readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
Book that asks children to think about what things used to be like, think about the opposites of something. I like the idea of talking to children about the origins of certain things. The left side of the illustrations showed the young child looking at an item, the right side showed animals using the item before it became something. It would be interesting to also look at how animals vs people use things. I loved the endpapers - the author included a list of her (and the illustrator's?) favorite things to remember. A great springboard for a list to create and then use when writing.
heisereads's review
4.0
What a lovely picture book...in illustration, tone, and sentiment. My reaction at the end was "awwww" and goosebumps. I can see using this as a mentor text/prompt for student imitative writing pieces. This is the kind of picture book I would buy as a gift for a new baby.
raoionna's review
4.0
Dreamy illustrations and philosophical questions that are ideal for kids in the why phase
what_katie_read_in_ca's review
5.0
A feather floating through a window sets in motion a boy’s curiosity about the world. He wonders whether a cakes, book, garden, and island remember their beginnings. One page opens with a question, such as “Does a statue remember it once was… and the opposite page reads the answer: “stone?” Laden’s verses leave gaps for the pictures to fill, and a sense of childlike wonder is reflected in both the text and images of Once Upon a Memory.
Liwska’s beautiful hand sketchings were inspired by her observation of animals in the natural world, and their antics throughout the story are enchanting and delightful. A textured feather graces one of the endpapers, and Liwska’s bears are expressive and perfect for the story. Here is a story that reminds us to step into childlike wonder and awe, and to reflect on love’s beginnings and the beauty of the natural world.
I appreciated the rhyming verse in this story as well as the humorous and fantasy-filled pictures with their expressive bears, birds, and ducks. The cover of the book with the boy perched, reading in the tree with the owl and squirrel drew me to the story, as well as its title, reminiscent of fairy-tale beginnings. There are dinosaurs and even a raccoon. This is a delightful, warm, and reflective fantasy picturebook, perfect for a read-aloud, and perfect as a discussion starter for sharing memories and creating new ones. I love the double-page spread at the conclusion of the book, and think Liwska’s style is a fantastic match for Laden’s text.
Full Review on the blog: Spirit of Children's Literature
Liwska’s beautiful hand sketchings were inspired by her observation of animals in the natural world, and their antics throughout the story are enchanting and delightful. A textured feather graces one of the endpapers, and Liwska’s bears are expressive and perfect for the story. Here is a story that reminds us to step into childlike wonder and awe, and to reflect on love’s beginnings and the beauty of the natural world.
I appreciated the rhyming verse in this story as well as the humorous and fantasy-filled pictures with their expressive bears, birds, and ducks. The cover of the book with the boy perched, reading in the tree with the owl and squirrel drew me to the story, as well as its title, reminiscent of fairy-tale beginnings. There are dinosaurs and even a raccoon. This is a delightful, warm, and reflective fantasy picturebook, perfect for a read-aloud, and perfect as a discussion starter for sharing memories and creating new ones. I love the double-page spread at the conclusion of the book, and think Liwska’s style is a fantastic match for Laden’s text.
Full Review on the blog: Spirit of Children's Literature