UP, UP AND OVER YOU'LL GO!

Lugo’s picture book celebrates adventures of the imagination across land, sea, and sky.

 The author takes budding young adventurers on a ride where they soar above mountain peaks, drift past clouds, dive into an underwater castle with friendly sea creatures, and swing through the jungle alongside cheerful orangutans and wise monkeys. Each page offers a new travel adventure and presents the world as an endless playground. This storybook empowers kids to look at their everyday lives for inspiration to make stories of their own, but also reinforces the idea that there will always be obstacles and inconveniences in every journey: but never fear, because these can lead to intellectual and spiritual growth. The ending encourages self-belief and optimism that feels heartfelt and moving, and the illustrations bring vibrancy and warmth to the book as a whole, with sweeping scenes that beckon the audience into each fantasy location. The expressive, colorful environments elevate the book beyond its words, making each page a visual feast. However, since the text is white it’s sometimes difficult to read when superimposed on a lighter background. Perhaps a different color or placement would help to make it easier for children to follow. The use of capitalization in certain spots felt odd as well: It can work well in poetry or to emphasize a point, but mostly tends to be distracting or awkward.

A joyful, visually enchanting ride perfect for sparking curiosity in young explorers everywhere.