The Land of Neverbelieve - Hardcover

Messenger, Norman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763660213 ISBN 13: 9780763660215

Publisher: Candlewick, 2012

Synopsis

Somewhere in the middle of the sea (not always in the same place) lies the island of Neverbelieve, populated with unusual creatures and astonishing discoveries.

Explore the Land of Neverbelieve in these lush, vibrantly illustrated pages. Meet the island’s gentle, doll-like inhabitants. Discover its boggling collection of trees, such as the pasta tree, the rope tree, and the chocolate tree (taste the peppermint center if you have a chance). Be certain to visit Book Mountain, which whispers stories at bedtime. Observe the volcanic turtle and screaming night moth from afar. And beware the Spooky Dark Mountains, a horribly horrible area full of never-ending nastiness. Above all, don’t go swimming or sailing, lest the island get up and walk away. Investigating the Land of Neverbelieve is a fantastical adventure for imaginative young readers.

About this title

About the Author:

Norman Messenger is the author-illustrator of Imagine, among other books. A highly regarded illustrator, he is a founding member of the Association of Illustrators in Great Britain, where he lives.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4 Up-"You would never believe the wondrous delights of the calm and tranquil clearing: a surprising, cherished tree, and if you are lucky, delightful surreal visitors showing off their talents." The gnarled, leafless alphabet tree in "The Happy Forest Clearing" is among a multitude of fanciful plants and animals in this extravagant travelogue. Some are surreal, others murky or indistinct in crowded double-page entries describing the author's encounters on a strange, heavily populated island he found one day "while quietly puttering about at sea in my boat." Messenger's soft-hued drawings, dominated by gray greens and tans, depict an island laid out in the profile of a wolf. Many views are extended in narrow foldout panels on one side or the other. The entries form a catalogue of the physical features, habitations, and flora and fauna of the island in dry, terse commentary-probably intended as tongue-in-cheek-set in brief introductions and captions for the numerous pictures. "You would never believe" the pasta tree that delivers spaghetti clusters with an "herb-like leaf, which tastes uncannily like basil." Some references are more likely to be understood by adults, and some of the jokes are pretty flat, but there are amusing incongruities lurking here as well. This is a browsing item for the oversize shelves; it could also be useful in prompting children to develop their own imaginary lands.-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Bostonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0763660213
• ISBN 13: 9780763660215
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Messenger Norman