Makers

by Young Vo

From the creator of Gibberish, a friendship story about different ways to think and create.It begins with two boys who together dream of sailing across the wide sea. As they grow and both become boatmakers, their differences grow bigger and bigger. One has a wild and fresh imagination, with tons of great ideas; but he has trouble with quality control. The other is meticulous and strives for perfection; but he has trouble finishing even one boat! Only when the two friends reunite can they form a perfect team and reach their hearts' desires.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Fiction, Childrens

56 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

Young Vo learned to draw before he could write. He drew a lot of characters, then began to write stories for them. There were not many job choices that he could make, so he decided to be an anuimator, illustrator, and author. Now he writes and draws his stories before the sun rises, then during the day, he animates.

Reviews

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Young Vo bats this one out of the park.

Two apprentice boatmakers were best friends, even if they had opposite personalities: one was a careful, steady experimenter and the other was quick to get a project done regardless of the results. Each tried to build a perfect boat by himself, but found great success when they worked together.

Short, nearly poetic text gives the structure for the illustrations to hang on. They are brief, direct, with not a word to spare. It is non-judgemental as to which approach was better than the other, with the conclusion that the young men worked better together as a team.

I loved this book from its surprise cover, endsheets filled with boats (different styles and colors in the front and the steps to folding an origami boat in the back), to the quiet pacing of the story. Young is not in a hurry to get to the conclusion. He builds tension in the reader as they want to move faster, just like Van - moving from project to project. By slowing the reader down, they are able to catch so much detail that a speedy read-through would miss. Emotions on the faces of characters are priceless. Told using a mix of tranditional picture book with graphic novel frames helps the story to move quickly without text.

Pair this with your favorite version of Aesop's "The Tortoise and the Hare" for a comparison of the two.

Highly Recommended for grades PreS-2.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated picture book with two boat-building friends who learn that working together can make a dream come true. The two grow up together, exploring the science of boats, each already showing particular strenghs- Van is full of creativity and fresh ideas and Minh is meticulous and detail-driven in his work. As the two graduate, they drift to opposite sides of town to open their own boat businesses but find that things are somehow not working out. When the two reconnect, magic happens and boats are built!

Illustrations within the book are wonderful but Vo’s skill extends to the end papers, as well. One set is filled with many different boat designs and the other contains visual directions for folding a paper boat. (Usual library book covers may cover some of those instructions.)

Great picture book in SEL lessons about respecting each others’ differences and learning to work together. Target age is likely PK-grade 3.

Thanks for providing me with a review copy, Levine Querido.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two creative boys who dream of sailing the seas become boat makers. One of them has dozens of ideas but doesn’t take the time to think things through, the other one has one grand idea but needs it to be perfect. As the years go by, neither of them is a very successful boat maker. What could be the solution?

An encouragement for different kinds of creative people to seek out teammates who can help them see their project through to completion by helping in areas where they are weak. The world these creatives live in is slightly fantastical Vietnamese coastal town with old timey pirates and more modern looking people and even animals dressed like people. There are some bright, almost glowing objects in some illustrations that I expected a note about in the back of the book but didn’t find one. Adult readers could make their own hide-n-seek challenges for littles to find these items in the illustrations.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two young boys grow up together learning how to build. They notice their differences and accept them. When they begin their careers they head separate ways. One builds constantly, even if the designs are not effective. The other man labors over a design that has not been completed. Later in the story they do work together and "sail" off into the sunset. It is striking and fans of Gibberish will see a character connection.

This one is a struggle as I loved Gibberish and this has some similarities in style and execution. The end pages, especially after the story, will be poured over by my students. I am not sure they will revisit the story so much, though.

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This utterly unique picture book is the beautifully illustrated story of two friends who grow up learning to build boats. Their processes and learning styles are completely different. Both have strengths and weaknesses, but only when they come together do they achieve their dreams. There is so much to look at in the illustrations and the book hits all the emotions from heartwarming to funny. Kids will love it and for educators it's a great book to jumpstart conversations about collaboration, understanding others as well as the creative process.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just didn't do it for me. It's feels overly long for the point it's trying to make, and the story is more of a metaphorical parable than anything else, since it otherwise raises so many questions. Like, how are these guys even making a living in their line of work, if one of them always builds terrible boats, and the other has never finished a boat at all? I get what the author was trying to go for here, and the ending is nice, but I wasn't impressed with the book overall.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story about a friendship between two men with opposite personalities seems like it was written for adults who have had lots of experience with golden chisels and hammers, failures, and unfulfilled dreams. How would the story be different if it had been written for children? Start by keeping them children and let them dream of paper boats that will sail as far as their imaginations will take them.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two boys, two very different ways of approaching life. Van is creative and imaginative but his impulsiveness means he doesn't always focus on quality work. Minh is meticulous and methodical but his perfectionism prevents him from completing just one task. An important story about how these two approaches to life can be a force to be reckoned with when they pair up.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Van and Minh are good friends but polar opposites when it comes to personality and working style. Van moves fast and struggles to finish one project before he moves on to another. Minh is precise and meticulous to all details making it hard for him to finish even one project. When they both want to build boats, will they be able to successfully work togeither?

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two young boys dream of sailing across the ocean. They are both makers, but they approach making boats very differently. Their differences begin to drive them apart...and neither is as successful as they hope. Filled with friendship, imagination, creativity, and reconciliation...great for being self directed learners, complex thinkers and problem solvers and quality workers and producers.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about friendship, working together and learning that just because something or someone thinks or does things differently doesn't mean they are wrong or that you can't work together! A great story and lessons to be learned!

[Pam D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Makers has become my grandson’s favorite book! He is 3 1/2 and loves the pictures of the 2 friends building their boats. My grandson is learning about teamwork and friendship through this wonderful story and pictures.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story about friendship, collaboration and honoring different ways of thinking.

[Kelly]

I found this book hard to follow. Maybe I just read it too fast.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS]

Two young, and then older, men work very differently but eventually they find their place with each other. Great story about cooperation, particularly learning differences benefits.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends who learn and plan differently and execute a beautiful boat together.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different styles of creativity and work habits can leverage the power of both to make a seaworthy vessel and a unique friendship. Read for Kids Books With Pat.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice moral to the story, vibrant illustrations