Viva, Frank. (2013). A Long Way Away. New York: Hachette Book Group.2014 Children's ChoiceChoice BookThis is a fun two way book. If you read the book front to back its about going from outer space to the ocean floor, and if read from back to front its going from the ocean floor to outer space. The illustrations are fun and interesting to look at for children. The story itself doesn't make too much sense and the only way I could see it really being used in the classroom is to learn about what is in space or in the ocean. A Long Way Away is an interactive picture book is captivating and creative. The book can be read two ways. One way the main character travels from the deep sea to home in outer space. If you read it the other way he goes from home to the deep sea. There are simply words, no real sentences. Without the words you may make up a story but the words are for support. With no real sentences the words are hard to ignore when looking at the illustrations. For a young reader it shows opposite: above verse below. The illustrations simple and give realistic and futuristic objects for readers to speculate and have their own imagination flourish. I would have students attempt to write and illustrate similar stories. Personally I did not care for the book, but the creativity is great! For lesson it would be for fourth grade, however it could be read by younger or older students.
Liked the concept (a two way story). The execution didn't work for me I have to admit.
—alexm789
I didn't think the story had a whole lot of flow or sense in either direction.
—Roro
Neat idea for a children's book and I did like the illustrations.
—achaba
I tried it both ways, but I don't think I get it.
—stefaniejackson
"I liked when he was flying everywhere."
—bev
