Flying Jake
Encyclopedia
Flying Jake is a children's picture book
by Lane Smith
. It was originally published in 1988 by Macmillan Publishing Company and reprinted by Viking Press
in 1996. In the wordless story, a boy named Jake takes flight in pursuit of his pet bird, which has flown out of its cage and through a window. Flying Jake was the first independent work by Smith, who later illustrated The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
and The Stinky Cheese Man.
, Signe Wilkinson
called it "a rich picture poem that gives readers of any age a certain feeling about flight among the birds." Several teachers' guides have also recommended the book for use in grade school classrooms. However, Carol McMichael of School Library Journal
criticized Flying Jake for its "busy, confused story and bizarre illustrations."
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
by Lane Smith
Lane Smith (illustrator)
Lane Smith is an American children's book author and illustrator.-Background:Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Corona, California at a young age...
. It was originally published in 1988 by Macmillan Publishing Company and reprinted by Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
in 1996. In the wordless story, a boy named Jake takes flight in pursuit of his pet bird, which has flown out of its cage and through a window. Flying Jake was the first independent work by Smith, who later illustrated The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
A parody of The Three Little Pigs, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is a children's book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Released in a number of editions since its first release in 1989, it is the story of The Three Little Pigs as told by the Big Bad Wolf, known in the book as "A. Wolf,"...
and The Stinky Cheese Man.
Reception
The book received mixed reviews. In The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Signe Wilkinson
Signe Wilkinson
Signe Wilkinson is an editorial cartoonist best known for her work at the Philadelphia Daily News. She is the first female cartoonist to win the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1992 and was once named "the Pennsylvania state vegetable substitute" by the former speaker of the...
called it "a rich picture poem that gives readers of any age a certain feeling about flight among the birds." Several teachers' guides have also recommended the book for use in grade school classrooms. However, Carol McMichael of School Library Journal
School Library Journal
The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,...
criticized Flying Jake for its "busy, confused story and bizarre illustrations."