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Night Sky Wheel Ride
Poet Sheree Fitch and artist Yayo take readers young and old on a spectacular ride through the imagination. We fly past illustrations displaying a kalaidoscope of colors. Magical, fun fair creatures appear and disappear in a jungle of cotton-candy trees.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Sheree Fitch
44 books81 followersFrom the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia:
"Sheree Fitch is an educator, literacy activist and author of award winning poetry, picture books, nonfiction, plays and novels for all ages. Her first book, Toes in My Nose, illustrated by Molly Lamb Bobak, was launched in 1987. The books that followed have garnered numerous awards, including The Mr. Christie Award for There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, The Anne Connor Brimer Award for Mable Murple. If You Could Wear my Sneakers, a book on Children's Rights commissioned by Unicef won both the Ontario Silver Birch Award and Atlantic Hackmatack award.
In 1998 she won the prestigious Vicky Metcalf award for a body of work inspirational to Canadian Children. She has been goodwill ambassador for Unicef since 1994 and her lipslippery adventures have taken her to remote parts of the globe.
Her work as a poet and literacy educator has taken her to the Arctic as eight-time poet laureate for Peter Gzowski's fundraisers for literacy and to Bhutan where she taught writing and participated in that country's first national reading week. Author readings have taken her to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Belize and Mexico.
Currently, she is Honorary Spokesperson for the New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy. The coalition recently initiated the Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarships. She is also Honorary Spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Read to Me Program. This program provides literacy information to new parents and books for newborns. Each year she sponsors a writing competition for New Brunswick Youth. Her latest venture in literacy education includes completing a three year (summer ) writer in residency for Somebody's Daughter --- out on the tundra in Nunavut. This is an innovative program for Inuit women started by Bernadette Dean, Sheree's friend and former student from a writing workshop Ftich held during one of her soujourns to the north.
In the fall 2004, Gooselane Editions released an expanded anniversary edition of her adult book of poetry In This House Are Many Women and Orca published Pocket Rocks, illustrated by Helen Flook.
In May 2005, Fitch's first novel (ages ten and up), The Gravesavers, was published by Doubleday Canada Random House. A coming of age story blended with a historical event—the wreck of S.S. Atlantic in 1873—Fitch considers the novel "a kind of love letter" to her Maritime home and a celebration of her roots. Upcoming books include If I Had A Million Onions, a collection of nonsense for all ages and Peek a Little Boo, a book for babies.
Fitch lives with her husband, Gilles Plante and divides her time between Washington D.C. and River John, Nova Scotia. In demand as a visiting author, workshop leader and keynote speaker, she is currently working on an adult novel. She holds a B.A. from St. Thomas, an M.A. from Acadia University and honorary doctorates from both St. Mary's and Acadia for her contribution to Canadian literature and education. She has two grown children."
"Sheree Fitch is an educator, literacy activist and author of award winning poetry, picture books, nonfiction, plays and novels for all ages. Her first book, Toes in My Nose, illustrated by Molly Lamb Bobak, was launched in 1987. The books that followed have garnered numerous awards, including The Mr. Christie Award for There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, The Anne Connor Brimer Award for Mable Murple. If You Could Wear my Sneakers, a book on Children's Rights commissioned by Unicef won both the Ontario Silver Birch Award and Atlantic Hackmatack award.
In 1998 she won the prestigious Vicky Metcalf award for a body of work inspirational to Canadian Children. She has been goodwill ambassador for Unicef since 1994 and her lipslippery adventures have taken her to remote parts of the globe.
Her work as a poet and literacy educator has taken her to the Arctic as eight-time poet laureate for Peter Gzowski's fundraisers for literacy and to Bhutan where she taught writing and participated in that country's first national reading week. Author readings have taken her to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Belize and Mexico.
Currently, she is Honorary Spokesperson for the New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy. The coalition recently initiated the Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarships. She is also Honorary Spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Read to Me Program. This program provides literacy information to new parents and books for newborns. Each year she sponsors a writing competition for New Brunswick Youth. Her latest venture in literacy education includes completing a three year (summer ) writer in residency for Somebody's Daughter --- out on the tundra in Nunavut. This is an innovative program for Inuit women started by Bernadette Dean, Sheree's friend and former student from a writing workshop Ftich held during one of her soujourns to the north.
In the fall 2004, Gooselane Editions released an expanded anniversary edition of her adult book of poetry In This House Are Many Women and Orca published Pocket Rocks, illustrated by Helen Flook.
In May 2005, Fitch's first novel (ages ten and up), The Gravesavers, was published by Doubleday Canada Random House. A coming of age story blended with a historical event—the wreck of S.S. Atlantic in 1873—Fitch considers the novel "a kind of love letter" to her Maritime home and a celebration of her roots. Upcoming books include If I Had A Million Onions, a collection of nonsense for all ages and Peek a Little Boo, a book for babies.
Fitch lives with her husband, Gilles Plante and divides her time between Washington D.C. and River John, Nova Scotia. In demand as a visiting author, workshop leader and keynote speaker, she is currently working on an adult novel. She holds a B.A. from St. Thomas, an M.A. from Acadia University and honorary doctorates from both St. Mary's and Acadia for her contribution to Canadian literature and education. She has two grown children."
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 22, 2021
I honestly didn't like this one much the first time around, but the second read was fun. The text is punchy, and does indeed capture the excitement of experiencing a thrill ride for the first time. Yayo's colorful, brilliant artwork is equally rousing.
June 30, 2013
Full review at http://www.perogiesandgyoza.com/2013/...
Fitch's poetry is evocative and appropriately challenging for the new reader. The beautiful arrangement of the text gives us an extra layer of imagery as shapes are built into her sentences.
This is an amazing and imaginative read that is perfect for a sultry summer good night read.
Fitch's poetry is evocative and appropriately challenging for the new reader. The beautiful arrangement of the text gives us an extra layer of imagery as shapes are built into her sentences.
This is an amazing and imaginative read that is perfect for a sultry summer good night read.
March 28, 2018
Copyright:2012
Number of Pages:unknown
Format:hardcover
Reading Level: grades k-2
Genre:poetry
Lit requirement: single illustration poem
Summary:
This poem is about a ride at a fair that the children want to get on. They are finally big enough to go on the ride and brave enough to attempt it. The describe what they felt and used imagery to do it. They felt like they were flying with how fast it went. The children would be able to connect with the poem because all children have felt that way before getting on a ride and because children love fair rides. It was created by a Canadian author.
Response:
I liked it a bit because of how they set up the poem but I was not a fan of what the contents of the poem was about. The photos were also simple and painted. It would be a good book to teach about poetry and how one poem can make a book. I would recommend this book as it would appeal to children.
Number of Pages:unknown
Format:hardcover
Reading Level: grades k-2
Genre:poetry
Lit requirement: single illustration poem
Summary:
This poem is about a ride at a fair that the children want to get on. They are finally big enough to go on the ride and brave enough to attempt it. The describe what they felt and used imagery to do it. They felt like they were flying with how fast it went. The children would be able to connect with the poem because all children have felt that way before getting on a ride and because children love fair rides. It was created by a Canadian author.
Response:
I liked it a bit because of how they set up the poem but I was not a fan of what the contents of the poem was about. The photos were also simple and painted. It would be a good book to teach about poetry and how one poem can make a book. I would recommend this book as it would appeal to children.
November 22, 2019
A joyful book celebrates both literal and imaginative adventure in the fairground of two kids. ⠀
Sheree Fitch's word-play capture the emotions of her characters playfully ("Hop up to knee knock rockety rock swiggle sway creak squeak rickety ratcheting up! up! up!" or ""Back and forth we swingsway / this-a-way wish away / sleepy-eyed night sky rock-a-bye", “Nighttime falls on the fairgrounds/ Dark’s glitter sparks a dare”). ⠀
Yayo's work is a really good fit with his humorous way to illustrate the book and his vibrant, high saturated colours brighten up the night adventure (I bursted into laughters when seeing a Ferris wheel shown with a giant pig at its center!). ⠀
I could feel the love between the siblings when the little girl told her brother to look at the stars so that he would not be scared to be up so high during the ride, that just melted my heart!
Sheree Fitch's word-play capture the emotions of her characters playfully ("Hop up to knee knock rockety rock swiggle sway creak squeak rickety ratcheting up! up! up!" or ""Back and forth we swingsway / this-a-way wish away / sleepy-eyed night sky rock-a-bye", “Nighttime falls on the fairgrounds/ Dark’s glitter sparks a dare”). ⠀
Yayo's work is a really good fit with his humorous way to illustrate the book and his vibrant, high saturated colours brighten up the night adventure (I bursted into laughters when seeing a Ferris wheel shown with a giant pig at its center!). ⠀
I could feel the love between the siblings when the little girl told her brother to look at the stars so that he would not be scared to be up so high during the ride, that just melted my heart!
November 17, 2023
Some children are finally big enough and brave enough to go on a Ferris wheel. This one was a little out there for me. Like the words and pictures were so odd that even though I knew I was reading a book about children going in a Ferris wheel, I wasn't completely sure that was what was happening in the story.
August 8, 2021
Story is too abstract for some children (and adults) to follow or find engaging. The illustrations are bright and eye catching but actually made it more confusing for the child to follow and lost interest.
October 14, 2017
Poetic description of a ride on a Ferris wheel.
April 24, 2015
This book is about a family that goes to the fair. The narrator of the book is worrying about whether or not she will be tall enough to ride the ferris wheel this year because all of the previous years she has always been too small. She asks their mother and brother if she will be big enough this year but they do not find whether or not she will be big enough until they get to the fair, and she is! She is beyond excited, because it is her first year ever to ride the ferris wheel. She describes it as riding in the sky, seeing the stars, and then going over the ocean. She loves the ferris wheel and is overjoyed with happiness she was able to ride it. The book provides great rhymes and describing words of exactly how it feels to ride a ferris wheel for the first time. This would be a great read aloud book when the fair comes to town in the town you live in. The book would get students excited about the weekend with their families.
July 5, 2013
The rhyming lines in this poetic story celebrate the moment when two children are finally big enough to ride the Ferris wheel. Some of the language captures perfectly just how it feels to move on that wheel: "Back and forth we swingsway / this-a-way wish away / sleepy-eyed night sky rock-a-bye" (unpaged) and how the experience stays with its riders who are "fizzy with the dizzy reeling / fuzzy with the Ferris wheel feeling" (unpaged). The vibrant illustrations are filled with imaginative scenes that almost seem stolen from the creative minds of the young riders.
January 22, 2014
I could tell right away that the author was a poet. I like the idea of picture books that combine poetry and visual art. Light bulb going off in my head! Thank you, Sheree Fitch and Yayo. I loved how the illustrations augmented the meaning of the words. For example, the words "Mama, we flew" are illustrated by colorful tropical birds perched on the ferris wheel, and the words "down down down to earth" are illustrated by apples falling from an apple tree. But the whole time, the story is about kids on a ferris wheel.
August 7, 2013
An evening at the fair takes on a rather dreamlike quality, from the unusual animals of a carousel (?) to the larger-than-life colorful balls of cotton candy. Described with poetic language: "a sugar cloud's spun/melts sticky quick/on the tips of our tongues", the book captures that magical thrill of going to a fair at night -- with much of it devoted to the Ferris Wheel.
Author Sheree Fitch is a Canadian poet and Yayo is originally from Columbia, but now lives in Montreal.
Author Sheree Fitch is a Canadian poet and Yayo is originally from Columbia, but now lives in Montreal.
December 16, 2013
Story: 2 stars - just okay
Illustrations: 3.5 stars - good
Overall: 3 stars - above average
I liked this book: I enjoyed the illustrations more than the text of the story, though. The rhyming of the latter seemed inconsistent. The illustrations, on the other hand, were very imaginative and creatively drawn.
Illustrations: 3.5 stars - good
Overall: 3 stars - above average
I liked this book: I enjoyed the illustrations more than the text of the story, though. The rhyming of the latter seemed inconsistent. The illustrations, on the other hand, were very imaginative and creatively drawn.
June 22, 2013
This imaginative story about a ride on a ferris wheel is filled with whimsical drawings. Children will delight in seeing the ferris wheel depicted as a washing machine, paddle wheel, and apple tree as they get "ready to fly." Reviewer 11.
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July 15, 2013This imaginative story about a ride on a ferris wheel is filled with whimsical drawings. Children will delight in seeing the ferris wheel depicted as a washing machine, paddle wheel, and apple tree as they get "ready to fly."
July 23, 2013
In poetic text, the author/illustrator capture the sights, sounds, and feel of that first magical ride on a ferris wheel.
I loved the creativity of the artwork; it manages to combine child-like rendering with sophisticated, developed style. This is a great read aloud for PreK-2.
I loved the creativity of the artwork; it manages to combine child-like rendering with sophisticated, developed style. This is a great read aloud for PreK-2.
September 4, 2013
Beautiful and whimsical illustrations detail a trip to the fair where the main attraction is riding the giant Ferris Wheel. Fun and engaging language reminds readers of the different feelings and emotions while riding the Ferris Wheel at a carnival.
June 1, 2019
A whimsical style picture book . which is not my favorite. The brother and sister enjoy their ferris wheel ride and all the things they see while flying. A nice dreamy sort of book, but not one for my repeat list.
April 17, 2013
This didn't flow very well as a read aloud and the illustrations didn't hold either of the children's interest at all.
January 3, 2016
A psychedelic ride on a Ferris wheel during a night at the fair. More art concept than story book. I know some people will love it, but it is not my thing.
June 26, 2013
This was an awkward read. The illustrations look like what would come out of my stomach after going on a Ferris wheel. I was slightly nauseous and dizzy after reading this one.
July 19, 2013
Not a huge fan of Yayo, apparently.
August 11, 2013
Ages 3 and up
A little boy and girl go on the Ferris wheel for the first time. Odd illustrations and a somewhat confusing story.
I wouldn't recommend this book for a story time.
A little boy and girl go on the Ferris wheel for the first time. Odd illustrations and a somewhat confusing story.
I wouldn't recommend this book for a story time.
September 22, 2013
The first time I read this, it was a train wreck. But Pete really liked it so we kept reading it. And once I had the rhythm I loved it. Dan still doesn't like it. Pete loves it even more.
October 9, 2013
I really, really liked these illustrations but the text is quite wordy/tongue-tied. I think this would have been a beautiful wordless book.
November 7, 2013
Interesting illustrations. I wasn't impressed with the text.
March 7, 2023
Two pig farming children overdose on undisclosed drug and maybe die. Illustrations are great.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews