And Away We Go!

by Migy

Mr. Fox is going to the moon! Away he goes in his hot air balloon. . . . But wait! Can Elephant come too? Sure! Let's bring along some pizza. What about Giraffe? And Squirrel?
Everyone is welcome in Mr. Fox's balloon, but look out―will everyone fit?
In the tradition of classic cumulative tales like Mr. Gumpy's Outing , Migy's And Away We Go! is an unforgettable debut picture book from an exciting new talent.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Adventure, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2014

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Mr. Fox's balloon is delivered, our vulpine hero hops in and away he goes in this beautifully-illustrated progression tale. As one after another of his animal friends asks to go along for the ride, each bringing something, from food to music with them, it turns into an aerial party. But when bird lands on the balloon basket, it's one party-goer too many, sending everything falling earthward. Fortunately, fox is more concerned about partying with his friends, than reaching the moon...

English-born illustrator Migy - real name: Miguel Ornia-Blanco - makes his debut as a picture-book author with And Away We Go!, which has an appealing and familiar story structure, in which a progression of things or people is added (sometimes to a bed, to a balloon here) until no more can fit. Although somewhat predictable, the story is engaging, and is ably complemented by the gorgeous vintage-feeling artwork. I loved the darker background colors here, and the vivid palette overall. Migy's illustrations here have a cute, retro style that is very appealing. Recommended to anyone looking for fun, beautifully-illustrated picture-book romps.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A predictable ending but getting there is fun. Great retro illustrations.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kid and I love this book. It's got a great art style and a lot of different animal characters and opportunities to do voices. It's also got a good sense of dramatic tension (and, as my kid says a good "uh-oh page") and a lot of different things in it - pizza and milkshakes and dancing and music and hot air balloons and telescopes and the moon. Lots of stuff to point out. Great for toddlers cause it's not super wordy.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this somewhat silly story about too many animals in a single hot-air balloon to really be reasonably safe to go to the moon. :D Very cute, the illustrations were just perfect for the book. It's the sort of story you can use with your child to help them in learning how to predict what happens next. I like those kinds of questions as they lead so nicely into reading comprehension later in life.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Fox's hot air balloon has arrived and now he's off to the moon! Except Elephant wants to go too. And Giraffe. And Squirrel. And maybe a few other friends too. Will everyone fit in the balloon? Readers will have fun guessing who will want to join next (and what silly item they'll want to bring along!). Colorful, retro illustrations accompany the simple, repetitive text.

[Justin Bloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved this one. I really enjoyed doing a boisterous British voice for Mr. Fox.

[Amy Kneece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic colors! Wonderful illustrations. "Wait, Mr. Fox!"..."Can I come too?"

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the colorful but nostalgic illustrations. The story is cute.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Fox is planning his trip to the moon and it's finally time to go. The one thing he didn't count on, everyone else wanted to go. Luckily, Mr. Fox is much more generous than me, and told everyone to come along. Imagine a hot air balloon ride with giraffes, squirrels and elephants. And of course at the end, Mr. Fox learns it's about the journey, the company....and not really the destination.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

really cute book about inclusion and an adventure.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun for toddler story time.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox gets a hot air balloon and sets off for the moon. His friends want to come along and he always says yes! Kids enjoyed this book. The ending was both expected and unexpected.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I loved this picture book, and want to create a storytime just around it!

Popsugar: "Book with pictures"

[Homegrown Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't blame Bug for being obsessed with the moon or hot air balloons. They're both magical in their own way. The combination, along with Mr. Fox's happy go lucky attitude and Migy's amusing sort of illustrations, provides a great back drop for the entire tale, And Away We Go. Presented with a distinctly vintage feel, Migy creates a world that's not only fun but highly entertaining.

The premise for And Away We Go is not new. Mr. Fox has a hot air balloon and intends to go to the moon. However, on his way there his friends keep asking to join him and Mr. Fox keeps inviting them to jump in his basket. It doesn't take a lot of foresight to see what's going to happen here. Although, like any good reboot (film, book, or otherwise), Migy gives this his own twist. Because, no one I know has ever seen an elephant, a fox, a giraffe, mice, rabbits, squirrels, and a bird in a hot air balloon basket with the added danger of falling to earth. Mr. Fox doesn't seem to worries about it all and in the end when the ropes finally snap, literally, he's much more pleased to be among his friends. The repetitive lines of the book make it ideal for emerging readers. Easily introducing new vocab and allowing for that consistence, which can go so far to increase confidence. And while this is all so amazing, it's really the pictures that initially drew us to the great book.

The illustrations are striking. The vibrant colors of the characters and the city really pop, against the consistently dark background of the night. The moon, an ever present goal merely seems to hang out of reach the entire time. As I previously mentioned, Migy also brings a very retro feel to the entire piece not only through color choice and and design but also by hiding fun details into every page. He even includes a cameo of the painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, quietly disguised as a milkshake diner. The entire piece is full of whimsy, imagination, and a certain flare that make it really shine.

Bug's in love with this and spends a great deal of time pouring over the pictures, searching for the Rubik cube one of the rabbits carries or eyeing the pink milkshake, with ill-disguised hunger. I'm pleased, he enjoys it, almost as much as I am that he easily engages in improving his reading skills when we open it up.

Story Tips:

- Keep an eye on the fun store names and other great details like that rabbits and the balloon's ropes.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out more picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Mr. Fox has specially purchased a hot air balloon to go to the moon! Off he goes, but as he runs across his friends they excitedly ask to come along and they'll bring a treat too! Sure, says Mr. Fox as elephant, and their other friends pile on... Will they make it safely?

This book was a lot of fun! My nephew and I were attracted to the bright poppy colors and the retro nostalgic vibe of the drawings. It looked like one of the host of children's books I read when I was a kid... the story was very simple to follow and easy to read. Almost too simple. The story was silly and cute. While my nephew enjoyed the story, particularly the moment when the final friend became too much, the age level of the book didn't have any give in it. It didn't challenge him and the drawings weren't interesting enough to merit a re-read.

For the proper age child, especially those children on the cusp of reading or just starting to read by themselves, it is a fun story that draws you in. The repetition is perfect for these children because once you know the group of words used its just a matter of recognizing them.

BOTTOM LINE: Perfect fun to help beginner readers love to read.

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Kenzie Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wright-Book Reviews
Ornia, B. N. (2014). And Away We Go: New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Review 1
Wisman, K. (2014, November 1). [Review of the book And Away We Go, by M. Ornia-Blanco]. Booklist. 111(5). Retrieved from Novelist Plus database.

Weisman states that And Away We Go is appropriate for PreK- 2nd Grade. She says young listeners may not notice the prominent works of art but are sure to appreciate the book’s cumulative repetition, attention to detail, and over all joy. She says it’s a good choice for story times.

Review 2
Kruegger, A. H. (2014, August 1). [Review of the book And Away We Go, by M. Ornia-Blanco]. School Library Journal 60(8), 76. Retrieved from Novelist Plus database.

Krueger states that And Away We go is appropriate for grades Pre-K -2nd Grade. The illustrations have a fun, 1950’s vibe without seeming old fashioned. She says that this stylish, jazzy, and unique book is a great addition and would work well for storytime.

My Review
And Away We GO is an inviting book that would be great for listeners ranging from Preschool to 2nd Grade. Mr. Fox gets a hot air balloon and is planning on taking it to the moon. Every time he is a bout to take off, a new friend wants to join. Friends of all shapes and sizes come along and bring a little extra something to get the party going. They run into a bit of a hiccup when the final friend joins. The beautiful usage of colors and repetition of “and away we go” is sure to keep young listeners engaged.

[Kevin Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our 6 year old immediately dove into this book when we brought it home from the library and he loves it so much. The bright, vibrant, vintage-style illustrations are fabulous. Creating a unique, mesmerizing '40s or '50s view of NYC. Each animal is expertly detailed and you must watch each of their fun faces as the story progresses because their individual expressions show so much.

It's a share the love, be inclusive, bring everyone in on the fun type of story and at the end, we find that even when things don't work out, as long as you are with good friends, all will be well. The book is beautiful designed and the well-crafted words have just the right bit of structure and repetition to make it loads of fun to read aloud. Highly recommended for boys or girls, ages 6 and up. Especially perfect for all those little animal lovers out there!

If you want to take your appreciation for this book even further, you can do what we did and use a cardboard box, some yarn, and an over-sized old shirt stuffed with newspapers to make your OWN hot air balloon! Then float around the house and read the story while you pick up your own gang of stuffed animals to go for a ride. We've done this over and over again and it's been such a blast!

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Fox decides he wants to take a trip to the moon so he buys a hot air balloon. He takes off, but a friend sees him and wants to join the journey. Fox tells elephant to climb aboard and they begin again. This happens over and over with more friends until the balloon basket becomes too heavy and the cords snap. The balloon floats away to the moon and all the animals float safely to the earth where they have a party and decide to try again some other time.

The illustrations are vibrant with vintage coloring. There is lots to see on each page. The whole book has a vintage feel to it.

This story is very repetitive, but I did not feel bogged down by this. Each new addition to the balloon was fun and interesting. The animals falling safely was unrealistic, but the author did a good job through illustration showing how this could be possible. Because there is so much to see on each page, children will not quickly become bored with the book since there will be something new to see each time. Advertised for ages 2-6.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute and colorful book! Mr. Fox receives a hot air balloon in the mail. His goal is to fly to the moon, but before he gets very far his friends ask to join, one by one, until the balloon can no longer hold them all and they come tumbling down from the sky.

It has a great message about friendship and I was surprised how welcoming Mr. Fox was. He never got annoyed or frustrated that his original plan to fly to the moon was overtaken by friends. In fact, he says, "It's much more fun to be here with friends." The story is incredibly simple as well as repetitive, which is good for young kids, but slightly tiring for adults. The illustrations are so colorful! Bright cityscapes and shopfronts contrast a black night sky.

[Ro Menendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plans sometimes change, and for the characters in this book, who set out on a journey to visit the moon, this proves true. Fox is off to visit the moon in her balloon. Along the way she answers yes to all the friends who want to be part of her adventure who somehow add an element of fun to it; but there is only so much weight an inflatable balloon can carry…. Some of the characters feel disappointment but in the end the greatest adventures are those shared with friends. The cityscape illustrations will have any big city reader yearning to visit their hometown and younger readers may find similarities between the local stores and businesses they visit, and those portrayed throughout the book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the other animals spot Mr. Fox heading for the moon in his hot air balloon, they ask to go along. The generous animal is quite accommodating and says there's plenty of room for everyone. As they all climb aboard, they bring food, drinks, musical instruments. But all that weight becomes too much when Bird hops aboard, and the balloon's strings snap, sending the passengers back down to the ground. The ink and pain illustrations are bright and colorful, and will make readers smile as the balloon gets more and more crowded. Although it didn't particularly appeal to me, young readers will ask to have this one read aloud again and again.

[Romelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adventure in a hot air balloon that's a page-turner with each passenger that enters the balloon. The silliness adds to the fun. The predictable conclusion (what else would you expect with an elephant, rhino, giraffe, etc. in a small hot air balloon) will warm your heart. A very simple, linear plot with the refrain, "Away we go!" Lots of repeats, which make a great read-aloud for young children.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a predictable book for young children about several friends who want to go on a journey together but are prevented from doing so by their umbrella breaking under their weight. It has a lot of repetition and familiar creatures and helps promote the idea of prediction of future events in the story.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3 year old loved this story! I know when we read a story half a dozen times, it's worth a solid four stars. I think it would be a good read aloud for a flying or balloon themed story time. Especially if you can incorporate different voices for the animals. Then make a craft with a paper cupcake holder for the basket of the balloon - a few pieces of yarn and a cut out oval balloon shape.

[pati · Rating 1 out of 5]

And away I go! I was disappointed that Fox's adventure got sidetracked by so many animals and when the balloon snapped off and floated away I was shocked. I fully expected the balloon to sink to the ground since so many animals and their cargo were on board. Fox ends up saying he'll have to go to the moon another day -- how? -- his ballon has flown away!

[Ruth Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Fox orders a hot air balloon to take a trip to the moon. He welcomes many animal friends to join him as he begins to fly away. Then the unexpected happens but the optimistic Mr. Fox is not disappointed in the end. Retro style detailed illustrations are set against the cityscape the black night as the balloon rises. A fun read aloud!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Fox sets off for the moon in his balloon, and at every turn he welcomes friends and the things they bring. Storytime attendees will love helping with the repetitive line "And away we go!", and they will have no problem with the ending, "Away it goes!"

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delist fully illustrated tale of a fox who gladly shares his balloon with other animals as he attempts to fly to the moon. Young children will love shouting out "And away we go!" after each new animal joins Mr. Fox. Also good for making predictions and talking about theme.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quintessential children's picture book. I love that the illustrations feel both retro and modern at the same time.

[Ampersand Inc. · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Ali:
***

From Saffron:
****