Awards
A New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2002
Synopses & Reviews
Memories are old hat, my friend; imagination is new shoes. Having lost your new shoes, what else is there to do but go and find them?
On an afternoon like any other, an artist's imagination disappears and never returns. His quest to recover it leads him to The Last Resort, a remote seaside hotel visited by some most remarkable guests. As he searches for his lost "inward eye" in this serene and mysterious place, he soon finds that he is not the only one looking for something. With rich and enchanting illustrations by renowned artist Roberto Innocenti and a captivating story by J. Patrick Lewis, The Last Resort is both a celebration of literature and an homage to the power of the imagination.
Review
"Lewis's colorful and imaginative prose...will keep readers' attention, despite the meandering story line and occasionally affected tone....Innocenti's artwork consistently soars. His series of detailed, playful vignettes tweak perspective and brim with arch humor....This elegantly designed volume will be most appreciated by bibliophiles and aesthetes: the artwork is spectacular." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"[T]he combination of striking illustrations and highly allusive narrative makes the book read like an episode of Tintin as written by Umberto Eco. That said, I could easily see an imaginative child becoming obsessed with Innocenti's splendidly evocative and entertaining pictures....and the text is charming enough to make you forgive its obscurities." James Hynes, The New York Times
Review
"[An] unusual but lyrical and imaginative tale....Each scene...is richly loaded with details adding to the emotional impact. While the words hold us on the page, the illustrations, realistically rendered yet fraught with intrigue, also command us to linger. A book truly worthy of the time needed to appreciate it." Children's Literature
Review
"Roberto Innocenti and J. Patrick Lewis' Last Resort tells of an artist's imagination which abruptly disappears. His quest to recover it leads him to a remote seaside hotel where he finds other seekers. The illustrations are gorgeous and parents can help kids absorb the somewhat difficult theme." Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
An artist's quest to recover his imagination leads him to a remote seaside hotel.
Synopsis
On an afternoon like any other, an artist's imagination disappears. His quest to recover it leads him to a remote seaside hotel visited by some remarkable guests. Illustrated by the masterful Roberto Innocenti, this book celebrates the wonders of the imagination.
About the Author
Illustrator Roberto Innocenti has won world-wide acclaim and numerous awards for his exquisitely detailed, renaissance type art. He has been lauded by
The New York Times as one of the world's finest children's illustrators.
Author J. Patrick Lewis has written more than 35 books of poetry and fiction for children. His work has been recognized with a number of honors, including the Golden Kite Award.