Mr. Flux

We enjoyed this book when it arrived today. I am a fan of Matte Stephens art which is why I ordered the book and the illustrations did not disappoint. They delighted my children and myself.The story is about change and how a little town does not like change. Then Mr.Flux, an artist, moves in and the town starts to embrace change. It's a cute story which was also very enjoyable. My children are 4 1/2 and 21 months and obviously the 21 month old is a little young for the story line but he still liked looking at the pictures with us and sat for the whole book and giggled along with us.

I am proud of picking this one out for my step son. It has a non-subtle message that you have to be a little different in the world and you can't resists change. That is something that little boys and girls need to hear in order to find their own identity. I think he will really take home the message and I think this one will stand up to several re-reads

A great story and cute little message about new guy in town Mr. Flux that helps teach about change being okay. Great muted colors and great illustration style

Exactly as described. Great book. Really happy

My 5YO loves this book. Tells a great story about change and being different.

Very good book for therapeutic purposes. For kids and adults.

One of my three year old niece's favorite books.

You can read this book with your little one and explore the idea of change - change in habits, change in attitudes, change in outlook, or change for the fun of doing things differently. Or, you can read the author's note at the end, read a little about the Fluxus movement in art, and then reread the book to find that it is in fact a charming, witty and cheerfully optimistic review of Fluxus, one of the more interesting artistic movements of the 1960's and 1970's, (continuing somewhat today in the form of multi-media and digital art).This Amazon site is a little light on describing the book, so let's summarize. Mr. Flux moves in to Martin's rather stodgy and hidebound neighborhood. Martin is a bit timid and already living in a bit of a rut. Mr. Flux, undeterred by lack of precedent, is artsy, unpredictable and perfectly happy to do things backwards, forwards, and wrong way around. Martin and Mr. Flux become friends and Martin begins to loosen up. This fluidity is contagious and eventually the whole neighborhood relaxes and gets into the spirit of change.The changes are silly and random; Fluxus is after all the spiritual descendant of Dada, but the ideas of creativity and joy and color and movement and light and simplicity and found art can be a little silly and a little random and still be engaging.There is some very sly stuff here. Martin and Mr. Flux "teach" each other about art, with Martin showing Mr. Flux representational art and Mr. Flux introducing conceptual art. Mr. Flux's example of things that aren't "art" but are still wonderful is unclear in the book, but if you look closely you see it is a clever play on Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain", Duchamp being a major if not the major early influence on the Fluxus artists.Anyway, "Mr. Flux" is not an art textbook. It is a charming and unusual and ambitious kids early reader or read-to. It does this very well. The fact that on another level it is also the story of Fluxus is just a big added bonus. So, you can have fun with this as a funky kids book, and you can end up with hippest and most avant-garde pre-schooler in the neighborhood. (Then read some Daniel Pinkwater with him or her and the kid's coolness factor will be off the charts, and his/her eventual success in any future endeavors will be assured.)Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to the author or the publisher of this book.