In a reversal of the typical order the wonderful story of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore began life as a film … graced our iPad screens as an inspiring Book App … and now the book form emerges. This is testament to the powerful nature of the story penned by William Joyce. Eloquent, uplifting and imaginative it spans the different mediums more than comfortably.
Morris Lessmore is a character who “loved words” however when his orderly life is “scattered” by a terrible storm he finds himself wondering aimlessly. A lady “being pulled along by a festive squadron of flying books” marks the beginning of the magic of books being poured in to this story. She sends Morris her favourite book who in turn leads him to a magnificent old building filled with books yearning for attention.
In a homage to librarians everywhere Morris sets about repairing and organising the books.
“The tragedies needed cheering up and would visit with the comedies.”
Morris breathes life in to them by ensuring they are read. Then he shares them amongst others, who turn from black and white to full colour upon the discovery of a great book!
The illustrative work of both Joyce and Joe Bluhm provide this picture book with a unique charm. The fastidious attention to detail which can be missed in the previous formats can be fully enjoyed within the picture book. I loved the bust of Shakespeare in the shadows of the “inviting room”, the sleeping humpty and the plethora of details on the medical station set up for repairing damaged books.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is “the most personal story of Joyce’s career” his progress on this picture book was indeed hampered by the devastation hurricane Katrina caused to Joyce’s home town. His observations of the powerful, restorative nature of stories being read to and by children displaced in shelters, has breathed an emotional depth in to Mr. Morris Lessmore’s fictional story.
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