.  It just seems sad to me, but other than that the book is fun.  The Martian and the boy crash landed on either side of the moon is funny and my students normally get a kick out of it.  While I really enjoy the fact that the boy finds a working airplane in his closet many of my students like finding little reminders of How To Catch a Star and Lost and Found in the illustrations.

Verdict:

Way Back Home is a lovely book to read and to look at.  Humor, adventure, loneliness, and friendship are wrapped up into one glowing picture book package.  I give it 4 stars.

Related Reviews:

Elementary, My Dear Reader fast reviews of this and other Oliver Jeffers books

Maggie's Goodreads review - very funny last line.
Bees on Skis review