Monday, October 2, 2017

THE ANTLERED SHIP by Dashka Slater / Book Review #TheAntleredShip


By: Dashka Slater
Illustrated by: The Fan Brothers
Published by: Simon & Schuster / Beach Lane Books
Released on: September 12th, 2017
Ages: 4 & up
Purchase from: Simon & Schuster | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Antlers
A copy of this book was provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest review

An inquisitive fox sets off on a seafaring voyage with a crew of deer and pigeons in this enchanting tale of friendship and adventure. 

Marco the fox has a lot of questions, like: how deep does the sun go when it sinks into the sea? And why do birds have such lizardy feet? But none of the other foxes share his curiosity. So when a magnificent ship adorned with antlers and with a deer for a captain arrives at the dock looking for a crew, Marco volunteers, hoping to find foxes who are as inquisitive as he is that can answer his questions. The crew finds adventure and intrigue on their journey. And, at last, Marco finds the answer to his most important question of all: What’s the best way to find a friend you can talk to?


Visually stunning, The Antlered Ship takes readers on an unforgettable fantasy high seas adventure. With friendship, questions, and the need for answers, readers of all ages will enjoy jumping into the world of this whimsical picture book.

I absolutely love this story about an inquisitive fox named Marco, who's quest for answers leads him on an adventure across the sea. When he boards the Antlered Ship, he's excepting to find foxes in distant lands that can help him find the answers he's desperately looking for. Instead, what Marco discovers is something far more important. Sometimes instead of looking far and wide, all he needs to do is look right in front of him, and ask his friends the questions he has. Sometimes they'll have the answers, and in the event that they don't, they'll be there to help him find the answer he's looking for. 

Along with learning to ask questions, and not being afraid to ask, Marco learns an important lesson in friendship. When it comes to friendship, friends don't need to look just like him. Friends come in all different shapes and sizes, and sometimes the friends he's looking for, are the ones right in front of him. Just like the ones who are onboard The Antlered Ship. 

Though Marco didn't get all the answers he was looking for this time, he has a ship full of some great friends, and a lot of adventures ahead of him. His adventures are just beginning, and thanks to his friends the deers and pigeons, he'll have many adventures and a lot more questions to find answers for. I'm looking forward to hopefully getting to read many more of adventures from this crew. This is one book that's definitely a treasure to have. From the stunning, trademark illustration the Fan Brothers are known for, to Slater's engaging storytelling, this is a book worth picking up!

Check out some of the illustrations found instead the book:  

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~