  | Tonbo Author: Say, Allen | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
As an old man takes a morning walk, he is startled by a paper airplane overhead. He follows it to a strangely familiar town. He meets a man who calls him "son" and high school boys who ask him to play catch. When he sees a glimpse of his reflection, he realizes a shocking fact: he is a young man. Could it be that he is getting younger and younger with each person he meets? As he searches for the plane, he is led deeper into his memories. Where will he find the plane? And what will he discover?
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/24)
Booklist (08/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 08/01/2024 Readers familiar with Say’s work will recognize the autobiographical flavor in this serene and beautiful book. It opens with an old man taking a walk when he comes across a toy airplane whirring by. It jogs a memory of his childhood toy, and he follows it, drifting through scenes from places in his past. As he encounters people, it occurs to him that he is getting younger and that these must be memories. Some encounters are unfamiliar, but others, such as an ice cream shop he frequented as a teen, are clear and sharp. He also recalls that his toy plane was named Tonbo, which means dragonfly in Japanese. The illustrations are rendered in oil, maintaining the crisp, light-filled quality that is Say’s iconic style. The dreamy nostalgia and absence of plot might not appeal to younger readers, but their adults will appreciate the quiet, slow-paced, reflective essence of this lovely memoiresque picture book. Creative teachers can use it as a mentor text for writing activities. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
