THE FANTASTIC FLYING JOURNEY
By
A well-known naturalist attempts to combine animal lore and fantasy--in a rather ponderous adventure that takes three children and their uncle on a balloon trip around the world. But even the airy and softly colored picture-book style illustrations cannot keep this story aloft. The balloon, powered by a small diesel engine, carries a three-story bamboo construction complete with cast-iron stove, enormous fruit trees in tubs, a four-bedroom suite, and enough supplies to last four people a year, making it apparent that the author is not strong on aeronautics. The whimsy is heavy-handed: electric power is supplied by electric eels; balloon silk is spun by spiders; and the adventurers can communicate with animals because of a magic potion. From the North Pole to Patagonia, animals lecture the children about their special adaptations. Tedious.