alittleoverdue's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited about checking out this book, but to be honest, I wasn't crazy about the artwork or the story. It was a nice story, don't get me wrong. However, with Winnie the Pooh, my standards are high and this didn't quite make the bar.
emziexjayne's review against another edition
5.0
An easy read for anyone and a story that will send you back to your childhood no matter what generation.
babyleo's review against another edition
5.0
I have an intense love for Winnie the Pooh so of course I was eager to read this new picture book featuring my favourite bear. Rubiano does a good job mixing the old and the new, even putting in the dedication a quote from one of the best Winnie the Pooh films: Pooh’s Grand Adventure.
My heart did a small leap of joy as I recognised many of Milne’s quotes from the original books, reworked into this story which only brought the woods back to life and reminded me how much I adore these characters.
The story also casually revisits some of the original Pooh adventures, seen now through the eyes of the older Christopher Robin which reminds us how much he has changed. He visits his old friends and they fail to see the young boy they knew in this man who has entered their woods. Rubiano doesn’t quite catch the tone of Milne’s writing, it is very close, and you can see where it’s drawing from. It is unfair to make it live up to the previous Winnie the Pooh books. Coming at these beloved characters from the mind of an adult like Christopher Robin, but still telling the story to children (or even those who left the woods a long time ago), it has a suitable tone and one that still manages to reignite that love and affection.
The illustrations are a beautiful mixture between Shepherds and the ever familiar Disney. I loved how Wall has brought his style to the characters while still keeping them familiar. The colours are beautiful and his designs are simplistic and elegant, showing just enough detail.
This book does a beautiful job in presenting a story for those of us who are a little but more grown up and find ourselves wandering back to the Hundred Acre Woods.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book
My heart did a small leap of joy as I recognised many of Milne’s quotes from the original books, reworked into this story which only brought the woods back to life and reminded me how much I adore these characters.
The story also casually revisits some of the original Pooh adventures, seen now through the eyes of the older Christopher Robin which reminds us how much he has changed. He visits his old friends and they fail to see the young boy they knew in this man who has entered their woods. Rubiano doesn’t quite catch the tone of Milne’s writing, it is very close, and you can see where it’s drawing from. It is unfair to make it live up to the previous Winnie the Pooh books. Coming at these beloved characters from the mind of an adult like Christopher Robin, but still telling the story to children (or even those who left the woods a long time ago), it has a suitable tone and one that still manages to reignite that love and affection.
The illustrations are a beautiful mixture between Shepherds and the ever familiar Disney. I loved how Wall has brought his style to the characters while still keeping them familiar. The colours are beautiful and his designs are simplistic and elegant, showing just enough detail.
This book does a beautiful job in presenting a story for those of us who are a little but more grown up and find ourselves wandering back to the Hundred Acre Woods.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book
jessiquie's review against another edition
3.0
Everyone's most lovable bear and his band of mismatched friends is back in this latest release from Disney. Following on from the soon to be release movie, Christopher Robin, Brittany Rubiano and Mike Wall have teamed up to bring the film to a book shelf near you.
Essentially A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon is the long awaited return of Christopher Robin to the 100 Acre Wood. Greeted by his loyal childhood sidekick and best friend, Winnie The Pooh, Christopher is welcomed back into all his old haunts for one last adventure; though not the one you might have been expecting.
Christopher Robin is almost unrecognisable as he grumbles his way around the 100 Acre wood, looking at everything with grown up cynical eyes. For the most part, the characters don't recognise him and fear him to be a monster returning to haunt their peaceful terrain, that is, until Christopher takes off his hat and smiles. Thus slowly winning his childhood friends over, despite his logic about monsters.
A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon is written by Brittany Rubiano and Illustrated by Mike Wall, and I want to commend the duo on creating something so canon. The over all story, despite being set years and years later, feels like we never left in the first place. The same style of language of the original texts has been used, as has the muted colours and artistic feel of the characters and the wood itself. Everything feels legit ... which I'm not afraid to admit, I didn't think would be the case. I was more prepared for this book to feel like fan fiction.
For the most part, I think this is a really well done narrative and piece of the series fandom, as it reminds the reader (both young and young at heart) not to get too bogged down by work and adult problems as we are prone to do. Life is to be lived, so smile and enjoy it's simplicities in a fashion not unlike those who inhabit the 100 Acre Wood. With a world like ours today, where work-life-balance skews more heavily towards the work side, and families and friends are often left to be enjoyed later, this narrative is a timely reminder to stop every now and then; revisit your favourite haunts, childhood stories and live. You will be better for it.
Lastly, A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon is a great revisit and adaptation of a childhood classic, bringing the must loved and recognised characters, locations and emotions to a whole new generation.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 25.8.18 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1sP
Essentially A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon is the long awaited return of Christopher Robin to the 100 Acre Wood. Greeted by his loyal childhood sidekick and best friend, Winnie The Pooh, Christopher is welcomed back into all his old haunts for one last adventure; though not the one you might have been expecting.
Christopher Robin is almost unrecognisable as he grumbles his way around the 100 Acre wood, looking at everything with grown up cynical eyes. For the most part, the characters don't recognise him and fear him to be a monster returning to haunt their peaceful terrain, that is, until Christopher takes off his hat and smiles. Thus slowly winning his childhood friends over, despite his logic about monsters.
A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon is written by Brittany Rubiano and Illustrated by Mike Wall, and I want to commend the duo on creating something so canon. The over all story, despite being set years and years later, feels like we never left in the first place. The same style of language of the original texts has been used, as has the muted colours and artistic feel of the characters and the wood itself. Everything feels legit ... which I'm not afraid to admit, I didn't think would be the case. I was more prepared for this book to feel like fan fiction.
For the most part, I think this is a really well done narrative and piece of the series fandom, as it reminds the reader (both young and young at heart) not to get too bogged down by work and adult problems as we are prone to do. Life is to be lived, so smile and enjoy it's simplicities in a fashion not unlike those who inhabit the 100 Acre Wood. With a world like ours today, where work-life-balance skews more heavily towards the work side, and families and friends are often left to be enjoyed later, this narrative is a timely reminder to stop every now and then; revisit your favourite haunts, childhood stories and live. You will be better for it.
Lastly, A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon is a great revisit and adaptation of a childhood classic, bringing the must loved and recognised characters, locations and emotions to a whole new generation.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 25.8.18 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1sP
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
The moment I saw this picture book, I just had to have it. I love the style of the drawings and how simplistic and still detailed they are and the illustrations never disappointed! The story was quite short and a very simplistic version of what actually happens in the movie. I think the main message goes a little lost somewhere between the few lines, but for children it's just a very nice adventure they can enjoy to the fullest. I'm pretty sure it's the perfect book to read with little kids.
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