The plot in this wordless picture book unfolds straightforwardly: a contemporary little boy kicks his soccer ball through the window of an old theater, and when he goes inside to retrieve it, he’s pulled into Elizabethan London, landing right on the stage of the Globe Theatre. High on action, accurate of scene, and short on character development, the full watercolor-and-ink panels give kids around the world the chance to peek into another era while sympathizing with a contemporary, young protagonist.
A red-shirted boy is pursued by boys angered when their soccer ball winds up in a fountain. He takes refuge in an art museum which begins a fantastical adventure involving paintings-come-to-life, a wicked butcher, a dog, and lasting friendship — all through expressive, comic illustrations.
