Module 5/SLIS 5420 Picture Books

The Wreck of the Zephyr

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg




1984 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book
1984 ALA Notable Book for Children

Bibliography

Van Allsburg, Chris. The Wreck of the Zephyr. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1983. ISBN: 0395330750

Summary

While sailing his boat in a storm, a boy is swept out to sea and lands on a mysterious island. The sailors there use special sails that lift their boats out of the water and into the air. The boy, who considers himself to be the best sailor in the world, tries to learn the craft, and manages to fly his boat back home. Unfortunately, he crash-lands his sailboat high on the top of the cliffs overlooking the sea.
The remarkable tale of the flying boat is told by an old man who is sitting next to the ancient wreckage at the beginning of the book. Van Allsburg's text leads the reader to believe that the old man could be the boy in the story, and that his final words, "got some sailing to do," infer that the man is still trying to find his way back to the mysterious land to get some new "flying" sails.

My impressions

The masterful storytelling and vibrant illustrations found in The Wreck of the Zephyr combine to produce an enchanting picture book. The illustrations that accompany this imaginative tale draw readers into a magical realm where they get to experience the boy's exhilaration. Van Allsburg's subtle paintings are visually stunning, but leave plenty of room for the reader to indulge in their own imagination. I particularly like how Van Allsburg paints hidden or ambiguous faces on his characters; it makes it easier for the reader to make the story his or her own. This is a book that can be enjoyed over and over again by multiple ages of children (and adults).

Reviews

Rich design and a subtle use of color conjure the changing aspects of light as they support a haunting story of a boy touched by magic who momentarily became the greatest sailor ever (School Library Journal, 1983).

The full-color pastel drawings are the work of a master: stunning, luminescent, and conveying a sense of the mystical and magical (Publishers Weekly, 1983).

Activities

Have a "Raingutter Regatta!" First, after studying the basic physics of sailboating, have the children make their own sailboats out of milk cartons, egg cartons, or paper cups. There are some fun, easy ideas here: http://www.create-kids-crafts.com/sailboat-crafts-for-kids.html
Then, take sections of raingutters (found at hardware stores), stop up the ends, fill them halfway with water, and have the children race against each other. Super fun!!

Here is a great site with teaching ideas for Van Allsburg's books:

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/zathura/bookshelf.shtml