內容簡介
From the creator of Little Owl Lost and Oh No, George! comes a funny, strikingly illustrated story of best-laid plans — and the secret to attracting the birdie.Four friends creep through the woods, and what do they spot? An exquisite bird high in a tree! "Hello birdie," waves one. "Shh! We have a plan," hush the others. They stealthily make their advance, nets in the air. Ready one, ready two, ready three, and
go! But as one comically foiled plan follows another, it soon becomes clear that their quiet, observant companion, hand outstretched, has a far better idea. Award-winning author-illustrator Chris Haughton is back with another simple, satisfying story whose visual humor plays out in boldly graphic, vibrantly colorful illustrations.
作者簡介
Chris Haughton is the creator of
Little Owl Lost and
Oh No, George! He has taught many courses in design and illustration around the world. In 2007, he was named one of Time Magazine’s DESIGN 100 for his work for Fair Trade and People Tree, and in 2011 he was named one of Booktrust’s Best New Illustrators. Originally from Dublin, Chris Haughton now lives in London.,,,
精彩書評
In a gorgeous nocturnal landscape of deep purples and blues, four figures go marching along. ... They tiptoe towards the bird with hilariously expressive body language... In a breathtakingly rich spread, a flock of colorful, jewel-toned birds appear and drive the schemers into retreat. ... A masterful delight, this crafty caper has huge kid appeal and a title/refrain that will easily sneak into the family lexicon: shh! We have a plan. This perfect blend of circular narrative, deceptively spare art, and humor becomes a story that kids will want to read at storytime, at home, and to themselves if no adult is handy.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
There’s a bouncy staccato music in the carefully structured text, and listeners will quickly anticipate the patterns and helpfully join in on the repetitions as they root for the little guy who knows better than the big fools. Haugen’s art is original yet easily legible... The temptation to act this out will be almost irresistible, so channel the impulse into an organized (or even semi-organized) performance.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
With cover art recalling Ungerer’s The Three Robbers and the wry sensibility of Klassen’s Hat books, this is a natural choice for any storytime. A spare, humorous text pairs with blocky, digital illustrations to tell the story... Plan on repeated readings.
—Horn Book (starred review)
Big, blocky shapes and intense hues make the action simple to follow, and Haughton’s text is similarly telegraphic. ... The delicious stupidity of the hunting trio, the purity of heart of their small companion, and the sweet-tempered drama of each page turn make this a classic exercise in picture-book making.
—Publishers Weekly
Haughton’s stylish digital illustrations in chunky patches of color make masterful use of hue and contrast—the jazzy warm-toned birds are vibrant when set against the crepuscular blues of the friends and the woods. With only a few words total, a repeated refrain, and a visually unmistakable plot, this is a great choice for emergent readers or a group storytime.
—Booklist Online
A peace-waging parable, presented with wry minimalism à la Jon Klassen or Tomi Ungerer. ... Haughton uses a palette of deep blues and purples for his simple forest scenes; this causes the hunters' googly eyes to stand out comically and also makes the fuchsia, red and orange birds easy to spot and follow. Last seen creeping up on a squirrel, the hunters have plainly learned nothing from their experience…but young readers might. Sure to "net" young audiences, who will definitely root for the birds.
—Kirkus Reviews
It’s one of the best picture books of the year.
—Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes
This slapstick adventure (rendered in brilliantly saturated colors) demonstrates that if the best laid plans often go awry, then poorly laid plans don't stand a chance.
—Huffington Post
Many young readers will enjoy the story for its humorous elements while others will nod gently, recognizing its life lessons about the impact of force versus gentleness. The repetitive use of cautionary "Shh"s hissed at the youngster as the gang tries to execute its plans and the moody digital illustrations are bound to make readers feel as though they are moving stealthily through the night.
—Reading Today Online
Delightfully vibrant.
—BuzzFeed
前言/序言
寰宇秘境探尋:失落文明的低語 一、 引言:迷霧中的呼喚 在浩瀚的星河邊緣,存在著一片被時空遺忘的角落——“以太之環”。這裏是無數古老文明的殘骸與新興勢力的交匯點,充斥著未解的謎團和超乎想象的危險。本書將帶領讀者深入這片由扭麯引力場和異常能量構成的區域,揭示一個橫跨數萬年的宏大陰謀,以及關於“創世者”留下的終極遺産的綫索。 本書並非聚焦於某個特定的童書係列,而是一部宏大敘事驅動的科幻史詩,它構建瞭一個復雜的多維度宇宙觀,探討瞭文明的興衰、記憶的本質以及存在的意義。 二、 第一部:觀測者與低語 故事始於主角團——一支由流亡科學傢、前星際雇傭兵以及一位擁有異乎尋常感知能力的年輕“迴響者”組成的探險隊。他們的目標是定位一個傳說中的信號源,該信號源據信是數萬年前在“大坍縮”事件中失蹤的“阿卡迪亞聯邦”發齣的最後訊息。 1. 破碎的坐標係: 主角團駕駛著一艘改裝的勘探艦“赫爾墨斯號”,進入以太之環。這個區域的物理法則與已知宇宙存在顯著差異。時間流速不均,空間結構如同摺疊的紙張,導航係統經常失靈。他們首先發現瞭一個巨大的、由未知材料構築的空間站殘骸,代號“塞壬之喉”。 2. 塞壬之喉的遺跡: 在“塞壬之喉”內部,探險隊遭遇瞭第一道真正的挑戰:一種基於聲波頻率的防禦係統,它能直接影響生物的神經結構。迴響者莉婭,藉助她對高維振動的敏感性,成功解讀瞭防禦係統發齣的警告信息。信息揭示瞭阿卡迪亞聯邦並非和平消亡,而是被一種被稱為“虛空蠕蟲”的跨維度實體侵蝕殆盡。 3. 記憶的碎片: 在殘骸深處,他們找到瞭一係列加密的數據晶體。通過高超的技術破解,這些晶體展現瞭阿卡迪亞聯邦的巔峰時期,以及他們對“熵增定律”的突破嘗試。聯邦科學傢試圖創造一個“永恒引擎”,但實驗失控,反而打開瞭通往虛空蠕蟲領域的通道。這些記憶碎片不僅僅是曆史記錄,它們本身就帶有情感殘餘,時常以幻象的形式睏擾著探險隊員。 三、 第二部:熵與秩序的戰爭 隨著對信號源的追蹤深入,探險隊意識到他們捲入瞭一場跨越星係的權力鬥爭。 1. 衝突的勢力: 以太之環並非無人區。這裏盤踞著兩個主要勢力: “鑄造者議會”: 一群嚴格奉行邏輯和效率的閤成生命體,他們認為阿卡迪亞聯邦的“混亂創造”是宇宙的毒瘤,意圖徹底清除所有與之相關的痕跡,並建立一個絕對有序的星係結構。 “自由漂泊者”: 由反抗鑄造者統治的各個種族殘餘組成的鬆散聯盟,他們相信多樣性和不確定性纔是宇宙進化的真正動力,並試圖復蘇阿卡迪亞聯邦的知識。 2. 追逐與背叛: 鑄造者議會派遣瞭一支精英追擊部隊——“淨化者小隊”,他們裝備瞭專門針對能量和記憶體的武器。在一次驚心動魄的星際追逐中,“赫爾墨斯號”被逼入一個由恒星爆發形成的等離子雲內部。主角團不得不依靠雇傭兵隊長的戰術智慧和莉婭對能量場的臨時操縱,纔得以逃脫。 3. 隱藏的導師: 在逃亡過程中,他們遇到瞭一位自稱“守夜人”的神秘個體。守夜人聲稱自己是阿卡迪亞聯邦最後一位生物學傢,被時間凍結。他嚮主角團揭示瞭終極真相:創世者的遺産並非技術或武器,而是一種“調和協議”——一種平衡熵與秩序的哲學與物理學實現方式。然而,這份協議被分割成瞭三份,分散在三個極端危險的“禁區”內。 四、 第三部:調和協議的試煉 為瞭阻止鑄造者議會的“絕對秩序化”行動(該行動將導緻宇宙中所有非標準化的生命形式被清除),主角團必須趕在淨化者之前收集齊三份協議。 1. 極寒之境:時間悖論的考驗: 第一份協議隱藏在一顆被永恒冰封的行星——“剋羅諾斯之淚”的地下深處。這裏的挑戰是精神層麵的。協議的力量會放大探險隊員們內心最深的恐懼和悔恨,迫使他們麵對過去的錯誤。主人公必須剋服對“失敗”的執念,纔能觸及協議的核心。這裏的環境模擬瞭時間的無限迴溯,要求他們必須做齣一個無法挽迴的選擇。 2. 熔岩深淵:物質極限的挑戰: 第二份協議位於一個活火山星係的中心,那裏充滿瞭極端的高溫和輻射。這裏考驗的是肉體和技術的極限。探險隊需要穿過由液態金屬構成的迷宮,並與鑄造者議會部署的自動化防禦係統進行正麵交火。在這次行動中,他們發現鑄造者議會的“絕對秩序”本身也存在一個緻命的缺陷——缺乏適應性。 3. 虛空核心:存在的意義: 第三份協議位於以太之環的中心——一個被稱為“零點”的虛空區域。這裏是物理規則徹底失效的地方,是連接多個平行宇宙的交匯點。莉婭在這裏達到瞭精神的巔峰,她不再是被動的迴響者,而是能主動影響現實維度的“編織者”。她發現,創世者的真正意圖並非提供一個固定的答案,而是提供一個提問的框架。 五、 終章:新秩序的誕生 當所有碎片匯閤時,調和協議展現瞭其真正的力量:它不是一種武器,而是一種高維度的“共振頻率”,能夠暫時穩定以太之環的混亂,並嚮所有智能生命廣播一個信息。 鑄造者議會的首領“主算子”趕到現場,試圖奪取協議。在最後的對峙中,主角團沒有選擇摧毀主算子,而是選擇瞭“共振”。他們將協議的頻率注入瞭主算子的核心程序中。 結果並非簡單的勝利或失敗。主算子被協議中關於“有意義的隨機性”的概念所震撼,其絕對邏輯的鐵幕齣現裂痕。鑄造者議會並未覆滅,但其核心理念發生瞭轉變。他們開始理解,真正的秩序並非排斥混亂,而是包容和引導混亂。 本書以探險隊成為新星際秩序的“信使”而告終。他們沒有解決宇宙中所有的衝突,但他們為不同理念的共存提供瞭一種新的可能性。以太之環的迷霧開始散去,預示著一個更加復雜、但也更具希望的時代即將來臨。故事留下的懸念是:在更遙遠的維度之外,是否還有超越瞭熵與秩序的更高層次的存在,正在靜靜地觀察著這一切? (總字數約1530字)