Alice Hoffman reveals the magic in everyday life in her first book for children. Bumbling Jackie Healy becomes an unexpected hero when the fireflies fail to show up on the first of May and his town is frozen in endless winter. Age 5-8.
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From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3?Every first of May, a magical cloud of fireflies from over the Yellow Mountains appears at a riverside village and, melting the deep winter snows, brings spring to the valley. One year, the fireflies do not come, and winter remains. Young Jackie, inept and clumsy, always trying hard but never succeeding, runs away to the mountains after an episode of fierce teasing. Due to a lucky series of incidents caused by his very maladroitness, he acquires a wolf pup for a pet and frees the trapped fireflies, following their glow home to a joyous reunion with parents and neighbors. McLoughlin's acrylic paintings keep perfect step with Hoffman's lyrical text. This allegorical tale, loaded with messages, will be a nice addition to use with physically and learning-disabled children, but even they may wonder how the cold light of a firefly could melt a winter's snow, or how a strawberry plant, buried in drifts, could grow, blossom, be fertilized, and bear fruit without seeing a spark of sunlight.?Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
As in Hoffman's novels for adults (Here on Earth, p. 824, etc.), this picture book takes place where the ordinary and the extraordinary intersect--a pseudo-fairytale in which the town bumpkin makes good. The fireflies return annually, bringing spring with them, but this year, they don't show up; winter lingers and no one knows why. In the meantime, Jackie Healy falls, breaks things, trips, and believes that his parents would prefer ``the sort of boy who could skate in a perfect circle and climb trees without falling and pitch a ball without breaking windows.'' In shame, he leaves his village, becoming lost in the Yellow Mountains. His clumsiness results in unwitting, but effective, acts of heroism, for he releases the fireflies and brings back spring. McLoughlin illuminates the pages with sparkling stars, blinking fireflies, and glowing globes of lantern light against blue, snowy nights and black sky borders, printed on glossy stock. The message isn't very subtle, the telling is long and windy, but there are those who will find comfort in these pages. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Busy Mom
Format:Hardcover
This is a sweet book with a lovely moral tale to it. It is also beautifully illustrated by Wayne McLoughlin ~~ perfect short story to share with all kids ~~ old and young.
Jackie is so clumsy that he trips over his feet all the time. He doesn't mean to but he just does. No matter what he does, he falls or disturbs something. One year, the fireflies that always bring spring never came. People started losing hope that summer would never come again. Jack gets teased by some kids in town when he kept falling on the ice while ice-skating. So he runs away. And that is the beginning of a lovely story.
This story brings to the point of how sometimes when you're the most clumsiest, that is when you are full of life and grace. It doesn't matter who you are ~~ and no matter how clumsy you are, there will always be someone who loves you. This story illustrates that.
It is a lovely story ~~ perfect to give to the one you love and to your children to share over and over. It'd make a wonderful Christmas present...
By JJ
Format:Hardcover
This has become one of my favorite children's stories of all time. The story of a boy who can't seem to do anything right but in the end saves the town - by accident. And also of a town that learns not to judge people, but rather to accept them for who they are. I have read this to many children in the grade school I work at and they all love it. In their own way, each of them can feel what it is like to walk in Jackie's shoes. The illustrations are wonderful too.
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Our son (who is 9) really enjoyed this story of a 9 year old boy who discovers firelies. It is a quick read, and the illustrations are lovely.
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