Sky-High Guy

by Nina Crews

Whether they’re trekking to a magical island to hunt dinosaurs or saving a city from destruction, Jack and his action figure Guy have exciting adventures. Sometimes, Jack’s little brother Gus joins them. When Guy gets caught in a branch while sky-diving, Jack and Gus must launch operation rescue!   In this companion to Below , Nina Crews uses her trademark photo-collage style to tell a playful story where innovative ideas and teamwork save the day.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 13, 2010

About the author

Nina Crews is a well known author and an illustrator children's books. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Reviews

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrated with photographs.

Jack is a boy and Gus is his younger brother. Jack's favorite toy is Guy. Jack and Guy do all sorts of amazing things together. Unfortunately, when sky diving Guy gets stuck in a tree. Luckily Jack and Gus together manage to get him down.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was okay. I like how photos were used instead of drawings,

[Sarah Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember what it is like to have deep imaginary play? This book does. In a book that may seem awkward to adults, this book captures a boy and his toy, Guy, playing together with brother Gus. The main character plays with Guy and has him skydive, soaring up and down through the air. Guy gets stuck in the tree, and it’s up to the boy and his brother Gus to get him down. Adults don’t exist in this story to help. The mom has one line and we don’t see her—and she is an obstacle not a help.

The beauty of this book is it’s simplicity and realness that kids can relate to. The photographs show what imaginary play looks like, and have just enough whimsy to show the imagination.

Again, to an adult, this book seems clunky and weird. But to a child, it’s a story about adventure and kids solving problems themselves. Fabulous.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Nina Crews' photo-story books about Jack and his toy guy, Guy. (Her previous book, Below, is a favorite of mine.) Every kid can relate to the adventures we imagine our toys going on. Here, Guy gets caught in a tree due to an unfortunate sky-diving accident. Jack and his little brother Gus find a way to get Guy out of the tree on their own and get back to playing. It's so simple, but the photos bring it to life. Might be neat to let kids take digital photos of their toys and add drawings to them to show the "imagination" parts like Nina Crews did.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I had this idea first. Take some narrative photographs with some cool kids you like and write a children's book. Great idea, nice photographs, neat story. I think that as a kid it would be cool to read books with "real" people in them for a change instead of illustrations. It would be good to add that visual variation to such a young eye.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sky-high guy? I'm pretty sure I've had to deal with him more than once in my library. :/

This is a simple picture book about the power of imagination-driven play.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art in this book! It has such a fun and childlike feel. The story is about a boy and the adventures he has with his toy. When the toy gets stuck in a tree, he enlists the assistance of his younger brother to get him down. Simple text is good for learning readers.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun juxtaposition of actual photos with additional images drawn into the scenes. Two-page spread with Jack & Guy as superheroes. Great lessons about teamwork, looking after one another, siblings playing together.

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a boy, his action figure, and his younger brother. An adventurous book with photographs of the three of them doing what children do best.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Xavier and Lily!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using a toy in photographs, this title encourages imagination tracing sky-high guy's adventures. Clever problem-solving saves the day!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just as wonderful as "Below."

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant fun! This imaginative story told in real photography makes you feel like you are in the story watching two boys live out an adventure of great proportion. I love Nina Crews' style!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading with Stuck by Jeffers for a 'things get stuck' storytime. Should be fun!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read at Pajama Story Time on 9/26/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaching cooperation through story line and images and art choices. Mostly photos with drawn art overtop, this book is innovate and cute.

[Harla · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about putting together our story time kits is getting to read so many new picture books. I love the use of actual photos and the story line is appealing as well. Good read!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Problem Solving and innovative thinking