Reviews

Before After by Anne-Margot Ramstein, Matthias Arégui

anjanettew13's review against another edition

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5.0

Nice illustrations

toebean5's review against another edition

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3.0

Great illustrations, and some great concepts to talk about with kids who aren't yet reading (or are). Some of the concepts are a little more abstract, and the multi-spread "before and after"s can be confusing at first. But cute.

thestoryowl's review against another edition

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4.0

This is great storytelling through pictures, I was surprised at how some of the images hit me, especially the rocking horse and the rocking chair.

librarylapin's review against another edition

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4.0

Beautifully illustrated book.

itabar's review against another edition

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4.0

Charming, clever and beautiful.

Candlewick Press does such quality work with paper and bindings.

tabandvelcro's review against another edition

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5.0

the art in this makes me swoon. I might need to buy a copy.

missprint_'s review against another edition

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5.0

Beautiful artwork in this wordless picture book. Some whimsical before and afters (a pumpkin becomes a coach, a baby gorilla becomes King Kong) and also some clever sequences (egg becomes chicken who hatches an egg) and some interesting progressions (ie from squid to ink through mailing options). This is a longer book so it would work best for a smaller group. I could also see it being used with older kids in a writing or drawing workshop.

littleelfman's review against another edition

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5.0

Beautiful Simplicity.

pwbalto's review against another edition

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5.0

WOW. I have been a big fan of wordless books ever since a kindergartner sat me down and read Korgi to me, constructing the story entirely from the pictures.

This book, in two-page spreads, asks the reader to fill in the blank between two before/after images. A burning candle, a pile of wax. A slingshot, a broken window. A beehive, a jar of honey.

Some of the coupled images expand into a series - egg, chicken, chicken, egg. Some inferences are easy, some are more complex or conceptual. Some invite an entire story: two people gaze at each other across a deep gorge, and in the next picture a bridge has been built and they stand together.

And the art. Is beautiful.

Where's a kindergartner when you need one?

All my picks for best books to give this holiday are at http://www.unadulterated.us/pink-me/2015/12/give-it-all-the-goodies-for-this-holiday-season.html

bluenicorn's review against another edition

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3.0

Great illustrations, and some great concepts to talk about with kids who aren't yet reading (or are). Some of the concepts are a little more abstract, and the multi-spread "before and after"s can be confusing at first. But cute.