Jack and Nancy: Part of the BBC’s Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures

by Quentin Blake

Jack and Nancy love to hear the sailors tell of adventures far away. But one day, they are walking on the cliffs and it starts to rain, so Jack puts up his umbrella. But the wind picks up and WHOOOOSH they are blown away to an exotic island! They explore for a bit, and even meet a parrot, but there are no sign of any ships to get them home. How will they get back?

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Sir Quentin Saxby Blake is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his lasting contribution as a children's illustrator he won the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002, the highest recognition available to creators of children's books. From 1999 to 2001, he was the inaugural British Children's Laureate. He is a patron of the Association of Illustrators.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and Nancy look out of the window of their cottage by the sea and see sailing ships on the ocean. This fuels their desire to travel and have their own adventures.

Their desire is strengthened by the occasions when sailors tell them about strange places they have visited, including one sailor who tells them of an occasion in the jungle where parrots were flying about among the trees. 'I wish we could go there,' says Jack.

Then one day Jack and Nancy go for a walk on the cliffs and it begins to rain and a strong wind blows up. Jack puts the umbrella that he has taken with him up and the wind catches it and carries he and Nancy up into the sky.

Up they go through the clouds - and Blake's impression of them flying through the clouds is so atmospheric - and they eventually arrive on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean. Parrots fly from tree to tree and one of them attaches himself to Jack and Nancy and sits alternatively on their shoulders and the handle of their umbrella. And Blake has made him the cutest parrot you could wish to see!

Unfortunately they are stranded on the island and they have a number of adventures, including swimming with the fish in the lovely warm blue sea, but eventually a ship appears on the horizon, they signal it and a boat comes ashore to take them to the ship … and onwards to home and a happy ending.

Quentin Blake produces another winner with 'Jack and Nancy' , a lovely story, a great parrot and superb illustrations.

[Bookjeannnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Quentin Blake!

[Zayneea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the illustrations, but story was a bit boring to me.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was a little wanting in magic, especially the ending, but the illustrations are a joy.