The Antlered Ship
By:
Illustrator: Terry Fan
An inquisitive fox sets off on a seafaring voyage with a crew of deer and pigeons in this enchanting tale of friendship and adventure. Full-color illustrations were rendered in graphite and ballpoint pen, then colored digitally.
ISBN: 9781481451604
JLG Release: Nov 2017
Sensitive Areas:
No sensitive areas
Topics:
Friendship
, Ocean travel
, Foxes
, Deer
, Pigeons
, Sea stories
Awards & Honors
Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Ages 6–8
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Picture Books
Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Picture Books
Fall 2017 Parents’ Choice Award, Picture Books Silver
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Booklist*, The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews*, Publishers Weekly*, School Library Journal
School Library Journal
A fox sets sail in search of answers to questions about life, the universe, and everything in this picture book fantasy. Marco the fox wonders about many things, but the other foxes are more concerned with chicken soup than with philosophy. When an antlered ship appears, captained by deer traveling to an island of “tall, sweet grass and short A fox sets sail in search of answers to questions about life, the universe, and everything in this picture book fantasy. Marco the fox wonders about many things, but the other foxes are more concerned with chicken soup than with philosophy. When an antlered ship appears, captained by deer traveling to an island of “tall, sweet grass and short, sweet trees,” Marco seizes the opportunity to seek out other foxes who may have answers. The crew sails across treacherous seas, triumphing over sharp rocks and fierce pirates before arriving safely at Sweet Tree Island. Alas, there are no foxes to be found, and Marco’s travels have only yielded more questions. Yet, he also has new friends and the chance for further adventures—perhaps that is enough. Slater’s adventure narrative is an epic journey with a classic feel, perfectly scaled for a picture-book audience. The straightforward text is lyrical, rhythmic, and begs to be read aloud. Graphite-and-pen illustrations by the Fan Brothers depict expressive, realistically drawn animals sporting the occasional hat or bandanna. As the distinctive prow of the antlered ship sails through ethereal seascapes, young audiences can follow its path through the detailed maps included on the endpapers. VERDICT Marco’s discovery that the world is full of questions, but not always answers, is at once profound and entirely accessible to young audiences. Make this gently thrilling celebration of life’s big questions a first-purchase.—Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN
Horn Book
A young fox’s inquisitiveness sets him apart from the other foxes. Marco’s questions
and observations are playful and wide-ranging, from “Why don’t trees
ever talk?” to “How deep does the sun go when it sinks into the sea?” When a
mysterious ship approaches on the horizon, Marco watches, his curiosity pique A young fox’s inquisitiveness sets him apart from the other foxes. Marco’s questions
and observations are playful and wide-ranging, from “Why don’t trees
ever talk?” to “How deep does the sun go when it sinks into the sea?” When a
mysterious ship approaches on the horizon, Marco watches, his curiosity piqued.
He decides to join the ship’s wayward crew—consisting of three deer and some
new pigeon recruits—as it searches for a paradise known as Sweet Tree Island. The
Fan Brothers (The Night Gardener; The Darkest Night) display a knack for creating
mood through rich textures and a soft color palette, giving the book a weathered
and nostalgic feel. As the story goes on, the group battles a fearsome sea (“Why is
water so wet?” muses Marco), survives bouts of hunger (“Marco eyed the deer and
the pigeons. ‘Foxes aren’t supposed to be vegetarian . . . ’”), and fends off a not-so-merry
band of pirates. While Marco may not find the answers to all, if any, of his
questions, he does come to think that perhaps the answers are secondary to the
questions themselves. And if the journey is indeed the destination, then it is made
even better in the company of curious—in every sense of the word—companions.
Featuring maps for endpapers and dramatic tableaux throughout, this feels like a
book you might discover at the bottom of a dusty attic trunk. minh lê
Book Details
ISBN
9781481451604
First Release
November 2017
Genre
Fic
Dewey Classification
E
Trim Size
8" x 11"
Page Count
48
Accelerated Reader
Level 3.5; Points: 0.5;
Scholastic Reading Counts
Level 2.3; Points: 1;
Lexile
Level AD590L
Format
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Beach Lane
Potentially Sensitive Areas
No sensitive areas
Topics
Friendship, Ocean travel, Foxes, Deer, Pigeons, Sea stories,
