On a boring day, on a dull street, Sebastian sat high atop his roof―something he was never supposed to do. When he launched himself into the air in his balloon made of Grandma's afghans and patchwork quilts, his journey took on a life of its own and his boring day turned into the adventure of a lifetime. From award-winning author/illustrator Philip C. Stead, comes another timeless adventure with his trademark whimsical illustrations and an unwavering spirit. This title has Common Core connections. A Neal Porter Book K-Gr 2—Sebastian sits on the roof of his house. "There is nothing to see on my street, he thought. Nothing to see at all." Readers see a close-up of the glum boy and the top of the roof; his world indeed looks small and boring. On the page turn, he decides, "Tonight I'll leave and see something new for a change." Now Sebastian stands on the roof silhouetted by a giant moon, and the whole neighborhood is revealed. Although the houses are uniform and unexciting, the world seems large and full of possibilities. Accompanied by a little bird, Sebastian sets off in a balloon built from afghans and quilts. He and his companion share pickle sandwiches with a bear, crash into a tall bird that pops their balloon, and land on the house of a trio of elderly knitters who repair the vehicle. When the wind picks up, they all fly off together to find "The most perfect roller-coaster you will ever see." They fix the broken-down coaster and spend the day enjoying their handiwork, "Until the wind picked up and it was time to go." Readers who don't mind a slightly open-ended narrative will adore this dreamy, experiential story for its quirky charms. Stead's trademarks are present in this volume: pithy, talking animals, quixotic travel, and a matter-of-fact sensibility offsetting fantastic events. Marvelous artwork guarantees that his fans won't be disappointed.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN “*A sweet and quirky flight of fancy.” ― Booklist, STARRED REVIEW “Nostalgic charm pervades Stead's latest offering . . . The illustrations match the text's nostalgic feel, with a style at turns reminiscent of Brian Wildsmith and Bernard Waber, and yet this book is anything but derivative; it, like all Sebastian sees, is 'something new.'” ― The Horn Book “*Readers who don't mind a slightly open-ended narrative will adore this dreamy, experiential story for its quirky charms . . . Marvelous artwork.” ― School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW “*Stead does not dissapoint, giving readers another beautifully rendered picture book full of whimsy, heart and delight.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review “The low-key story is infused with melancholy... yet offers a degree of comfort as Sebastian and his fellow lonely hearts band together on a journey...” ― Publishers Weekly PHILIP C. STEAD is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee , also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2010 and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, 2010). Philip, also an artist, both wrote and illustrated his debut Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast (Roaring Brook Press, 2009), which was applauded by School Library Journal for “its wry humor and illustrations worthy of a Roald Dahl creation.” Philip lives with Erin in Ann Arbor, Michigan.