Paul lives in the basement of a high-rise building. He doesn’t like school, and so, one day, he feigns sickness. When his parents allow him to stay home, he finds he is bored. The solution, of course, is to go to the top of his building and touch the sky. Paul naturally continues on to the moon so he can confirm his thesis that the moon is only a hole in the sky. As in My Dad’s a Birdman (Almond, reviewed in this volume), Polly Dunbar’s full color, mainly double-page illustrations create an essential bridge between Almond’s outrageously fantastic characters and his audience, thus enabling readers to suspend disbelief and enter into the author’s wacky universe . lmp

Originally published by Walker Books Great Britain, in 2010.

Crackpot notions, community spirit, and sky-high aspirations transform a quiet boy’s life in this whimsical tale from the stellar team of David Almond and Polly Dunbar.

There are some strange ideas floating around in Paul’s apartment block. There’s Mabel, who now calls herself Molly and whose brother hides under a paper bag. Then there’s Clarence, the poodle who thinks he can fly. But the strangest notion of all is Paul’s. You see, Paul believes that the moon is not the moon but a great hole in the sky. And he knows that sausages are better than war. How on earth (or not) will he find out if he is bonkers or a genius? With a few equally bonkers (or genius) helpers and a very long ladder, that’s how! From a master of magical realism and a celebrated artist comes another delightfully outrageous expedition.