A review by jessiquie
Christopher Robin: A Boy, a Bear, a Balloon by Brittany Rubiano
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