Cyclops of Central Park

by Madelyn Rosenberg, Victoria Tentler-Krylov (Illustrator)

Overview

Featuring a most unusual protagonist, Cyclops of Central Park dares readers to be brave and explore the world because, really, you never know what you might find...

Late at night, just before he closed his eye and went to sleep in his Central Park cave, Cyclops counted his sheep.

When the sun rose, he counted them again, and that's when he noticed—". . . sixteen, seventeen . . ."—one of them was missing.

He knew who it was, of course. "Eugene?" It was always Eugene.

Cyclops knows the world is a scary place: the grass is too sharp, the carousels are too twirly, and not all restaurants serve spaghetti. If the world isn't safe for a cyclops, it certainly isn't a safe place for a missing sheep! And so he sets off to face the many "dangers" lurking in New York City to bring Eugene home. To do so, he will have to face his fears and call for some reinforcements—his other fluffy sheep friends back at the cave. Together, they just might find Eugene and have a fun time in the city. Which goes to show, there is no place like home, but sometimes new experiences make our world a bigger and brighter place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525514701
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	02/11/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Madelyn Rosenberg grew up on a dead-end street with woods, a creek, and copious amounts of mud. She spent more than a decade at a daily newspaper writing stories about colorful, real-life characters. These days she enjoys making up characters of her own and is the author of several children's books including Take Care, This is Just a Test (co-written with Wendy Wan-Long Shang), How to Behave at a Dog Show, and the Nanny X series.

Victoria Tentler-Krylov grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and studied architecture and urban design at Cooper Union and Columbia University. A practicing architect now living outside Boston, Victoria is continually inspired by urban landscapes but also by fantasy, possibility, and imagination. Victoria's artwork has been published by Pink Giraffe Books in Russia and by The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and Flutter Magazine in the U.S.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Cyclops of Central Park:

“In both premise and detail, Rosenberg employs a sly sense of the absurd. . . [and] Tentler-Krylov's wildly creative illustrations are fantastical renderings of New York City as it exists in a kind of alternate reality. . . Young readers will see Cyclops' loving nature and cheer his new bravery. Delightful, witty, and not just for New Yorkers.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Rosenberg’s heartfelt narrative captures the very real anxiety that crowded spaces, especially congested cities, can cause. Tentler-Krylov’s fanciful mixed-media art adds even more humor and gravitas to the text, with the protagonist’s expressive faces sure to elicit giggles. . . Perfect for New York City–themed read-alouds and interactive lap-sits. A great addition to libraries serving young readers.” —Booklist

“Nods to many New York City'sights and institutions—The Guggenheim, Time Square, Yankee Stadium, the Statue of Liberty—are woven into the text and background art, which makes the fun journey worthwhile . . . [while] the illustrations capture the magic of the city and show the beauty of life and adventures with friends. VERDICT This lighthearted and clever tale will be a hit for storytime and one-on-one sharing.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

01/01/2020

PreS-Gr 2—When the Cyclops of Central Park loses one of his 18 sheep, he must leave the comfort and security of his cave and traverse the entire city to get him back, stopping at some very familiar landmarks along the way. By the end of his journey, he's not only found his missing sheep, but the courage to adventure out into the world with his flock. Nods to many New York City sights and institutions—The Guggenheim, Time Square, Yankee Stadium, the Statue of Liberty—are woven into the text and background art, which makes the fun journey worthwhile. The graphic-style watercolor and gouache paintings definitely elevate the entire piece; the use of bold color matched against an often negative background highlights and celebrates the artist's fascinating attention to detail. From Tentler-Krylov's unique character design to the varied textures in the clothes they wear, the illustrations capture the magic of the city and show the beauty of life and adventures with friends. VERDICT This lighthearted and clever tale will be a hit for storytime and one-on-one sharing.—Peter Blenski, Hartland Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2019-10-27
Cyclops always opts for the safety of his cave in Central Park, but Eugene has other ideas.

Cyclops lovingly cares for his sheep, always warning them of the dangers all around, such as the "twirly" carousel and the "sharp" grass right there in their own park. When Cyclops counts his sheep one morning, Eugene is missing. He is not in the park, and that means Cyclops must venture into the even scarier city. He searches all over New York to no avail, then brings in his flock of sheep to help. They head for the subway and Coney Island, where they find their elusive friend riding the Cyclone roller coaster and having a wonderful time. He convinces Cyclops and the sheep to try it, and after a shaky start, Cyclops is ready for more adventures. In both premise and detail, Rosenberg employs a sly sense of the absurd. Cyclops strikes out in the Yankee dugout and mistakes a de Kooning for a sighting of Eugene at the Guggenheim. Tentler-Krylov's wildly creative illustrations are fantastical renderings of New York City as it exists in a kind of alternate reality. The Statue of Liberty is right where she should be, but she is depicted leaning over, amazed at the sight of Cyclops. Even if they miss some of the gags, young readers will see Cyclops' loving nature and cheer his new bravery.

Delightful, witty, and not just for New Yorkers. (Picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews