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kathydavie's review
5.0
A standalone (so far) children’s picture book taking a realistic approach, lol, to an angry young man.
My Take
I love it!! It’s third-person point-of-view, as Cadow portrays Mom with that understanding helpfulness while Castillo’s blend of colored pencils and charcoal are gloriously clean with color judiciously applied to the important subjects of that page spread.
I love it. I know, I know, I said that already, but really, I love it. Alfie is so standoffish about his mom’s helpfulness, and I did adore that hug. The overpacking was quite practical as well, lol.
It’s a case of allowing your child to assert his (or her) independence and come to the right conclusions in their own time…without being badgered about it. In fact, I suspect this might be a better story for Mom and Dad to take a lesson from, even though it would be fun for everyone. Think of all the speculating y’all could do about what you’d put in that bag!
The Story
Enough is enough. They’re his favorite shoes, and there is no way that Alfie is gonna let Mom throw them away.
He’ll show her…and save his shoes!
The Characters
Alfie is quite decided about what he’ll take. Buddy Bear wants to go too. Mom is perfect.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white wall with a pencil textured floor over a pale gray. A baseboard has been lined in with the same thickness of charcoal used to outline that runaway bag with Buddy Bear in suspenders popping out of it. Young Alfie, in an olive green-on-fern green horizontal-striped T-shirt over black cuffed pants, white socks, and red slip-ons, has the straps of the bag hooked over his shoulders and a determined look and step as he strides off to the right. The title uses the same red to outline the teddy-bear brown fill for the letters. These colors are repeated in the author’s and illustrator’s names just below the title. Nice, clean, and direct.
The title is the whole point when Alfie Runs Away.
My Take
I love it!! It’s third-person point-of-view, as Cadow portrays Mom with that understanding helpfulness while Castillo’s blend of colored pencils and charcoal are gloriously clean with color judiciously applied to the important subjects of that page spread.
I love it. I know, I know, I said that already, but really, I love it. Alfie is so standoffish about his mom’s helpfulness, and I did adore that hug. The overpacking was quite practical as well, lol.
It’s a case of allowing your child to assert his (or her) independence and come to the right conclusions in their own time…without being badgered about it. In fact, I suspect this might be a better story for Mom and Dad to take a lesson from, even though it would be fun for everyone. Think of all the speculating y’all could do about what you’d put in that bag!
The Story
Enough is enough. They’re his favorite shoes, and there is no way that Alfie is gonna let Mom throw them away.
He’ll show her…and save his shoes!
The Characters
Alfie is quite decided about what he’ll take. Buddy Bear wants to go too. Mom is perfect.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white wall with a pencil textured floor over a pale gray. A baseboard has been lined in with the same thickness of charcoal used to outline that runaway bag with Buddy Bear in suspenders popping out of it. Young Alfie, in an olive green-on-fern green horizontal-striped T-shirt over black cuffed pants, white socks, and red slip-ons, has the straps of the bag hooked over his shoulders and a determined look and step as he strides off to the right. The title uses the same red to outline the teddy-bear brown fill for the letters. These colors are repeated in the author’s and illustrator’s names just below the title. Nice, clean, and direct.
The title is the whole point when Alfie Runs Away.
readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
Loved this sweet story about Alfie, who protests his mom wanting to give away his favorite, red shoes. He solves his problem by running away. Lucky for Alfie his mom helps him pack for his long trip! Illustrations by the talented Lauren Castillo, accompany this sweet story!
jessalynn_librarian's review
4.0
April 2017 - I love the way Alfie's mom helps him back, and the resolution is great.
tashrow's review
4.0
Alfie’s mother has gone too far! She wants to give away his favorite shoes and get him new ones. So Alfie decides to run away. As he packs his things, his mother makes helpful suggestions, like taking a water bottle, snacks and a flashlight. She gets him a bag to help carry his items, suggests he take his teddy bear and some books too. With all that to carry, Alfie can’t go far. But he does make it all the way deep into the backyard, still wearing his too-small beloved shoes. When he gets there, he has a drink, a snack, and takes his shoes off and puts his aching feet in the cool grass. When he takes them off, he puts them on his bear where they fit perfectly. Now the only thing missing was the hug he refused earlier. Luckily, his mother is headed out to see him with her arms open wide.
The tone in this book is spot on. Cadow both respects Alfie’s perspective on the situation and yet shows a loving, warm mother who allows Alfie to learn his own lessons. There are lovely moments in the book where Alfie’s mother gently suggests he not wear those shoes and when she offers to put his rejected hug in his bag to carry along with him. Cadow manages to show Alfie’s frustration and his mothers calmness side by side without either overshadowing the other.
Castillo’s illustrations feature the shoes in bright red as a focal point. She too balances the relationship of mother and son visually. Her illustrations have soft edges and feel cozy and warm. They ensure that children will not be alarmed at this boy running away. Alfie’s facial expressions really project his moods clearly, moving from his initial anger to contentment at the end.
I packed my bags and ran away as a little girl. All the way down the driveway and over to a bush in the neighbors yard. I had no idea my mother could still see me out the window. I was sure I had gone far, far away. This book captures the situation with simplicity and honesty. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
The tone in this book is spot on. Cadow both respects Alfie’s perspective on the situation and yet shows a loving, warm mother who allows Alfie to learn his own lessons. There are lovely moments in the book where Alfie’s mother gently suggests he not wear those shoes and when she offers to put his rejected hug in his bag to carry along with him. Cadow manages to show Alfie’s frustration and his mothers calmness side by side without either overshadowing the other.
Castillo’s illustrations feature the shoes in bright red as a focal point. She too balances the relationship of mother and son visually. Her illustrations have soft edges and feel cozy and warm. They ensure that children will not be alarmed at this boy running away. Alfie’s facial expressions really project his moods clearly, moving from his initial anger to contentment at the end.
I packed my bags and ran away as a little girl. All the way down the driveway and over to a bush in the neighbors yard. I had no idea my mother could still see me out the window. I was sure I had gone far, far away. This book captures the situation with simplicity and honesty. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
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