Under the Water (Tales from the Hidden Valley Series #4)

by Carles Porta

Overview

Summer has finally arrived in the fourth book of Carle's Porta's Tales From The Hidden Valley series! Beloved characters return in the final book of this whimsical series for fans of Tove Jansson's Moomins.

When a new, watery friend appears, Ticky, Mister Cold and the rest of the pals explore an exciting new underwater world. But a great monster lurks beneath the surface, and our joyous friends sure are causing quite a fuss! Will they be able to escape its terrible jaws?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911171683
Publisher:	Flying Eye Books Ltd.
Publication date:	06/11/2019
Series:	Tales from the Hidden Valley Series , #4
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD940L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Carles Porta is an award-winning Spanish illustrator, animator and graphic designer. His work has been featured in many national magazines and comics, and he has illustrated and designed the posters and promotional films for the International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia since 1997. In 2001 Carles created his first animated film, François le Vaillant, which won an award from Le Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) in France. He lives in Spain.

Editorial Reviews

"Returning residents of the valley are joined by an azure swamp mermaid, slumbering giant, and a night of friendship, fun, and fireworks that lights up the brilliantly hued summer sky."
—Foreword 

"Porta brings the ungainly charm of his three previous seasonally themed Hidden Valley outings to this (probable) closer, filling out the ensemble cast with further unconventional characters and leaving Aqua, Olivier, the dragon, and all the rest gathered at a festive banquet beneath moonlit trees."
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/21/2019

K-Gr 2-In a hidden valley near a lake, the inhabitants "whispered fanciful tales into the warm night air and slept under the stars" on the eve of the Dragon Day celebration. It is also the time of year when Aqua, a youthful looking mermaidlike creature, has a habit of taking things to make sure they last as long as she has: a book from one, some fossils from another, and fireworks from someone else. When newcomer Max befriends Aqua, she takes him to her secretive, underground home where their friendship is cemented. When they discover their missing treasures, other valley residents find Aqua and accuse her of thieving. Furious, Aqua storms off into the lake, followed by a contrite cadre in a conveniently found submarine named Olivier. When swallowed by the newly awakened dragon, not only are Olivier's riders saved but so is the Dragon Day celebration. And Aqua, at least for this summer, is no longer lonely. The tale's elongated, deeply hued, expressive illustrations suggest characters that fuse human and animal (or plant) traits much like in the artist's earlier "Hidden Valley" books. VERDICT Though not an essential purchase for libraries, this may appeal to communities where translated books are appreciated.-Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library

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