The book that inspired the Academy Award–winning short film, from New York Times bestselling author and beloved visionary William Joyce.
Morris Lessmore loved words.

He loved stories.

He loved books.

But every story has its upsets.

Everything in Morris Lessmore’s life, including his own story, is scattered to the winds.

But the power of story will save the day.

Stunningly brought to life by William Joyce, one of the preeminent creators in children’s literature, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a modern masterpiece, showing that in today’s world of traditional books, eBooks, and apps, it’s story that we truly celebrate—and this story, no matter how you tell it, begs to be read again and again.
在一个平静的小镇，矗立在街区中心的小旅馆，头戴礼帽的男子正坐阳台上阅读，他被书籍围在中央，如此自如。突然，晴朗的天空为滚滚乌云遮蔽，飓风来袭，狂风大作，房屋窗棂剧烈晃动，连书上的文字也随风飘散。人与牲畜、家具房屋相继被卷入空中，男子虽然仅仅勾住阳台的栏杆，可是还是随同旅馆一同飞向空中。不久，他们落在了一片荒芜而又有些奇怪的地方。青年四处游荡，寻找可以憩息的场所。这时，他看到一幢美丽的房屋，里面全部为书籍所充满。爱书的男子欣喜过望，他投入到这书的海洋，乐而忘返……

Ironically, this book in praise of books first appeared as a much-praised iPad app and Academy Award–winning animated short film.
The story, in a nutshell, concerns the titular book-loving Mr. Morris Lessmore, whose personal library is blown away in a terrible wind but who finds meaning caring for the books he finds in a marvelous library. Filled with both literary (Shakespeare, Humpty-Dumpty) and film references (The Wizard of Oz, The Red Balloon and Buster Keaton), the picture book version of Joyce's story has a quiet contemplative charm that demonstrates the continuing allure of the printed page. Paradoxically, the animated books of the film and app are captured as though in a series of frozen frames. The motif of the bound, printed book is everywhere. Even the furnishings and architectural details of the old-fashioned library in which the books “nest” like flying birds recall the codex. The unifying metaphor of life as story is a powerful one, as is the theme of the transformative power of books. The emphasis on connecting readers and books and the care of books pays homage to librarianship. Rich in allusions (“Less is More”) and brilliant in depicting the passage of time (images conflate times of day, seasons and years), Joyce’s work will inspire contemplation of the power of the book in its many forms.
As triumphant in book form as in animated and interactive ones."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review