Polo and the Magic Flute by: Regis Fallen

This simple picture book is a fun read that could be utilized for the young primary grades. It's a book that I would probably use one on one with a student that has an imagination and likes to tell stories. Just by looking at the illustrations, the reader has to infer what they think is going on in the story, and I like how some picture books like these are made to do just that. The illustrations are made in a comic strip fashion but there are no words. Polo goes on an adventure, where he starts out at sea by himself. He comes across a whale that lifts him up onto land. Polo meets a friend that introduces him to this magic flute and then the friend disappears. Confused, Polo sits and waits at the bus stop while a snail comes and scoops him on his back. They travel together until Polo is dropped off near the old friend. They play their flutes together and sail away on magic carpets.

Okay so that was my short synopsis of what happened. But reading this book with a young child would allow for other interpretations. They could read it to you and tell you what is happening in each of the illustrations. I make a text to self connection with this book because it reminds me of my niece Sydney. She will have these princess books that have words in them but because she can't read yet, she will tell her own story of what is happening based on the pictures and of what she knows based on being read to in the past. Other times she will ask me to read one line, and then she will go from there and make up what happens for the rest of the page. Children are so creative, and using a book like Polo and the magic flute would allow them to tell a great story in their own words!