Aaron Becker has worked as an artist in the film and animation industry, where he helped define the look and feel of characters, stories, and the movies they become a part of. With Journey, he has created characters and worlds of his very own, using traditional materials and techniques. Aaron Becker lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with his wife, daughter, and cat. This is his first book.
A masterwork.
—The New York Times
An imaginative adventure story whose elaborate illustrations
inspire wonder, careful examination and multiple reads.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Wonder mixes with longing as the myriad possibilities offered by
Becker’s stunning settings dwarf what actually happens in the
story. Readers will be both dazzled and spurred on imagined travels
of their own.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
[An] auspicious debut... [a] captivating wordless story... The
strong visual narrative makes this an appealing choice for a wide
range of ages. By the turn of the last page, children will
immediately begin imagining the next adventure.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
First-time author Becker sweeps readers away on the very best kind
of journey, allowing a complex color scheme, intricate fantasy
environments, and a stirring sense of adventure to tell the story
without a single word. ... Laudable for its adventuresome female
protagonist, scope, and sense of fun, this title will draw girls
and boys back to it again and again.
—Booklist (starred review)
There is much to pore over in the watercolor and pen-and-ink
illustrations, and when the boy and girl ride off together at the
end on a tandem bicycle with one red wheel and one purple wheel,
readers will want to follow them.
—The Horn Book
This is a wordless picture book that will be transcendent for
readers and appeal to a wide variety of children. ... This is a
beautiful tale that will visually delight for years to come.
—Library Media Connection (highly recommended)
We live in a time with a lot of flash and beep and tweets. Mr.
Becker has made a beautiful reminder that there are times we need
to turn it off. Sometimes we need a book, some quiet, and our
imagination. It's so well done.
—Erin Stead, 2011 Caldecott Medal Winner for A Sick Day for Amos
McGee
I fell into this breathtaking adventure and didn't want to leave.
This is a book of extraordinary magic and beauty.
—Julie “Jules” Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before
Breakfast
[A] gorgeously illustrated, imaginative take on the wordless
picture book... It’s a true feast for both the mind and eye!
—Favorite Things (FamilyFun blog)
Dreamlike... Like Harold and his purple crayon before her, the
child discovers that she can use a crayon to make an imaginative
escape — and what an escape it is! ... Dazzling.
—The Wall Street Journal
[A] wordless tour de force... Completely original. ... Becker's
breathtaking urban and bucolic scenes map out a visual narrative
that reflects the girl's journey—both external and internal. ...
Here's hoping there's more to come from this talented newcomer.
—Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)
Talk about making your own adventure! ... [E]xtraordinary kindness
and a couple of crayons produce an ending so original and
satisfying you can’t but shake your head and smile. This gorgeous,
wordless book is a gem.
—Redbook
[A]n absolutely magical tale... Becker's picture book is one of the
finest get-lost-in-your-own-imagination tales of loneliness,
escape, adventure, and, ultimately, new friendship that I've read
in quite some time.
—USA Today Online
Becker launches readers into a wordless adventure amid exotic lands
and narrow escapes—thanks to the bright red marker-wielding
heroine. Think Crockett Johnston’s ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’
crossed with Neil Gaiman’s ‘Stardust.’ A lonely girl steps from her
black-and-white world into a vast, colorful journey. Some stories,
including this one, don’t need words to fire the imagination.
—The Boston Globe
With its fine attention to detail and jaw-dropping storyline,
Becker has created a modern day classic in the midst of an
overpopulated genre. ... I don’t get to use this word very often
when I’m talking about books for young children but I’m going to
dust it off and use it now: Beautiful. There’s no other way to
describe Journey.
—Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ Blog)
This absolutely gorgeous wordless picture book is a testament to
the skill of author/illustrator Aaron Becker. As Journey ends,
you'll want to immediately return to the beginning to experience it
again.
—NPR Books
A lonely girl takes her red crayon, draws a door on her bedroom
wall and walks into a world of steampunk flying machines and
turreted canal cities. She navigates this fantasy realm via boat,
balloon and flying carpet, all drawn with her crayon. Journey is a
clear nod to Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon, but
this version doesn't have words; instead Aaron Becker tells his
story through meticulous watercolor and pen-and-ink
illustrations.
—NPR Monkey See
Becker's wordless masterpiece is both timely and timeless, drawing
inspiration from the classic "Harold and the Purple Crayon" to draw
the reader into an entirely new and beautifully-rendered world.
—The Huffington Post
Worldless picture books are nothing new, but it takes a special
touch to create one that appeals to both pre-readers (have them
"narrate" their own story to you as you leaf through) and older
students who can appreciate the layers of silent storytelling.
'Journey' accomplishes this feat and just might be the perfect
title for one last summer roadtrip ... Film illustrator Aaron
Becker's creation is at once simple and nuanced, a beautifully
tactile version of the best Pixar shorts.
—Austin-American Statesman
With this wordless tour de force, Aaron Becker gives a nod to the
likes of Crockett Johnson and Shaun Tan—but in a completely
original work. … Becker's breathtaking urban and bucolic scenes map
out a visual narrative that reflects the girl's journey—both
external and internal. By the conclusion, readers see that all she
needs is a likeminded friend. Here's hoping there's more to come
from this talented newcomer.
—Twenty by Jenny
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