Hey Willy, See the Pyramids

by Maira Kalman

Alexander loves listening to his sister Lulu's inventive bedtime stories--about the blue and green mountains where fish fly, the three cross-eyed dogs that eat in fancy restaurants, and Aunt Ida's most unusual party

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Art

48 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Maira Kalman was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York with her family at the age of four. She has worked as a designer, author, illustrator and artist for more than thirty years without formal training. Her work is a narrative journal of her life and all its absurdities. She has written and illustrated twelve children's books including Ooh-la-la- Max in Love, What Pete Ate, and Swami on Rye. She often illustrates for The New Yorker magazine, and is well known for her collaboration with Rick Meyerowitz on the NewYorkistan cover in 2001. Recent projects include The Elements of Style (illustrated), and a monthly on-line column entitled Principles of Uncertainty for The New York Times.

She lives in New York and walks a lot.

(http://www.saulgallery.com)

Reviews

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I will admit that I have never read any book from Maira Kalman before and this book, “Hey Willy, See the Pyramids” is the first book I had read from Maira Kalman. But now that I had read this book, I think that I will check out more of Maira Kalman’s works in the near future!

The book starts off with a young boy asking his sister Lulu to tell him some stories and even though Lulu did not want to tell stories at first, she begins telling eleven stories that are full of humor, surrealism and heartwarming moments that will surely put the boy to sleep:

1. Big Story
2. Green Hat
3. Tiny Story
4. Fish Story
5. The Story of the Party
6. Chicken Story
7. Eddy and Buddy
8. Tiptoe Story
9. The Poem of Max
10. Green Face
11. A Boy Had a Dream

Now, I have read many children’s books that are full of bizarre imagery and dreamlike narratives, but I have never read a children’s bedtime story quite like this before! Maira Kalman’s narrative is extremely bizarre and dreamlike as the characters are thrown into weird situations that you would normally never see play out in the real world, like in “Tiny Story” where there were tiny people as small as mice walking across the streets. I also loved the way that Maira Kalman had Lulu and her brother’s narrative being put in black pages with only white text being printed on them as it helps the reader distinguish between Lulu’s conversation with her brother and the dreamlike situations of the stories. Probably my most favorite stories in this book were “Tiny Story,” “The Story of the Party,” “Eddy and Buddy” and “Tiptoe Story” since those stories had the most original and bizarre artwork I had ever seen! Maira Kalman’s artwork is extremely reminiscent of Henrik Drescher’s artwork as there are bizarre creatures abound each page such as half bird and half human hybrid creatures and characters who have different skin tones such as some people being colored green instead of regular human colors which brings out the creativity of this story.



Parents should know that there is much bizarre imagery in this book that might scare some children and that they should read this book first before reading it to their child to see if they could handle the bizarre imagery.

Overall, “Hey Willy, See the Pyramids” is a truly wonderful and creative book about dreams and stories that children will love for years! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the narrative might be a bit too confusing for some children.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book to my nephew for Christmas when he was a little boy. This year, when he was interviewing for colleges, he was asked to name one book that influenced his life. He chose this book.

I always enjoy reading this book aloud. Duncan especially likes it when we read the part about the person named Dudu. Funny.

The illustrations are complex, with the kind of detail that keeps you looking for new things each time you open the cover.

I think I like the black pages with the bedtime conversations most of all. They remind me of countless nights with my brothers and all of the nonsense that surrounded bedtime.

Simple, silly, beautiful.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy asks his sister Lulu to tell him stories in this quirky bedtime book from author/illustrator Maira Kalman. Lulu obliges, sharing a number of seemingly random story snippets, all humorous, some related. The wacky behavior of relatives at parties (attendees without pants!), the magical things that various people see (flying fish!), the odd behavior of animals (ordering dinner at restaurants!) - all are covered here. There's even a story snippet about a dog-poet named Max, who longs to run off to Paris...

Originally published in 1988, and then reprinted this past year (2017) by the New York Review Children's Collection, Hey Willy, See the Pyramids is an engaging, oddball comedy of a picture-book. It gives the impression, with its format of story snippets, of dipping into a narrative pool - one is never completely submerged in any given story, but is kept entertained by all. I appreciated the brief glimpse of Max the dog-poet, who would appear two years later in his own book, Max Makes a Million , and its various sequels. I also enjoyed the artwork, with its vivid color palette, and its many stylized figures. The completely black pages, on which the boy asks his sister questions, or requests more stories, make an interesting visual interlude between various sections of the book. Recommended to Maira Kalman fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books featuring brothers and sisters, and/or the storytelling process.

[Relyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Maira Kalman, but this one really didn't do it for me.

[Manik Sukoco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mind-expanding book. It's quirky (like all of Kalman's books), beautifully illustrated (with real art), and it introduces the character Max the blue dog who stars in some of her later books. It looks like a kids book, but really offers something for all who are open to it. Kids can relate to LuLu and her brother, and adults can better relate to kids when they remember their own dreams and fantasies and (if they're lucky) the stories their siblings told to get them to go to sleep. A great book!

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I sleeping?
Yes.
Am I dreaming?
Yes.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4 not only because I love Kalman, but because the book has enormous appeal. As I was reading it I kept thinking of how utterly random it was. But then I remembered...this book is about a little boy begging his sister to tell him 5 bedtime stories. So she does. The stories in this book are the wild, imaginative stories she tells him.

[Kate Buechler]

For the life of me I can't remember why I put this title on hold. What a strange book. I especially like the dog that tried to run away.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally love Kalman's illustrations but wasn't wild about them here, and didn't like the stories that much either, although I also feel like I didn't "get" the whole book.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surreal picture book initially published in 1988 and released again in 2017 in the NYRB collection. Kalman's daughter Lulu writes her mom's bio, but more importantly, tells bizarre "stories" to get her brother to sleep. It really reminds me of the dreamlike Chagall paintings, whimsical and colorful and joyful and surreal. I really am not sure it is so much a children's book as a family book. Some of it would be fun for kids. . . like Lulu.!

The text is exclusively Lulu's bizarre observations about random things: Maishel Schmelkin who came to a family party without pants, flying fish, small people carrying tiny instruments, Mr Zelikovitch's pet chicken, Dada and Dudu, the dog Max who wanted to go to Paris and be a poet. Silly, joyous fun. Made me happy to read it. From a Manhattan treasure.

[the velocireader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life.

It was my favorite book as a child - I probably still have the whole thing memorized. I’m convinced the reason I went to school for art history was this book. It resonated with me at a soul level.

The concept is really simple - bedtime stories - which gives the freedom to tell the imaginative tales that have no tie to one another. What I love most about Kalman is while it is simple enough for a child to get at surface level, she never condescends or simplifies.

[Jackie Mancuso · Rating 4 out of 5]

early Kalman. 1988.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories are everything.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really avant-garde children's book. More of a children's book for adults to appreciate than anything. Really interesting outsider artwork, basically collages of weird drawings. Very creative.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the cover art on this book, especially the plaid spine, b/c it makes for a cute Christmas gift. The funny, quirky stories and illustrations by Kalman are like a combination of Tim Burton meets Wes Anderson. I love how Kalman captures these tiny moments and brings out the humanity of random sightings. I love how this book celebrates the uniqueness of individuals and their hobbies, likes and dislikes. As always, I love the stories about Max.

[Jay Bushara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Kalman at her jumping, jazzy, barely-tethered best. Eleven little stories strung together as one: the story a sister tells her little brother to get him to go to sleep. The pages where they're talking are completely black, which makes each of the pages between them - swarming with prepositions and color and several little characters who don't appear to be entirely human - all the more striking, and memorable. A pitch-perfect representation of the territory between restless wakefulness and mysterious dreams:

"The end," Lulu whispers.
I think I am asleep.
Then Lulu shuffles back
to her bed
and we both see flying chairs
and green hats
and pink things
and sink some and
slowly sink
into sleep."

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter grabbed this at the library the other day. I read it outloud to her and spent the whole time thinking that it was the weirdest book ever. But after I closed it and tucked her in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about it and the more I thought, the more it occurred to me how strangely awesome this book actually is.

[Michelle Lannoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its abstract and it makes us laugh. We read it in a sleepy way like a mixed-up dream. There are several books by this artist. I'm sure we don't have them all, but this one is a current favorite. We read it tonight.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

We laughed on the part when Maishel Shmelkin forgot to wear his pants. Ha ha. I would have given this book 5 stars except I don't care much for the illustrations. It is a good idea that an older sibling is telling her younger sibling stories in the night because he can't get to sleep.

[Elana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suggest reading this book aloud. It has a flow that is both theatrical and poetic. Have fun with it. The pictures are wonderful. I haven't met a child that does not become completely engrossed. I really love this book.

[Peter Heinrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a kid's book for grown-ups to enjoy, or maybe a grown-up's book written by a kid, or maybe just a book dictated by a kid and illustrated by a grown-up (in the style of a kid), I can't really tell.

Cute.

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course I love Maira Kalman. My only complaint is that there's so much going on on the page that I'm afraid I'll miss something. Maybe when I have kids, they can become obsessed with her books and then we'll read them over and over and I'll see it all.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Kalman's books, but I wasn't drawn into the verse or the images this time. The visuals were certainly dreamlike (as they were intended for the listener in the story), but odd dreams indeed. At least the dreams were in magnificent color!

[Dr. Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family's first intro to Maira Kalman. Maischel Schmelkin and his pants are still a legend in my family!

[David Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I wish I could paint liker her.

[Austin Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly and wonderful. Which came first - the illustrations or the stories? Surreal but with an interesting connective thread.

[Simon Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one of the most formative books of my young life, and probably the reason I began to write. This book was invaluable to me, and still is. Thank you, Maira.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maira Kalman always makes me laugh and see life in vivid colors and shapes. Her books are for 'children' of all ages.

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I <3 Maira Kalman; and I believe this is the first introduction of Max, the canine poet!

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot honestly say that I really get the text or the illustrations. Nor do I see the appeal for young children in this picture book.