Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Starred Review Life on Sebastian's street is so monotonous that the young boy assembles a large balloon, stocks it with "all the things he would ever need," and flies away, accompanied by a small, red bird. Along his travels, he meets a bear and a lanky stork-like bird with whom he shares pickle sandwiches, thus cementing their friendship. After the balloon is accidentally punctured, Sebastian and his companions encounter three creative women who assist in getting the balloon aloft again and lead the way to more adventure. Sebastian is a young child who takes charge of his world: navigating a balloon, accumulating a friendly though unconventional crew, taking an all-day roller-coaster ride. Quiet humor permeates the pictures and text: Sebastian is shown choosing items for his trip from a wide array of belongings, including a potted flower, a grandfather clock, and a boat. Illustrations created with oils, pastels, and pressed charcoal, mainly in intense red, blue, gold and brown, are imbued with texture and varying perspectives, making them a joy to peruse. Sebastian's story doesn't end here but is merely the first leg in a journey toward all the possibilities his future holds. A sweet and quirky flight of fancy.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

K-Gr 2 Sebastian sits on the roof of his house. "There is nothing to see on my street, he thought. Nothing to see at all." Readers see a close-up of the glum boy and the top of the roof; his world indeed looks small and boring. On the page turn, he decides, "Tonight I'll leave and see something new for a change." Now Sebastian stands on the roof silhouetted by a giant moon, and the whole neighborhood is revealed. Although the houses are uniform and unexciting, the world seems large and full of possibilities. Accompanied by a little bird, Sebastian sets off in a balloon built from afghans and quilts. He and his companion share pickle sandwiches with a bear, crash into a tall bird that pops their balloon, and land on the house of a trio of elderly knitters who repair the vehicle. When the wind picks up, they all fly off together to find "The most perfect roller-coaster you will ever see." They fix the broken-down coaster and spend the day enjoying their handiwork, "Until the wind picked up and it was time to go." Readers who don't mind a slightly open-ended narrative will adore this dreamy, experiential story for its quirky charms. Stead's trademarks are present in this volume: pithy, talking animals, quixotic travel, and a matter-of-fact sensibility offsetting fantastic events. Marvelous artwork guarantees that his fans won't be disappointed. Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Sebastian sets out in a hot-air balloon made of a box, strings, and "Grandma's afghans and patchwork quilts" to see something new. Encounters with "a real bear" and "a very tall bird" culminate in a mission to repair a derelict roller coaster. Stead's pictures revel in the rich colors and textures of pastels, oils, and charcoal. The illustrations match the text's nostalgic feel.