The Beginner's Guide to Running Away from Home

PreS-Gr 3—In this quirky story, a boy feels unappreciated by his family. Everyone is "going gaga" over his baby sister. His big brother "gets to stay up a whole hour later," and his mother tosses out his entire collection of candy wrappers. In a wry narrative voice, the child offers advice on the delicate art of running away from home. He suggests bringing gum ("That way you don't need to pack a toothbrush") and a favorite stuffed animal ("That will show your parents you mean business"). After leaving a note (taped to his baby sister) and making a dramatic exit, the youngster doesn't go far before he has second thoughts and runs home to the waiting arms of his mother. The outstanding illustrations feature intricate hand-built, three-dimensional sets and charismatic characters fashioned out of polymer clay. Funny details abound in the detailed pages, such as the boy's red wagon piled sky high with comics, snacks, and a box of rocks. This imaginative and subversive flight of fantasy is not to be missed.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada