Alberic the Wise and Other Journeys

by Norton Juster

Book Overview

Three tales of wit and wonder from the children's classic author of 'The Phantom Tollbooth'. Unlikely hero Alberic is on a seemingly endless search for wisdom. He learns much along the way but will... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037586699X
• ISBN13: 9780375866999
• Release Date: November 2010
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.3" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

The True Meaning of LIfe

If one is searching for the true meaning of life, you can find it between the few pages of this "picture book." It is not the successes and the failures that we encounter daily, but what is important is how we get to them and what we do with them. THE JOURNEY.

Feudel vassel Alberic learns it is alright to fail

The story was originally written in 1965 but has been reissued in 1992 accompanied by some wonderful paintings by Leonard Baskin that are, indeed, reminiscent of Barry Moser (both of whom, interestingly enough, founded their own private presses). In this day and age, children are basically taught that success is everything and the only thing. This book tells a remarkably different tale: it is alright to fail, as Alberic learns repeatedly. Alberic does not wallow in his failure, he picks up and moves on to new chapters of his life. Ultimately, he learns he is a success by being thought wise, yet he remains uncomfortable in the trappings of success. Why, because he has learned that life is lived best by continual striving, that it is a process, a journey wherein "the freedom and the joy [is felt by] not knowing where each new step would take him." An altogether wonderful lesson for children and wonderful paintings.