"Jack looked anxiously toward the front of the line
At first, he couldn't see what lay there, but their line
moved quickly and soon he realized that they were
heading toward a long row of desks at which Loss
Adjusters sat, among them a mousetrap, a cork-
screw, and a stapler. Beyond the desks were three
gigantic doors. The first was made of plain wood,
the kind you'd find on a barn or an outhouse. The
second was made of shining steel, the sort you'd
see on a safe or strong room. The last was made of
shining gold and it was beautifully engraved with
curling vines and flowers. Many of the Things in
the lines were pointing at this third door with longing
expressions."
Again, I'm late for sharing this inventive and captivating story with you ... a year late, I'm afraid. I do know that you can still get a copy for your family. It's a fine tale of magic that seems as if everything that happens in it is quite believable. It made me smile, worry, sigh, and rejoice.
It's Christmas Eve and Jack is frantic over the loss of his best friend, a toy pig called Dur Pig (DP). Losing DP is the result of a terrible accident. Jack is inconsolable; the adults in his life think that all he needs is a replacement to make everything better. The Christmas Pig is their choice. Jack hates CP. He is nothing like DP who was old, soft, faded and Jack's companion on many, many adventures. No toy can replace him.
Being Christmas Eve, there is a lot of magic in the air. CP uses that magic to come to life and offer a solution. They will rescue DP from The Land of Lost Things. Jack agrees wholeheartedly to follow CP to this place where things lost are kept until they are remembered or found again. It is some quest they set for themselves, requiring a descent into the magical land where lost things are sorted, into a variety of places depending on their status in the living world.
As they search, while also avoiding certain capture and death at the hands of the despicable and terrifying Loser, they meet many wonderful characters as they travel from one place to the next, always searching for Dur Pig. Not only real things are lost, but also hope, power, happiness, and optimism. We learn through this dramatic tale what might have happened to them.
Intrigued readers will tear through the story in hopes that Jack and CP will find DP in time for Jack to bring him home before Christmas Day dawns. Many twists and turns result as they move from one territory to the next. Many will feel on the edge of their seats. Will they find DP in time, and what will happen to CP if they do? Will Santa play a role? Jim Field's wonderful illustrations capture the quest for Jack and CP, along with a host of helpers, as they do their best to bring DP home.
No comments:
Post a Comment