Leo Hartas

This is the sort of book a person could spend hours reading, examining every minute detail of the illustrations, paging back and forth in order to follow the narratives of different apartment dwellers, trying to figure out just how the front/back views of this building fit together. Children who liked Richard Scarry when they were younger, who are endlessly engrossed by Stephen Biesty's various cross-section titles, will find much to occupy them here - I know I did!

The story (or stories, as the case may be) of the apartment building at 51 Albert Street unfolds in this oversized picture-book, with artists and mad scientists in the attic, sophisticated movie stars, wealthy art patrons, and two happily normal families all living their lives above and below one another. There's even some drama down in the sewers! I would recommended The Apartment Book to all those who enjoy highly detailed picture-narratives - it's a lot of fun!… (mer)