Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dazzling journey unites siblings in otherworldly adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Magic-loving big sister Evie can't seem to shake her ever-following three siblings. Finally she goes outside in the snow and grabs a stick that will serve as a magic wand and says the magic words "Snowcus pocus! Blizzard lizard! Open snowflake!" and makes THE GREAT ESCAPE into an underworld filled with soaring sea creatures that can fly across outer space. Her siblings watch her disappear down a hole—then follow her anyway! Together they navigate this unknown, unreal territory until they come across a whale that seems scary at first but enlists the kids to help her free her baby whale who's tangled up in a starry constellation. Then "just like that," the whales return them to their snowy home, and the kids go inside and gather on the couch for hot chocolate with marshmallows, tuckered out from their big adventure.
Is It Any Good?
This magical adventure breaks conventions of science and storytelling to create a magical journey through time and space. The Great Escape starts out in graphic novel panels, but once the kids descend into the world below, the panels are gone and readers must turn the book upside down to follow the words and the action. When the siblings get involved in helping a baby whale that's caught in a net of constellations in a world that's now become more galactic than aquatic, the kids unite as a family of helpers. It's a wild ride, with art that blends Deborah Marcero's watercolors and cartoon style with actual space images from the James Webb Space Telescope. Once the kids are back home, they're back in the graphic panels, too. The Great Escape is stunningly creative, with a positive message of sibling tolerance and love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the other worlds Evie explores in The Great Escape. What do you think of the floating world filled with sea creatures? What do you think of sea creatures floating in a galaxy with star constellations? Can you imagine seeing a whale in the sky?
How do you like having to turn the book upside down to keep reading the story? Was that more fun than following the story the "regular" way?
Evie and her siblings work together to help the mother whale free her tangled-up baby whale. When have you used teamwork to get a big job done?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Deborah Marcero
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Family Stories , Space
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Gratitude , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : February 17, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 7
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : March 17, 2026
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