mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps far cleverer that it first appears, Santat's second book after [b:The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend|18295821|The Adventures of Beekle The Unimaginary Friend|Dan Santat|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1424308067s/18295821.jpg|25778595]is a very clever play on time and movement within a picturebook when a bored child asks the titular question 'Are we there yet?'
A book that invites and needs constant revisiting, Santat's postmodern take on the problem of what happens when you go on a long car journey and can't think of anything to do is answered here when the boy (Kyle?) finds that a journey that feels like it is 'taking forever' suddenly finds itself not just slowing down time but turning it back!
Here the reader is made to spin the book 180 degrees and read the book backwards as we slip back into time with the poor parents (I loved how they found themselves dressed for each occasion) caught amongst train robbers, medieval knights, ancient egyptians and then the roar of a mighty T-Rex. At this point, Kyle, suddenly becomes aware of the world around him. When this happens, the book turns again and suddenly, with Kyle out of the car, we're off ahead towards the present - helter-skelter!
In fact, we travel so fast that we missed the very party that we had been invited to. With a great mix of panels and double-spreads showing Santat's vivid imaginings, readers will enjoy revisiting the journey and spotting new things. Make sure you have a QR reader to spot what it is the robot is saying! It's important.
A book that invites and needs constant revisiting, Santat's postmodern take on the problem of what happens when you go on a long car journey and can't think of anything to do is answered here when the boy (Kyle?) finds that a journey that feels like it is 'taking forever' suddenly finds itself not just slowing down time but turning it back!
Here the reader is made to spin the book 180 degrees and read the book backwards as we slip back into time with the poor parents (I loved how they found themselves dressed for each occasion) caught amongst train robbers, medieval knights, ancient egyptians and then the roar of a mighty T-Rex. At this point, Kyle, suddenly becomes aware of the world around him. When this happens, the book turns again and suddenly, with Kyle out of the car, we're off ahead towards the present - helter-skelter!
In fact, we travel so fast that we missed the very party that we had been invited to. With a great mix of panels and double-spreads showing Santat's vivid imaginings, readers will enjoy revisiting the journey and spotting new things. Make sure you have a QR reader to spot what it is the robot is saying! It's important.
idgey's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lady_mair's review against another edition
4.0
Santat's books are always so clever, bright, and fun! My top favorite is still "Beekle: the Unimaginary Friend," but "Are We There Yet?" is a great romp.
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
Love the look of this book! I used it with some classes, but it really should be savored by individuals to take in all of the details. (Could be fun to display an eBook of it with a projector) The idea of travelling without a phone, movies, individual game player, music, etc. is becoming very foreign to our students.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
This was silly. And over the top cute. Really this book shouldn't have worked at all. And there was that bit of a learning curve to follow the arrows and turn the pages left to right. Funny. And definitely better than I expected. The details changing on the art around the parents especially on each page was my favorite.
missprint_'s review against another edition
3.0
Maybe 3.5? This was fun but not quite as magical as I had expected. I liked the turning although I feel like it became almost gimmicky toward the end and I wonder how the story will work when being read to a crowd since some of the pages have so much going on. Still good and a lot of fun. Just not as sensational as I thought it would be.
aftanith's review against another edition
3.0
This is a simple little story with a refreshing stroke of creativity. In the story, a little boy on his way to his grandmother's birthday party badgers his parents with the age-old car trip question: "Are we there yet?" And as he grows increasingly bored, his mind starts to wander... and before he knows it, he and his parents are off on a crazy trip through time and space. The book itself gets in on the act, with the story flipping over entirely, so that the reader must turn his or her copy upside-down to go on. There's everything from cowboys and pirates to dinosaurs and flying cars--all the stuff kids in the target audience are expected to like at that age. And there's even a cute little moral (delivered via pun!) at the end.
It's not going to be the most riveting read for any adults who pick it up, but children still in the picture book range might just get a kick out of it.
If you like my reviews, you may want to check out my book blog, Amara's Eden! Are We There Yet? was reviewed as part of a picture book mini-review round-up that can be read in its entirety here.
It's not going to be the most riveting read for any adults who pick it up, but children still in the picture book range might just get a kick out of it.
If you like my reviews, you may want to check out my book blog, Amara's Eden! Are We There Yet? was reviewed as part of a picture book mini-review round-up that can be read in its entirety here.
maireador20's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
ashleyaewert's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing illustrations in this interactive texts that has you turn the book around and flipping pages backwards. Love the idea of living in the present moment and not rushing time away.