ajacks's review against another edition
4.0
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fairislemeadow's review against another edition
4.0
A touching story about two lonely people (animals) who share a love of simple things, ocean movies, and jazz music, and who eventually meet in the midst of the big city. Lots of imagery.
melissarochelle's review against another edition
3.0
Jesse wasn't a fan of this one and may have made things up while reading it to me and Evie to keep himself interested (like how Rosie ate all those pancakes and gained 40 lbs...I won't tell you what Herman watched). But I thought it was a cute story for older kids about finding friends, being yourself, and living life in the big city.
erutane's review against another edition
4.0
This was unusually adult for a children's picture book. Or maybe sophisticated is the word I'm looking for. I really enjoyed the story but I wonder if a kid would appreciate it nearly as much.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
4.0
Just delightful, I never considered a jazz oboe before, but the story is fun and the pictures complement the era and the text theme.
starnosedmole's review against another edition
5.0
A charming picture book about two similar lives intersecting in a big, lonely city. Gorgeous, imaginative and playful!
aylea's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally found at The Children's Book and Media Review
Herman Schubert and Rosie Bloom live in a very busy city in two very small apartments. Herman plays the oboe and likes watching films about the ocean. Rosie likes to sing and watch films about the ocean. They both like living in the big city, but sometimes it can be a lonely place to be by themselves. Although Herman occasionally plays oboe and Rosie hears it, and sometimes Rosie sings and Herman hears it, they never meet. One day Rosie is told that she can’t sing in the club anymore and Herman loses his job. Both are sad and stop playing music. However, when they finally meet for the first time, the city is never quite the same again.
This book’s ability to capture both loneliness and friendship in its city setting is a treat. The illustrations capture the busy city life of New York with liveliness and noise, but also the idea and feeling of solitude and loneliness. Tiny details of the illustration add depth to the characters and the story. The mixed media nature of the illustrations create a modern but fun feeling. Readers will cheer and sigh as they wait for Herman and Rosie to meet and be able to share their hobbies with each other.
Herman Schubert and Rosie Bloom live in a very busy city in two very small apartments. Herman plays the oboe and likes watching films about the ocean. Rosie likes to sing and watch films about the ocean. They both like living in the big city, but sometimes it can be a lonely place to be by themselves. Although Herman occasionally plays oboe and Rosie hears it, and sometimes Rosie sings and Herman hears it, they never meet. One day Rosie is told that she can’t sing in the club anymore and Herman loses his job. Both are sad and stop playing music. However, when they finally meet for the first time, the city is never quite the same again.
This book’s ability to capture both loneliness and friendship in its city setting is a treat. The illustrations capture the busy city life of New York with liveliness and noise, but also the idea and feeling of solitude and loneliness. Tiny details of the illustration add depth to the characters and the story. The mixed media nature of the illustrations create a modern but fun feeling. Readers will cheer and sigh as they wait for Herman and Rosie to meet and be able to share their hobbies with each other.
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