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Title: Fun story complemented by superb illustrations
Review: Before there was Harry Potter, there was Harvey Potter, gentleman balloon farmer. Jerdine Nolen's story is fun and plays off a child's natural curiosity. The story is great--a little girl spies on the farmer of a balloon farm to figure out exactly how he grows those balloons (and, of course, it turns out that he uses good old-fashioned magic). But what really makes this book a stand-out are Mark Buehner's superb illustrations. Slyly employing a style and upright look that recalls both Grant Wood and Edward Hopper, Buehner turns the volume up by using super-saturated colors--perfect for a book about magic and balloons. There is almost more humor and wonder in the pictures than in the text. I highly recommend this book, especially for budding artists. The pictures are just a joy to gaze upon and enjoy.
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