Clever Carpenter

by R.W. Alley

Despite the townspeople's objections, an eccentric carpenter sets out to build the perfect house for a retired sea captain.

Genres: Childrens

25 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 1988

About the author

R.W. Alley has illustrated more than one hundred children's books, including the popular Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond.

In 2010, he received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award for Pearl and Wagner One Funny Day by Kate McMullan. In 2008, There’s a Wolf at the Door by Zoë B. Alley was selected as a Washington Post Best Book of the Year.

Mr. Alley’s newest books include:
Saturday Is Dadurday by Robin Pulver / illustrated by R.W. Alley / Walker Books, 2013
"Brightened with watercolor, watercolor pencil, and gouache, the expressive ink drawings illustrate the story with attention to telling details and express the characters’ emotions with clarity and finesse. Fine for reading aloud, this sympathetic picture book will leave many children wishing for their own version of Dadurday." -
Booklist

Because Your Mommy Loves You by Andrew Clements / illustrated by R.W. Alley / Clarion Books, 2012
"Clements and Alley reunite to produce a strong companion title to Because Your Daddy Loves You." - Kirkus Reviews

When Dads Don't Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker / illustrated by R. W. Alley / Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
"As this sympathetic and celebratory book makes clear, endearingly childish fathers are good for more than just goofy fun." - New York Times Sunday Book Review

Currently he is writing and illustrating a series of four picture books about the fantastical adventures of four siblings. Soon, illustrative work will begin on two picture books based on the life of Enzo, the canine hero of the adult novel The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

Mr. Alley lives in Rhode Island. Visit him at rwalley.com.

Reviews

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books as a little girl! Fun illustrations, out-of-the-box thinking that's right up a kid's alley, and a misunderstood creative genius who sticks to his guns and shows everyone! Love it! It's hard to track down these days, though. I found one on abebooks.com for $6, but every other one I see is around $40! Maybe there should be a reprinting!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about how new ideas are not always widely accepted at first, but that doesn't mean they are bad ideas or that the person who came up with them should give up or change his way of thinking.

[Fourth Grade · Rating 3 out of 5]

The clever carpenter, is a man who crazily fixes things and people get mad at him, The clever carpenter tries his best to make stuff cool. The carpenter is a guy that saws and hammers wood. I recommend this book to your child.