by Gregory Rogers; illus. by the author

Roaring Book Press, 2004

Image from Scholastic

This charming, whimsical wordless picture book tells the story of a 21st century boy who is magically transported to Shakespeare’s England.  The comic-strip illustrations, interspersed with full- and double-page spreads, heighten the story’s sense of movement and action.  Rogers expertly leaves and rejoins traditional frames, and uses a variety of perspective, size and moments to vary the pace of the story.  His simple cartoon faces have great depths of expression, and the boy in particular is a joy to watch.  Children will get sucked back in time right along with the boy, holding their breath as he escapes the Globe with an angry playwright behind him and delighting over his friendship with the bear and Queen Elizabeth.  There are some surprise historical details included, like heads on poles on London Bridge (they aren’t too gruesome).  As a Shakespeare enthusiast, I was a little sad that he is depicted as a grouchy villain, but it makes for a fun story.  The setting provides a colorful introduction to another time.  While they may need help understanding all that goes on in this vibrant story, it is definitely a great book for kids to narrate and explore. 

(This review was originally submitted as part of my picture book overview for Materials for Children class)