Status
Check shelf
Call number
Genres
Publication
Groundwood Books (2001), Paperback
Description
With the help of Eskimos, Jan Welzl survives a perilous journey from central Europe to the Arctic regions in the late 1800s.
Local notes
1201-71
Media reviews
Jan Welzl, a Czechoslovakian folk hero, supposedly traveled overland across Siberia from Central Europe in the late 1800s. The author has taken a portion of this folk tale and embellished it. The result is this richly illustrated story of the explorer Welzl and of the Eskimos who save his life and
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become his friends and teachers. The highly stylized drawings and sparse text depict Welzl's adventures in the arctic, but are probably more fictional than factual. Although a charming book, it is not recommended as a source of information on Eskimos. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member flashflood42
Peter Sis illustrates the tale of a Czech folk hero, Jan Welzl, who explored the far Arctic North and survived only though the help of the native peoples. Extraordinary illustrations that make this book, a mixture of fable and fact, a feast for the eye and mind of readers of all ages. Technically
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Peter Sis is a "children's author," but the wealth of illustrative detail makes me wonder whether any child other than one who will become an artist can fully appreciate his work. I love to imagine my grandchildren (all still babies) bending over this book in fascination as they discover detail after detail, each enhancing the lovely story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ruthe002
A fantastic book about the Czech explorer, Jan Welzl, who traveled to the North during 1893. Inspired by childhood tales, Sis crafted this book based upon his interpretation of this populas Czech children's tale.
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Because of GR Amy's review.
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Gosh, I wish she'd warned of the poor design. ?�Cursive writing in parts, and when the font is normal it's colored blue on a mostly gray background. ?áAlways a small or even smaller font. ?áThe images are meant to show the
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Gosh, I wish she'd warned of the poor design. ?�Cursive writing in parts, and when the font is normal it's colored blue on a mostly gray background. ?áAlways a small or even smaller font. ?áThe images are meant to show the
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snow and more snow and loneliness of the far north - which means the colors are muted, the people, animals, homes often tiny. ?áI went outside to get the best light, and took off my glasses, and held the book to my nose, and gave myself a headache, just to get through it. ?áAnd I do not feel as though the effort was worthwhile. ?áI guess if you really like reading antique illustrated journals, ships' logs, letters home, you might like it better than I did. ?áOtherwise, don't bother. ?áI'm going to stop trying to read Sis, no matter how enthusiastic the recommendations for him. Show Less
Awards
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Honor — Picture Book — 1994)
Notable Children's Book (1994)
Language
Original publication date
1993
Physical description
10.1 inches
ISBN
0888994311 / 9780888994318