Brendan, Morgan and the Best Ever Cloud Machine

Sheila Martindale is poetry editor of Canadian Author and Bookman and
author of No Greater Love, her sixth collection of poetry.

A variation on the “I wish I could fly” theme, this is the fanciful tale of two little boys who make a cloud machine. Though in some ways it is well crafted, there arc factors here that puzzle and fail to satisfy. If the story is meant for kindergarten age, then some of the language is too advanced; but if the author aimed the text at older children, then the plot is too obviously implausible. For example, vocabulary such as “ponder,” “speculate,” and “dirigible” would be too difficult for a five-year-old; but a home-made machine, complete with hot and cold air squirters and a sail, which can take off, fly, crash-land, and survive collision would, I think, be unconvincing to an eight- or nine-year old. Though the art work is pleasing, I’d say that this is not one of Annick’s best offerings.