Megalopolis and the Visitor from Outer Space

K-Gr 4—Rarely do books reach the height of Dieudonné's, which measures 10 feet long when fully extended. When a visitor from another galaxy comes to the magnificent Megalopolis, his arrival rouses the curiosity and delight of the city. A holiday is announced, a grand party arranged, and a parade, with the extraterrestrial at the lead, winds its way through the city while a band plays, fireworks explode, and games of hide-and-seek ensue. It's a joyous day, until the alien is "overpowered by a praline" and assumed dead by the citizens of Megalopolis. He isn't, of course, and an encounter with a mermaid, a marriage at the registry office, and a honeymoon under the sea bring readers to the cheery finale. Don't even attempt to read this book in a chair. Set it on the floor and watch as the story reveals itself in a vertical fashion. The matte art is fabulous, with each detailed, colorful scene unfolding along with the text. Kids will want to pore over the pictures, which feature layers of staircases and bridges, winding roads and rivers, and city streets and ocean depths. While the format may be tricky for children to handle, the story and the art are guaranteed to charm them.