Pop!

by Jason Carter Eaton, Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator)

A quiet afternoon of blowing bubbles and popping them turns into a Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, (and more)-style adventure, as our young protagonist Dewey struggles to pop that one bubble...The Bubble That Got Away.

Genres: Picture Books, Transport, Adventure, Space, Childrens, Aliens, Storytime

42 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2018

About the author

Jason Carter Eaton was born in several small towns throughout the United States and one in Ireland. He is the author of numerous children's books, including How to Train a Train, How to Track a Truck, Great, Now We've Got Barbarians!, The Facttracker, The Catawampus Cat, and The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away, which most children thought was a funny story, though it was actually a tragic autobiography. Jason currently lives in Tarrytown, New York with his wife, two kids, giant dog, and pet freight train.

Reviews

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This far-fetched—to the point where I found it hard to suspend disbelief—tale about a lonely boy and his quest to pop his last bubble will melt your heart.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

To what ends would you go to make sure you popped every bubble you blew? Would you jump of your tree house? Would you scale a skyscraper? Would you borrow a space ship? Follow one little kid as they look for that answer. And even an answer to what if the bubble never pops. A fun story with wonderful illustrations. It’s a lot of fun and makes me think of spring.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going all out to get the one that got away.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: K-3

Don't you just love to blow bubbles? Well, Dewey loves bubbles but his favorite part is popping them. As he is popping all of his bubbles he trips and one bubble gets away from him. Dewey will stop at nothing to get to that bubble. The higher it gets the more creative he has to be to get to the bubble. When things get out of this world, will Dewey ever reach his bubble? Do not miss this precious book to see how it ends!

I love the creative thinking in this book. The progression of vehicles that Dewey uses correlates with the height of the bubble. I think younger children will love this just for the amazing pictures and the fun action. I think this book would work great with older students in math and science. Love this book!
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[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an e-galley from Netgalley in return for an honest review.*
What an adorable story about a boy who loves to pop bubbles, because you don't need friends to have fun popping bubbles. But one of his bubbles gets away! He chases after it, determined to pop it.

Great illustrations, cute story, those does get unrealistic and would have liked maybe a little more story with the different ways he pursues his bubble. Silly and fun and unexpected.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pop! is a picturebook written by Jason Carter Eaton and illustrated by Matt Rockefeller. It is currently scheduled for release on July 3 2018. A quiet afternoon of blowing bubbles and popping them turns into a Planes, Trains, & Automobiles-style adventure, as our young protagonist Dewey struggles to pop that one last bubble, The Bubble That Got Away.

Pop! is a fun story about determination and imagination. I enjoyed Dewey's efforts to pop an elusive bubble, and the way the story took a lonely kid on a grand adventure. I really liked that Dewey showed the ability to entertain himself, determination to finish what he started, and the imagination to make the well loved task of blowing and popping bubbles. Dewey took something that is so basic to childhood, and made it his own grand adventure, when other kids might have spent the day watching television alone or pouting that there was no one to play with, or that others did not invite him to play with them. He did not get mad, he made his own fun, and enjoyed his day. The conclusion of long distance companionship in bubble popping added a little heart twist at the end. I thought the illustrations were lovely, and they had the soft, dream like quality that matched the theme and action of the story, while not being washed out or boring at any point.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's graphic novel is beautifully illustrated by Matt Rockefeller and is well told by Jason Carter Eaton. Of course, the collaboration of these two artists is what makes the book work. I can see this book as a read aloud for readers of a wide range of ages. I can also see this as a reading choice in a classroom library, personal library, or in the collection of a graphic novel/comic book enthusiast.

On a side note, there is a nice familiar feel to the book for most of the reading, and there is also a fun connection for science fiction lovers (of which I count myself a member).

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved “Pop!” It had such imagination! It would be a great read aloud for the following story time themes: imagination, transportation, aliens, outer space, bubbles, friendship. Fantastic!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bubble evades the popping fingers of Dewey. But this bubble-popping little boy is not going to let that bubble get away, leading him to one wild and out of this world adventure.

Finding modern tall tale examples for kids can be a little challenging. This would be a very fun, not-so-classic intro to that genre. As a child I would have loved this book. I always have enjoyed slightly outrageous adventure stories, and the way Dewey talks his way into getting all sorts of transportation methods is definitely unexpected and outrageous. Also a good picture book to use when practicing making predictions with kids. They will probably need to revise their predictions more than once, as the beginning gets a little wilder, then a pattern emerges, and then the ending throws in a little twist. Lots of wild fun to be had with Dewey as he chases his bubble, and the illustrations are delightful too.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This turned into quite the adventure I was not expecting! Dewey is enjoying a quiet afternoon blowing bubbles and popping them...when that last elusive bubble flies just out of reach! Not discouraged, Dewey turns to ever larger and more improbable solutions...and the surprise at the end I did not see coming - pop! I think Dewey will delight children everywhere as they can cheer him on his quest for popping satisfaction, and probably have fun guessing what length he'll go to next!

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

A quiet afternoon of blowing bubbles and popping them turns into a Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, (and Helicopters, and Fighter Jets, and Moon Shuttles)-style adventure, as our young protagonist Dewey struggles to pop that one bubble...The Bubble That Got Away.
With luminous, breathtaking art from Matt Rockefeller that evokes both epic adventure and the pleasure of a lazy summer day; and a lively, wry, and suspenseful text from veteran picture book writer Jason Carter Eaton, Pop! is a picture book that will delight readers from cover to cover.

Let me start by saying that I think the artwork is the best part of this book. It is bright, fun and certainly tells more of the story than mere words can...

And the story itself is where I had an issue or two. Sure, it's a fun story about a kid trying to pop that last bubble - but it just seemed to be lacking any real fun. It was a bit too stale and repetitive for me.

I am sure it will appeal to millions of kids around the world. It just didn't appeal to me too much.


Paul
ARH

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does your storytime include blowing bubbles? If not, here is the perfect book to introduce such an activity. Dewey likes blowing bubbles more than playing with other youngsters, which frees up his mind to be creative in his methods of capturing a bubble that floats just out of his reach. In spite of his ultimate failure to pop the bubble, it turns out to be a friendship story.

Wide pages hold double page spreads and some pages show series of smaller images, urging the reader to move quickly along with Dewey as he chases the elusive bubble. The text is well-placed and well-paced. Librarians might want to leave the dust jacket unsecured - don’t miss the cover image!

Before reading aloud, I would ask youngsters to think of ways they could reach that last, strong bubble that floats just of their reach, or for older students, discuss why bubbles float and pop. If you’re looking for a book to add to your STEM list, this should be on it, mostly because it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be a STEM book!

[Janie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pop is a fantastic adventure story. The illustrations are bright and detailed and a lot of fun to look at. Kids will relate with Dewey’s drive complete his task (which is seemingly insignificant to an adult).

While the story is a lot of fun and each page has a wilder and crazier step toward reaching the bubble, I wish that there was better connectivity between each page, the flow of the narrative was jarring to read and follow. It would be nice to have an idea where the story is going from the beginning (the moon, hot air balloon, helicopter in the background).

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Kimberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided a free digital copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

More of a 3.5 I think. Pop! follows a little boy as he gets into increasingly more complicated situations while trying to pop a bubble that he blew. His trek across town, the universe, and eventually space leads to meeting his first friend.

The art here is gorgeous. The story is funny and whimsical. I just kind of felt sorry for the bubble?

. . . Maybe I'm overthinking it.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would bump this up two stars for the art alone, but the story really left me feeling disengaged, depressed, and--even for a children's book--full of disbelief, so I bumped it back down to the current status of 2 stars. Thankfully the MC is polite while tenacious in his quest.

p.s. Make sure that you take a peek under the dust jacket!

[Aurora · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a bit too ridiculous for me to enjoy.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is the case for many of us, Dewey loves blowing bubbles, but he particularly delights in popping them. When one bubble, the very last one, escapes his grasp, he goes to extraordinary lengths to try to catch it. Not only does he chase it all over the yard, but he even zooms to the moon in a space craft. Although he doesn't manage to reach the bubble, someone else does, and the surprise ending just might bring a smile to some readers' faces after all his efforts. While the premise of a bubble ever lasting that long or through all those various parts of the atmosphere is outlandish, it's still cool to see that Dewey has something in common with someone else and that his bubble might lead to a friendship. Highlighting Dewey's stringent efforts and facial expressions, the illustrations were created digitally in Photoshop. This book might not have appeal for me, but I'm betting plenty of youngsters will enjoy it as they think of the possibilities the story presents. Maybe they'll even leave a bubble or two alone just in case.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whimsical illustrations and fun flights of fancy abound in this tale of a bubble popping boy named Dewey. Dewey just has to pop that one last bubble, which takes him on wonderful journey. Where he rides a hot air balloon, then a helicopter, biplane, F-16 fighter jet, and a rocket ship! All to pop that one last bubble! Despite not being able to pop the last bubble, Dewey returns home devastated. Dewey looks through his telescope to the moon, where he had last seen the bubble. But, something is blocking his telescope, it's another bubble! This bubble is not like his bubble. When he looks through his telescope again he sees not only his bubble, he also sees the bubble blower of the new bubble. So, the story ends on a sweet note of a possible new friendship.

[Nicola · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the book and Miss 4 wasn't too keen either. The concept should have worked for us but the execution was a miss. The bubble was too small and iridiscent in some drawings for her to see easily. The book starts off fairly realistically (which is problematic given that it has him climbing a ladder onto the roof of the house) and takes a while become increasingly fantastical. The repetition and insertion of little factoids about the machines didn't work for us either.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Tara Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. Thanks, FirstSecond Books!*

What I loved most about this book was the brilliantly colored and whimsical artwork! Even though its story is a wee bit far-fetched, I think that it is a both fun and imaginative. I would recommend it to younger ones looking for a graphic novel. The bubble popping main character, Dewey, will show the reader that with a little determination, anything is possible!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect for my nephew... when he's a bit older than 9 months :-) now i'm waiting on the animated version of this joyful, downright bubbly, adventure story. POP! reminds us that we are all connected, whether in a shared mission or helping another get to that next stage. (btw CATAWAMPUS CAT is my absolute favorite JCE book.)

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

In this fanciful, colorfully illustrated story, a strange boy expends enormous amounts of energy and resources to pop the very last bubble—and symbolically all of the beauty and goodness it represents. How I wish that Dewey’s monomaniacal quest were to create bubbles of Shangri-Las, wondrous utopian worlds isolated from reality or unlikely to last but magical while they shimmer with happiness, hope, and possibility for alien(ated) children who “don’t need friends to blow bubbles.”

[Karina]

This book would be a good example to have the students think about what the problem is in the story. Since the title is "Pop!" and it relates to a bubble, students can then think of a sound and write about a time that the sound was significant (ex: squeaking sound relates to the time at the park, "Squeak!")

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dewey loved blowing bubbles almost as much as he loved popping them. When his last bubble gets away, he goes on a high-flying adventure to pop it. Kinda reminded me of Aaron Becker's Journey series. This would be a great read-aloud for early elementary! A very imaginative way to solve a normally simple problem.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bubbles are for popping, but one of them gets away. We most do whatever it takes to stop this bubble, but despite ladders, skyscrapers, jets, and even rocketships, this bubble manages to get too high. But sometimes a missed opportunity is actually a new surprise.

I like how creative and fun this story is. It definitely defies logic, but what could be more relatable than catching bubbles?

[Victoria Peipert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and imaginative story. Lovely illustrations. I think the lighthearted execution of the important message for children to reach for what they want and find ways to get it. Definitely a must have story time book!!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a little boy who loves to blow bubbles, but loves to pop those bubbles even more.

I loved the progression of the story. It builds and builds to something better with each attempt to get to the bubble. But the ending is what I loved best.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dewey enjoyed blowing bubbles, but he liked popping them even more. One bubble evades Dewey's attempt to pop it. This takes Dewey to new heights while trying to pop the bubble. During his chase to pop the elusive bubble Dewey discovers something very interesting.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dewey loves blowing, and popping, bubbles - something you can even do alone, without a friend.
One day, the last bubble escapes Dewey's efforts to pop it. And off he goes on an adventure to reach that bubble, which travels higher and higher.
Surprise ending. :)

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dewey is determined to pop every bubble. The problem is, one bubble just alludes him. He goes on a fantastic adventure to try and pop that bubble. This is a super quick and adorably absurd book. I think this will find an audience in most places.

Perfect for an outside or determination storytime.