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The Dadmag Guide To Children's Books
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Weslandia
(Ages 4 and up)
Make no small plans. In Paul Fleischman's Weslandia a, well, different boy named Wesley finds an unusual summer project: creating his own civilization by cultivating a versatile plant he calls swist. This book has great lines-escaping his tormenters was the only sport he was good at-- and panoramic illustrations by Kevin Hawkes reminiscent of Paul Zelinsky's The Wheels on the Bus. The basic appeal is its optimism: the conformity and cruelty of others are not insurmountable. Intelligence, creativity and dreams can pay off in rather sublime experiences and in the discovery of new friends. While enjoying the story, kids also learn the basic ingredients of any civilization, not a bad dividend.
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