Mr. Flux

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Location	Collection	Status
Community Library of Castle Shannon	Picture Book	CHECKED OUT
Location	Community Library of Castle Shannon
Collection	Picture Book
Status	CHECKED OUT

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Summary

Published Reviews

Booklist Review: "In this picture book for those who are dubious about change and who isn't, a little bit, really? Mr. Flux tells the story of Martin, a young boy who lives in a tidy little square house in a quiet and sedate neighborhood. Quiet and sedate, that is, until Mr. Flux arrives, employing a hat as a mailbox, turning a fish into a fountain, and launching a good-natured assault on the status quo. A mysterious box lures Martin to the new arrival's door, and before you can say uh-oh, Martin is playing ping-pong with olives. With an archly raised eyebrow, Maclear (Spork, 2010; Virginia Wolf, 2012) offers an obvious, enjoyable call for silliness, while newcomer Stephens creates scenes of age-appropriate surrealism to match the mood. The book uses Fluxus, a media-blending artistic movement of the 1960s, as an inspiration and tonal springboard. This will sail over most of the young audience, of course, but anchoring the story in an element of art history gives it an added philosophical dimension, nevertheless.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "Mr. Flux, Maclear (Virginia Wolf) explains in a note, is modeled on George Maciunas, who founded the Fluxus art movement in the 1960s. This story's Mr. Flux brings change to a boy named Martin and to Martin's stodgy neighborhood, which has a "fixed number of trees, dogs, cats and cars." The artist stays around just long enough to introduce the idea of playful freedom from routine ("Shall we spin toy rabbits on my record player?") before introducing a bigger change: he moves away, leaving Martin with new perspective and a special gift. Debut illustrator Stephens's elegant retro spreads in milky hues create an atmosphere of urbanity throughout. He models Mr. Flux on a self-portrait of Maciunas wearing a bowler hat and a monocle, and even the houses that are supposed to be monotonous are charming. Maclear does state things a bit flat-footedly in case readers don't get the message ("Change is upsetting," Martin tells Mr. Flux, "and we like things just the way they are"), but it's still a useful, low-key introduction to the liberating impulses of the '60s. Ages 3-7. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved."
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Additional Information

Subjects	Change -- Juvenile fiction. Fear -- Juvenile fiction. Humorous stories.
Publisher	Toronto, ON ; Tonawanda, NY :Kids Can Press,2013
Other Titles	Mister Flux
Contributors	Stephens, Matte, 1974- illustrator.
Language	English
Description	32 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 31 cm
ISBN	9781554537815 (bound) 1554537819 (bound)
Other	Classic View