Out of the Blue

Ernest is out playing on his own when the kite he was flying becomes stuck in a tree. While he contemplates how to get it back, a loud crash interrupts his train of thought. Ernest heads towards the sound; he has no idea what he will find, but he wants to be helpful if there is someone in need. When he arrives, he is startled to see what he suspects is a monster, and the creature he found has the same initial fear when looking at Ernest! With time and patience, the two strangers discover that, even though they come from different places and speak different languages, they do have something in common. With this realization, they become fast friends. They work together to fix the creature’s broken spaceship and release Ernest’s rogue kite from the tree before they say goodbye.

Out of the Blue uses comic panelled and full-page pictures to tell a thoughtful story using very little text. There is great depth to the story told through images as Ernest races to the scene of the crash, hides in fear from the creature he does not understand, and eventually builds a relationship with the new friend. Even the language between the two characters is told through pictograms – something easily understood even by the pre-literate.

Out of the Blue is a story of tolerance, acceptance, diversity, and empathy told in a way that is immediately resonant with the very young. It is a beautiful blend of story and art that children can interpret in different ways, improvise in sections for added fun, and understand on multiple levels. Kids will love the art style and the straightforward resolution to a recognizable scenario. Teachers or caregivers will have a wealth of focus areas for follow-up discussions from which to choose.