The Almost Impossible Thing

by Basak Agaoglu

Nothing is so impossible that it shouldn't be tried. Even if you're a bunny hoping to fly. A tribute to teamwork, big dreams, perseverance, and those who don't listen when others say their goals are unreachable.

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.--Chinese Proverb

Most of us want to fly--even if we know we're rooted to the ground. Especially if we know we're rooted to the ground! So when a rabbit spots a bird soaring in beautiful, colorful loop-de-loops, a dream is born. Though her friends tell her "You can't do that!" our rabbit is undeterred. Through comical ski jumps, trampoline bounces, swings on the trapeze, and experiments with kites . . . somehow, some way, there must be a way to fly.

And there is! Teamwork.

Debut author/illustrator Basak Agaoglu delivers a story of faith, persistence, and humor--along with some of the most adorable, child-friendly art ever seen. For fans of Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Growth Mindset, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2017

About the author

Basak Agaoglu is a Turkish fashion designer, children's author and book illustrator. She was born and raised in Adana, Turkey, before moving to New York to pursue a degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating, she began her career as a designer in the fashion industry while also working on illustrations for a children’s book. The Almost Impossible Thing is Basak’s debut picture book. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bunny dreams of flight after seeing a bird in the sky, and sets out to make her dream a reality in this debut picture-book from author/illustrator Basak Agaoglu. Persisting, even in the face of the incomprehension of friends and the seeming impossibility of the task before her, the bunny finally manages to take off, together with a number of her kind...

I loved the artwork - created using block print, gouache and ink - in The Almost Impossible Thing, finding it entertaining and (appropriately enough) imaginative. Agaoglu has an eye for color and shape, and a quirky sensibility that I greatly enjoyed. That said, although I liked the idea of the story here, I think the actual narrative veers a little too far into the self-consciously thoughtful/philosophical, rather than allowing deeper meanings to surface naturally through the story. In short, I found the text here a little too cerebral, which was a surprise, since I tend to enjoy more philosophical picture-books. Still, this is a debut, and I did enjoy the artwork quite a bit, so I will look forward to seeing what else this talented newcomer does in the field.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cute and it's a good concept, one that I try to live by. I suggest, however, that you definitely read the inside flap before you start. I didn't and I was a little lost, I had to go back and look at it again. I liked it but I felt like it was hard to connect the dots, then I read the flap, and it all makes sense now. The bunny sees a bird flying and that's what sparks his dream. He wasn't just a curious bunny inventor with a good imagination like I thought😂

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, inspirational tale about dreams. Masterfully illustrated.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this story would be cuddling up with someone to read it. The words flow, but the meaning is a bit illusive. The illustrations attempt to support and extend the text, but I didn't feel it was as successful as a young reader would need.
Full color illustrations with some detail and lots of space done with block printing and gouache. Be sure to peek under the dust jacket!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and somewhat abstract book about a dream. Accompanied by conversations about dreams and ideas, this is a great book to encourage kids to dream and to make these dreams come true. Another idea the book brings up is that even though a dream may seem impossible and may take many tries, it isn't actually impossible, especially when you work with others to achieve it.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful and special, but not sure it's for kids. It's too bad publishers won't pick up on the concept of picture books for adults. #inspirational

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agaoglu, Basak. The Almost Impossible Thing. Philomel Books (Penguin), 2017. $16.99. Content: G. PICTURE BOOK.
The dream wanted something impossible. So, the bunny tried to fly. The bunny tried putting on wings and jumping on a tramp. Other animals couldn’t see the dream. The dream was too small to contain and pushed and pulled until it became a rocket of color. Even then, others still couldn’t see it.

The story is written from the “Dream’s” perspective and is a lovely allegory of how human dreamers struggle to make their dream become reality. The illustrations were created with block printing, gouache, and ink. They are a colorful, whimsical, and the stuff that dreams are made of.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -ADVISABLE. Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Kimberly R · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 Stars: For Basak Agaoglu’s debut picture book, “The Almost Impossible Thing” published in 2017. I found it abstract and odd that the subject of the story is ‘the dream’ instead of the rabbit doing the dreaming. That didn’t resonate well with me. The story is minimal and a very quick read about having a dream and putting in the work to make it happen, despite what others think or see. The illustrations are beautifully textured with the colors and patterns used, but overall I felt them to be very minimal as well, not having much on the page to look at. However, I do appreciate the cute simplicity of the animals, I think they were creatively interpreted. It was meh overall for me.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunnies can't fly - fact, but can dreams come true despite facts? Find out in this fantastically simple story.

This is a don't miss kind of read.

This book would pair nicely with:

Books Do Not Have Wings by Brynne Barnes
Shy by Deborah Freedman
What To Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada
The Wonder by Faye Hanson
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
The Short Giraffe by Neil Flory

[talia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bunny dreams of flight, and makes it after much trial and error. I love the illustrations, but the text is super abstract about dreams and boxes and who knows what else, and I don’t think it really makes much sense or fits the art.

[Jacqi Coon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because the bunny looked cute. I didn't really like the book all that much. It didn't have a lot to it. It just talked about the bunny wanting to fly. Young children might like it, but I think you could find a better book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange little book. Lovely poem set with illustrations. It took a few readings to get the connection between text and pictures, and even then I’m not sure they really go together, but I still liked it.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely concept book but probably more suitable for adults than children.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and subtle.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations of this book are eye-catching and fun, but this story about a bunny's dream to fly was too difficult for my kids to follow and thus they were not hooked.

[Grant Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colorful, creative, but too abstract for children.

[Mary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story's been written several other times...more effectively.

[Paula Hollohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most important word here is "almost." Read to find out what makes dreams come alive. Great for the creative classroom K-4.

[Tish]

I loved this book. For the dreamers

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful and cute with a nice message about dreams. But it felt a bit random.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dream too big to stay in one place rockets up to the sky.

[Sidney Beesemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Not just for kids and something to keep at arms length for whenever you need that extra motivation that nothing is impossible.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about a bunny wanting to fly. It's a story of not giving up on one's dreams, to work towards them despite skeptics and naysaysers and what might be possible with a bit of teamwork!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

dreams

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are marvelous, clear and clean, more detailed as the story progresses; beautifully done. It’s about a bunny with what appears to be an impossible dream, but with persistence, imagination and then collaboration, something wonderful happens. It will bring great discussions about persisting for achieving a dream that seems, well, impossible.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS is how you do a book for children about following your dreams, determination, etc. Most of the offerings are didactic and cliche. Instead, this gently funny book never even approaches the line of utter tripe. Well done.

[Ashley Mohar]

Read last in the set:

Narrative:
Our last book that we are going to read about GRIT is about impossible dreams. Does anyone know what impossible means? What have you done that you thought was impossible? I am going to read the two pages of this book. “The dream didn’t know that it had no shape, or that others couldn’t see it at all.” What do you think this book might be about now that we know what impossible means and we have read the first 2 pages?

Opening Moves:
Tell the meaning of a key word
Make a personal connection
Engage children with the language of the text.

Rationale:
I chose this book to go with the set because it deals with having a dream that doesn’t seem it can be a reality. But by the end of the book, the idea, or “dream”, is trying so hard to get out and it finally does. All my books are about perseverance and doing something that scares you. This book is starting with a dream and making your dreams come true. I chose this one last because the others talking about not giving up or trying things different. Now we have a dream and using our GRIT to make that dream come true.

Sources:
Fountas, I. C., & Pinnell, G. S. (2006). Teaching for comprehending and fluency: Thinking, talking, and writing about reading, K-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Publishing.

[AnnaS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and a sweet message of success after much perserverance.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting illustrations in this book designed to encourge creativity and persistance. For me there just wasn't enough struggle.

[Madison Heusel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
There was an imaginary creature that was invisible to the human eye who represented the concept of a dream. The dream didn't quite know how to manifest or take shape and reveal itself to the world. The dream stayed in a tiny box until it couldn't sit still anymore. It began to move around until finally it turned into a rocketship and flew off. The dream was no longer an intangible idea, it had externalized.

My Thoughts:
I really liked this book because it was all about not letting your dreams go unnoticed. I think this is a very postive book for children because it encourages them to explore and think about their dreams in new, creative ways. It is a very good conversation starter to talk with the child about what their dreams are and connect as a teacher to my students. The illustrations were simple, not my favorite, but the message of the story was very powerful. I liked how simple yet metaphorical the plot was.

Classroom Application:
I would have them create a paper box. Inside of each of their boxes they will get to draw out what their dream looks like. It could be a picture of them becoming a doctor, or an astonaut, or a pilot. Whatever their dream is, they'll also create a list of what steps they can make towards making their dream a reality. What would it look like for their dreams to come to life like they did in the book?