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closetdiscoqueen's review against another edition
5.0
This book is tragic and heartwarming all at once. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I picked this one up off the shelf at the library. The artwork in this book is beautiful and is what caught my eye. Love and loss permeate each page. I don't think I'll look at redbirds the same way anymore.
ir_sharp2's review against another edition
1.0
This one is flat weird with concepts WAAAAAAAAY too high for a kiddo. Not in love with it.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This was a haunting and beautiful book about nature, the night, and death. With paper illustrations and a calm, soothing narrative, this book creates a world in which the morning will come and the mourning will lessen. As far as children's literature goes, this is utterly atmospheric, and it's absolutely important for children to understand that death can happen to anyone at any time--and that's not to scare them, it's to help them understand the cycle of life in which we are all trapped. Great for grades 1-3.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
itselvv's review against another edition
5.0
يحكي الكتاب قصة أب وابنه بعد فقدانهما للزوجة/الأم، لا نعرف كيف توفيت، لكن من الاجواء المحيطة نستطيع أن نفهم أن الموقف مازال حديثًا. تروى القصة من منظور الطفل، بأسلوب طفولي يشرح لنا (أو لنفسه) كيف هي حال والده بعد الحادثة، تستطيع من نبرة الكلام أن تستشف حيرة الطفل وحزنه، ومدى صعوبة الموقف عليه وعلى والده.
اسلوب الرسم مميز، يدمج الرسم العادي مع اشكال ثلاثية الابعاد، يختار اللون الأبيض والأسود كالوان اساسية وأحيانًا يسرق اللون الاحمر الاضواء في بعض الصفحات، وهو ما يدل على الدفء سواءً كمشاعر داخلية أو كإحساس بالمحيط، وحتى الملامح وردود الفعل ولغة الجسد كانت مرسومة بدقة توصل لك المشاعر مباشرةً، مما يعطي القصة جوًا مختلفًا أكثر عمقًا وإيلامًا.
لكن، أهذه قصة أطفال؟ قطعًا لا. لا أصدق أن بإمكان طفل أن يتحمل هذا الألم، دعك من فهمه. لكن كقصة مصورة للكبار هذه تحفة فنية غاية في العذوبة والشاعرية.
lannthacker's review against another edition
3.0
A very solemn story about death of a parent. Perhaps best for adults which may be due to translation. Beautiful illustrations.
sebarose's review against another edition
5.0
Cormac McCarthy for children. Brilliant and sad and wonderful.
bet27's review against another edition
4.0
A quiet nighttime book for a young child who's lost his mother. The illustrations are a mix of drawings and paper cutouts that is really interesting. Simple story, and yet there's such a gentle sweet peace about it all that I really liked it.
jemcam's review against another edition
4.0
A very quiet read, but one that will stay with you long after you've finished.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
It's children's books like this that make me see how little I know about children's literature in its broadest sense and also how powerfully images and texts can work together to explore delicate yet deeply universal and powerful topics. Once again it is to the Dutch that we turn for topics that are rarely dealt with in the UK with such honesty and in such a tone that respects and honours the younger reader.
I have never seen a picturebook like this before. It comprises solely of hand-drawn images which are then cut-out and built into a three dimensional landscape. It gives an incredible sense of depth to the story and creates an atmosphere that is both intimate and deeply barren.
The first person narrative is told from the boy's perspective and Lunde's layout makes the read almost like free verse rather than prose. This gives an almost disjointed ad broken sense to the narrator's thoughts as he tries to comprehend his father's mood and actions as well as deal with the grieving loss that he carries within him of his mother's absence.
The colour palette is limited to black and white with only the palest colours breaking through the contrast every so often. Yet it is the fox and its connection with the fire which warms both father and son at the end: an animal often linked with the afterlife and as a guide.
In 2009, the book was awarded the Norwegian Ministry's Culture Prize for best book for children and youth (why don't we have a similar prize here in the UK?) and was nominated for the German Children's Literature Award two years later.
I have never seen a picturebook like this before. It comprises solely of hand-drawn images which are then cut-out and built into a three dimensional landscape. It gives an incredible sense of depth to the story and creates an atmosphere that is both intimate and deeply barren.
The first person narrative is told from the boy's perspective and Lunde's layout makes the read almost like free verse rather than prose. This gives an almost disjointed ad broken sense to the narrator's thoughts as he tries to comprehend his father's mood and actions as well as deal with the grieving loss that he carries within him of his mother's absence.
The colour palette is limited to black and white with only the palest colours breaking through the contrast every so often. Yet it is the fox and its connection with the fire which warms both father and son at the end: an animal often linked with the afterlife and as a guide.
In 2009, the book was awarded the Norwegian Ministry's Culture Prize for best book for children and youth (why don't we have a similar prize here in the UK?) and was nominated for the German Children's Literature Award two years later.
bardicbramley's review against another edition
4.0
I fell in love with the art style of this book. Torseter has such a unique and wholesome style that really adds to the emotion of the story.
Whilst I think the book will resonate more with the adults who share it than with children, the simplistic but poetic language used will likely resonate with them, and get them thinking too. It isn't a story that really goes anywhere, rather one to sit with and discuss. And I think it does that job beautifully.
Whilst I think the book will resonate more with the adults who share it than with children, the simplistic but poetic language used will likely resonate with them, and get them thinking too. It isn't a story that really goes anywhere, rather one to sit with and discuss. And I think it does that job beautifully.