Weslandia by Paul Fleischman

"He sticks out," says his mother. "Like a nose," replies his father. Wesley. A boy whose imagination, way of thinking, and physical appearance are not the norm. He's no ordinary boy, and he knows it, but it does not bother him a bit. After hearing his parents' conversation about his noncoforming habits, Wesley decides to spend his summer vacation building his own civilization through a garden that produces a crop of plants that provide him with shelter, food, and drink. Meanwhile, as Wesley's peers and neighbors become more and more intrigued by what he is doing during his vacation time. In the end, they begin to see Wesley's differences and gain a better understanding of his talents, dedication, and intelligence - while being intrigued by his creation of Weslandia.

In a biography of Paul Fleischman on http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, there is a statement that compares the author to the character of Wesley in the story. "Fleischman, like Wesley, constructed his own alternate world during his school years. "My friends and I invented our own sports, ran an underground newspaper, and created our own school culture." Illustrator Kevin Hawkes added, "Wesley lives in this place where everything is the same, yet he has created something unique and is living self-sufficently, on his own island, in a way." Hawkes compared Wesley's world to Robinson Crusoe, one of his favorite books as a young boy. Hawkes illustrations from the cover, endpapers, and full-page images aid in the creation of Weslandia. Readers gain a firm perspective on Wesley's world and its surroundings. Similar to Sidewalk Circus, Hawkes differentiation of sizes and perspectives allow for the reader to get a true feel for what is happening page after page.

What I find so inspiring from Wesley, as well as Fleischman, is that despite the environments of constant social pressures surrounding them, they do what they want and are not swayed by the appearances and opinions of others. I believe that Weslandia teaches an important lesson to young readers about the importance appreciating each other's differences and staying true to yourself. Wesley, like many children, encounter bullies growing up - but Wesley doesn't give into them despite their constant commenting and tormenting. This story also goes to show that children can find safety and security in their own discoveries as Wesley found in Weslandia. Fleischman and Hawkes created the opportunity for readers to embark on an adventure into another world far away from their own, while encouraging all the "Wesleys" that it's okay to stick out amongst everyone else.