Pikolo's Night Voyage

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Young Pikolo has a special uncle who lives in the forest. One day the
uncle gives Pikolo a wooden train made from a magic tree that was struck
by lightning. The uncle says the train will take Pikolo to a magical
place where the Treasure Tree grows.

Late at night, the train takes Pikolo to Wood City, where all people
and things are made of wood. The youngster spends the night rushing from
one magic play activity to another until he remembers he is supposed to
be searching for the Treasure Tree. Just before dawn Pikolo finds it and
his own special treasure turns out to be a seedling. When planted, the
seedling will grow up into another magic tree to replace the one struck
by lightning. Pikolo is delighted with his present and falls asleep
clutching his seedling. Ecology triumphs over tacky materialism.

On the title page it says, “Text by Pierre Filion, based on an
original idea by [Gilles] Tibo.” Text is almost superfluous in this
book. Tibo’s illustrations are so dominating, the text, like Pikolo,
often seems along only for the ride.

This is a fine book that stands up well under repeated readings. Highly
recommended.