Captain Arsenio: Invention and Mis Adventures in Flight

by Pablo Bernasconi

Pages from the recently discovered diary of Captain Manuel J. Arsenio record his many failed attempts to create a flying machine, starting in the 1780s with the Motocanary, progressing through the Aerial Submarine, the Hamstertronic, and sixty-seven other disasters.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2005

About the author

Diseñador gráfico. Ha colaborado es gran cantidad de revistas de gran renombre, entre sus clientes habituales se encuentran Clarín, Caras y Caretas, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Playboy, entre otros. Bernasconi ha sabido crear un estilo propio en sus ilustraciones, que lo hacen altamente reconocible.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't try this at home, kids!

The flight experiments, I mean. Certain Death. Feel free to try making some mixed media devices like the ones in the book. I bet Bernasconi had a bucket o' fun doing this.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Manuel J. Arsenio, former cheese-maker, blacksmith, scuba diver and ship captain, embarks on a determined quest to becomes airborne in this picture-book from Argentine children's author and artist Pablo Bernasconi, originally published as El diario del Capitán Arsenio. From the bird-driven 'Motocanary,' to the hydrogen-powered 'Aerial Submarine,' the book sets out six brave attempts - ostensibly taken from its hero's journals, discovered long after the fact - to fly, each of which ends (predictably) in disaster.

An amusing book, one which taps into the childhood fascination with flight, and provides an entertainingly anachronistic "historical" milieu - the story is set in the 1780s, but has a tongue-in-cheek steampunk feeling to it - Captain Arsenio: Inventions and (Mis)adventures in Flight features Bernasconi's appealing collage-style art, which combines mechanical-looking objects (metal springs, cheese-grater wings) with fabric and paper elements. I think that, overall, I prefer the fairy-tale trappings of Bernasconi's The Wizard, the Ugly, and the Book Of Shame , but I did enjoy this one, and regret that only two of the author/artist's books have been made available, here in the states. Recommended to young readers who dream of flight, and/or enjoy silly stories!

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bernasconi gives an account of six early attempts at flight made by fictional Captain Manuel Arsenio (including the “Motocanary” and the “Aerial Submarine”), based on his recently discovered “long-lost” diary. Although young readers may giggle at the original collage illustrations of Arsenio’s cumulative failures (despite his cry of, “It cannot fail!” with each new invention), the reading level is more suited to grades 5-8, both in vocabulary and comprehension, and only older students will catch much of the humor in the text. Arsenio will add levity to middle school science units on flight or inventions.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Bernasconi's artwork are collages made up of real world pictures and textures that make turn into adorable and humerous illustrations. The story is funny and there is a lot to it. This is definitely for the older picture-book reader.

Capt. Arsenio is an eternal optimist and rewriter of his own history in subtlety. For example, when one of his attempts to fly ends in fire his note to himself is, "I must always remember to being some water along." My favorite line is, "The doctor is not at home. I will call the veterinarian."

[Dayana · Rating 4 out of 5]

El Diario del Capitán Arsenio es un libro donde la ilustración y el relato van de la mano para crear una obra llena de imaginación.

La historia se inicia con una breve biografia de un personaje que vivió durante el siglo XVIII y los avatares que lo llevaron a cambiar su profesión de capitán de barco por algo que lo dejara en la historia de la humanidad: la creación de la máquina de volar.

El eje narrativo está conformado por las pruebas (y sus poco exitosos resultados) que fue haciendo el Capitán Arsenio con seis de sus máquinas para volar: el motocanario, la cinta voladora, el sacacorchóptero, el submarinóptero, el quemador de ilusiones y el hamstertrónic.

Más detalles de este libro en la reseña que hice en mi blog:
http://www.dayanabarrionuevo.com/rese...

[Geoffwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art is very Gilliam-esque, that's fun. Story is very wordy and complicated and thick with physics jokes and diagrams and what not. My experience is only with a very young nigh-toddler and then what I can remember of my childhood so I am open to being wrong here but not sure what demographic we're shooting for here. It seems on the intellectual level of maybe fifth or sixth grade but I think I would have been fairly hesitant to crack a twenty page picture book at that point. But fun!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asome

[Talliyah]

Let me read it

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

it good

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

He

[Genevieve Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

good and funny

[Michelle Shurunova]

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[Santosh Thapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jestha 20, 2080, Saturday

"Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech is a poignant exploration of a young boy's journey into the world of poetry. Set in verse, the novel seamlessly weaves together various themes that resonate with readers of all ages.

The narrative follows Jack, a initially reluctant protagonist, as he discovers the transformative power of poetry. Through school assignments and personal reflections, Jack's journey becomes a universal exploration of self-discovery. Creech beautifully captures the essence of finding one's voice, portraying the joy that arises from embracing the art of language.

Woven into the fabric of the story is the theme of grief and loss. Jack's emotional response to the passing of his beloved dog, Sky, serves as a delicate exploration of the healing nature of words and art. Creech handles these nuanced emotions with a tenderness that adds depth to the narrative.

"Love That Dog" also underscores the profound impact that words can have. Through Jack's experiences, readers witness the ability of poetry to evoke emotions, foster connections, and serve as a powerful tool for understanding the complexities of the human experience. The novel becomes a celebration of literary appreciation, introducing readers to various poems and poets that enrich the narrative.

In conclusion, Creech's masterful storytelling makes "Love That Dog" a timeless and enriching read. It's not just a story about poetry; it's a heartfelt exploration of universal themes — self-discovery, grief, the power of words — making it a resonant and relatable journey for anyone who appreciates the beauty of language and the depth of human emotion.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Matthew received this book for his 2nd birthday and it has remained a consistent favorite through the years. The story of this misfit and his creative inventions so that he can fly are funny. Our favorite invention is the motocanary where he attempts to leash canaries to basically drag him in flight, but the canaries exercise free will and start flying in different directions - hilarious. The book is well written and the flight diary for each invention is a highlight, recording the maximum height achieved, length of flight and the moment when panic sets in for Captain Arsenio. Captain Arsenio is always upbeat and his optimistic phrase, "It cannot fail" has become part of our family vocabulary.

[Jessica Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Arsenio is a nonfiction tale that follows the imaginative and determined ideas of one man. The illustrations are simple yet very efefctive at drawing in the audience. The inclusion of the real life diagrams from Captain Arsenio's journal make this book a more real life experience for children to understand design, process and problem-solving. This book would be a great supportive tool to use for helping children understand story sequence and also it gives a good idea towards understanding cause and effect.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly the strangest children’s book we have ever read, right up there with Cowboy and Octopus. It’s a mock biography complete with excerpts supposedly from the Captain’s journal in 1782, as he attempts to build a working flying machine. And ends up on fire, stuck in a tree, and various other calamities. Yet he’s always supremely confident that the next attempt will not fail! It’s pitch-perfect and completely ridiculous.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny "journal excerpts" from a man determined to fly. Every time you look at the pictures, you'll see something new. The timeline for the flights chronicle for how long and how high the Captain gets with each attempt. A great opportunity to do foreshadowing. I think my favorite might be harnessing the canaries.

[Partridge Public]

Bernasconi, Pablo

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

leo loved this book. we read it several times. he loved the inventions in it and thought they were funny.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creativity allows us to explore our minds and the world. This book has a funny character who thinks outside of the box and uses humor as he goes on adventures with his inventions.

[Sharper1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda cute with the real-object illustrations and the persistent optimism of the Captain. Kinda hilarious with his consistent crashes. Who knows what happened to him in the end???

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for an independent reader or one on one reading. Long! Too much for storytime.

[Terry]

Our child selected this book at his/her school library and fell in love with the story. She loved to laugh at the different ways Captain Arsenio was going to master flying.

See why Mom and Dad didn't like it as much as their second grader in the full review