Marveltown

by Bruce McCall

What’s it like growing up in a town founded by inventors? On Saturdays, the adults open the doors of the Invent-o-Drome and give local children free rein to create whatever gadgets they can think up. Hypno-Goggles, a Rocket Chair, a homework-eating robo-dog – the can-do kids of Marveltown are never at a loss for ideas. But when an unfortunate short circuit causes a group of giant robot workers to go berserk – and the adults flee for their lives – are the kids ready to put their know-how to the test?
 
In his first book for children, veteran illustrator Bruce McCall has crafted a tale of ingenuity and mayhem with pictures that pop with retro charm and crackerjack wit.

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Science Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Art, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2008

About the author

Bruce McCall was a Canadian author and illustrator, best known for his frequent contributions to The New Yorker.

Born and raised in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, he was fascinated by comic books and showed an early aptitude for drawing fantastical flying machines, blimps, bulbous-nosed muscle cars and futuristic dioramas.

In his memoir, Thin Ice Coming of Age in Canada, McCall admitted that he was never good at physical activity as a boy, but could count on his mother to encourage his creativity. Bruce's father T.C. was imperious and unemotional, and left his alcoholic wife Peg without the attention she needed. Peg and the children tried to strike an attachment to him, but his stormy moods frequently pushed them aside.

Without any serious technical training, McCall began his illustration career drawing cars for Ford Motor Company in Toronto in the 1950s. After several decades in advertising, he sought opportunities elsewhere in the publishing industry.

He went to New York City, and was hired by National Lampoon and made a name for himself as an artist with intelligent and whimsical humor. McCall also spent a brief period writing sketches for Saturday Night Live.

McCall illustrated magazine covers, regularly appearing in The New Yorker and other magazines. He has been a contributor to the magazine since 1979.

McCall was also a humourist, and had written essays on some of the social ironies of modern life. He writes frequently for the "Shouts & Murmurs" section of The New Yorker.

McCall lived on the Upper West Side of New York near Central Park.

Reviews

[Ally Copper · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a picture book that will stimulate young readers' imaginations, then "Marveltown" by Bruce McCall is the right book for you. It would be best for older elementary students (3rd through 5th grade). The futuristic illustrations in this book are a little intimidating at first. The futuristic contraptions depicted are so big, and the people are so small, it's quite different from most picture books that usually focus on the characters, making them seem big. This book focuses on the larger than life inventions, making the human characters seem like tiny ants in the background. This seemed a little scary and off-putting at first. However, the text of the story assures readers that the tiny people you see in the book invented all the machines you encounter. They found it fun to think of new and fascinating wonders to create. The characters in the book are not intimidated by the large world they inhabit so neither should readers be. Marveltown is a place where brainstorming solutions to problems and inventing new machines is a way of life. Adults and children like get in on the inventing game. In fact, when some of the robots invented by adults malfunction and begin attacking the town, it is the children's inventions that save the day. This will spark readers' imaginations and conversations about what they would invent if they could. The somewhat impersonal feel of this book will keep it from being a favorite among most children, but be assured that there will be some innovative, creative readers who will discovery this book and read it again and again.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I plucked this big sunny square off the Professional Review shelves at work and surveyed the faux- Fifties Futurist paintings, I flashed back to pulling old books on rocket science off my Dad's shelves when I was a kid. The illustrations in those books were so intriguing - immense curved structures with impossibly thin floors and spires, a few tiny humans scratched in to give them scale; cratered surfaces and craggy mountains; big control rooms full of oversized dials... but the books would always disappoint. I would expect breathless stories full of firecracker surprises, but... there was a lot of nonfiction in our house. Those books would actually be about rocket science. Lots of parabolas and charts.

I shook my head paging through Marveltown, thinking that Bruce McCall had a lot of fun creating a catalog of outscale inventions, and thinking that just drawing lots of cool stuff does not make a book.

What a fantastic surprise, therefore, to turn a page and, beneath a painting of a huge control room with banks of flanged capacitors and oversized dials, see the words, "Until one quiet midnight..." A story! A robot rebellion! Yeah!!

Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkpicks.blogspot.com/2008/11...

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like the superhero comic book style of the illustrations in this book and I think they would appeal to a lot of kids, boys in particular. The book is supposed to be a "tale of ingenuity and mayhem", but I found it depressing. Marveltown is a futuristic place filled with inventors, and although the author claims that the children "thought fun without a challenge was no fun at all", they are obsessed with the idea that faster is better, bigger is better. Maybe I missed something, or I'm just reading to much into this? After all, Steve Martin and Jerry Seinfeld gave rave reviews and hailed it as hilarious.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book tells the story of the child inventors of Marveltown that save the day from giant rogue robots. I love the retro style of the illustrations – it looks like it is straight out of a 1940s sci-fi movie or comic – but it is also combined with imaginative new fangled inventions. This story really empowers kids by justifying their ideas. At the end of the story, it asks “Who knew what big brainstorms were next?” So I think this would be an excellent question to ask the kids; what would they invent if they lived in Marveltown?

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robots! And Science! This is all about how the kids of Marveltown, an awesomely inventive place, come to save the adults from their creations, robots gone awry, by using their own kid inventions, even a homework-eating dog. It's a great fantasy book to help kids picture themselves as creative and inventive and able to give value to their communities. I could practically see the wheels turning in my oldest child's head as he saw himself in the shoes of the young inventors in this story.

[Romelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story in which kids are the inventors of this futuristic community. Young readers will be inspired by the clever inventions to Imagine and create. The story dragged a little since the conflict did not start until the latter half of the book. The robots short circuited and caused havoc in Marveltown, threatening the kids' inventions. A bit predictable and slow paced, but I am sure this book will find its way to a home of a future inventor.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids of Marveltown use their inventions to save the town from a group of crazed robots that were invented by adults.

This book is really fun to read, and the pictures are great. The book is full of imagination and leaves the reader wanting to know what other interesting things have been invented in Marveltown. The last page shows one of the inventions, but it does not say what it is.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked this out from the library this week. He wanted to check out yellow books, and this one definitely has a yellow cover.

In fact, the best thing about this book is that rather marvelous cover, and then the book went downhill from there. The more I read this book, the less I liked it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think kids will really enjoy looking at this book. There are fun ideas presented in the illustrations and it focuses on the lives of the kids and how the kids invent and help. Kinda gives a "Yo Gabba Gabba" feel.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy adventures and activities dreamed up by the kids in Marveltown and how they used them to save everyone.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting art.

[Nicoleta]

Invenții pe care orice copil și le-ar dori. Șoarecele care face pagube. Roboții care distrug.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this book from the library this weekend and we might just have to add it to our collection. The illustrations are fantastic and I love the message of this book... that kids can use their imaginations to solve problems grown-ups can't!

[Zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the greatest story, but a fun picture book. A great way to inspire creativity in little ones and it is refreshing to see a rather boy centered picture book!

[Chris Callaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic artwork and an amusing story (featuring giant rampaging robots) makes this a great read for kids. The illustrations are inspired by 1950s era visions of the future.

[Candi]

Ages 5-8

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to inspire the inventing mind - would be a nice read around Science Fair time.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Town where life revolves around inventing. When their giant robots attack, the children's inventions save the day.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This appeals to the 5.5 year-old's inventing streak. The machines are cool and encourage inventive thinking. The plot leaves a bit to be desired, but it's a kid's book, so I'm forgiving....

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cool look at one possible future.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eureka for the younger set!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good storyline about the ups and downs of inventive technology, from the residents of Marveltown. The children also enjoyed the retro illustrations during preschool storytime.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool retro illustrations, but I'm not exactly sure who this book is for. Nostalgia seekers, perhaps?

[Magila · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Holly Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I come back to this book again and again. He loves the fanciful nature of the inventions, and in the story the kids win the day which is fun for every kid!

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a book better for an older audience.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline comes out of nowhere. First it's just descriptions of the town/people/things they do, and then towards the very end there's a plot. Not well written.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Large-scale Tomorrowland-ish invention
Could help introduce invention unit

[Andria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ideas are whimsical and yet grounded. Incredible illustrations.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of book that could, and should, inspire future generations, as well as current ones.