Captain Manuel J. Arsenio, former cheese-maker, blacksmith, scuba diver and ship captain, embarks on a determined quest to becomes airborne in this picture-book from Argentine children's author and artist Pablo Bernasconi, originally published as El diario del Capitán Arsenio. From the bird-driven 'Motocanary,' to the hydrogen-powered 'Aerial Submarine,' the book sets out six brave attempts - ostensibly taken from its hero's journals, discovered long after the fact - to fly, each of which ends (predictably) in disaster.

An amusing book, one which taps into the childhood fascination with flight, and provides an entertainingly anachronistic "historical" milieu - the story is set in the 1780s, but has a tongue-in-cheek steampunk feeling to it - Captain Arsenio: Inventions and (Mis)adventures in Flight features Bernasconi's appealing collage-style art, which combines mechanical-looking objects (metal springs, cheese-grater wings) with fabric and paper elements. I think that, overall, I prefer the fairy-tale trappings of Bernasconi's The Wizard, the Ugly, and the Book Of Shame, but I did enjoy this one, and regret that only two of the author/artist's books have been made available, here in the states. Recommended to young readers who dream of flight, and/or enjoy silly stories! ( )

I really love Bernasconi's artwork are collages made up of real world pictures and textures that make turn into adorable and humerous illustrations. The story is funny and there is a lot to it. This is definitely for the older picture-book reader.

Capt. Arsenio is an eternal optimist and rewriter of his own history in subtlety. For example, when one of his attempts to fly ends in fire his note to himself is, "I must always remember to being some water along." My favorite line is, "The doctor is not at home. I will call the veterinarian."

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I really love Bernasconi's artwork are collages made up of real world pictures and textures that make turn into adorable and humerous illustrations. The story is funny and there is a lot to it. This is definitely for the older picture-book reader.

Capt. Arsenio is an eternal optimist and rewriter of his own history in subtlety. For example, when one of his attempts to fly ends in fire his note to himself is, "I must always remember to being some water along." My favorite line is, "The doctor is not at home. I will call the veterinarian."

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