The Greatest Adventure, written by Tony Piedra, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Alex D.
Summary: This story is about a young boy, Eliot, who desperately searches for adventure. He imagines monsters and swamps in his block but only wishes it were all true. Fortunately for him, his grandpa, El Capitán, comes back from his journey full of fascinating stories. Eliot takes it all in with determination. Begging for adventure, El Capitán takes him for a journey through the city. Unfortunately, Eliot still does not feel the adrenaline of navigating around sharks and swamps so he offers his grandpa help to fix the boat. Through hard work and determination, El Capitán and Eliot are on their way towards jungles and all sorts of mysterious creatures found around the world. Readers will be delighted to see the twist in the author’s perspective.

Straight Talk for Librarians: I believe that this story would work well as a motivation for children to go out and find new opportunities. Taking risks can lead to wonderful adventures, just like it did for Eliot. In my opinion, this book is a good motivator for small children to express their creativity and energy in life. Eliot depicts an average child with a broad imagination and would be a good example for children struggling with creativity. The main character goes through a series of changes from the start to the end of the story. He develops from a young, shy city boy to a “grown-up” boy exploring the world to find what he likes. The overall mood and tone are hopeful and energetic, similar to Eliot’s personality. The plotline is well made and teaches valuable lessons. The contrast in colors reflects the tone well throughout the story. For example, when Eliot realizes that the city is not filled with adrenaline-rushing monsters, the colors become dark and depressing as if he’s lost the chance for a wild adventure. Readers can use this story as a motivation for work in life and a new way to look at a seemingly uninteresting world. It’s important to take what you have and use it to your advantage. This book would be a great addition to any library.