The Heart's Language [Hardcover]

Lois-Ann Yamanaka (Author), Aaron Jasinski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

How do you listen with your heart? For one small boy, the heart's language is the only one he knows. With his heart he can speak to animals, trees, and creatures of the sea. But he cannot be understood by the people around him, even those who love him most-his mother and father. One day, when he is feeling sad and alone, he is visited by a magical blue bird. With the bird's encouragement, the boy finds a way to make himself heard. And when his parents try to speak the boy's language, they are finally able to express their love, and truly communicate with the shared language of the heart. This lyrical story of love and understanding will speak to anyone whose life has been touched by an exceptional child.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Set in Hawaii, this picture book tells the story of a young boy who can communicate with trees, animals, and birds, but can't talk to or understand other people. More than anything else, he wants to tell his parents that he loves them. Finally, after a mystical encounter with a blue bird, he learns "the heart's language," and he and his parents find a way to communicate their feelings. Though the youngster's disability is never specified in the text, the author's foreword describing her experiences with her autistic son makes her perspective clear. By not identifying it, the story's message is made more universal. Jasinski's boldly colored illustrations will entice young readers, but the vague, symbolic text lacks child appeal.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
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About the Author

Aaron Jasinski is an artist and designer living in Seattle, Washington.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786818484
• ISBN-13: 978-0786818488
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,214,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Listening with More than Ears, August 25, 2005

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heart's Language (Hardcover)

THE HEART'S LANGUAGE is a story about a small boy who could communicate with trees, the ocean, and even the animals, but couldn't communicate with other people, not even his parents. Neighbors talked about him, calling him crazy, and even his parents discussed their son's behavior with concern. One frustrating day, the young boy falls asleep under a tree feeling dejected and with little hope. He is awakened by a big blue bird, who explains that he has come because the boy called him using the language of his heart. He goes on to explain that if the boy wants his greatest wish, to tell his parents he loves them, to come true, all he has to do is tell them using his heart. As the boy returns to the house, he remembers what the bird told him and once again tries to convey to his parents all the words trapped inside of him with hopes of finally being heard.

This touching story is written in a style reminiscent of a proverb or fairy tale. The warm, calming illustrations drew me into the story and were the perfect complement to Yamanaka's writing style. The content of the book was inspired by the author and her husband's experiences as parents of a child with autism, yet its message is universal. While the story focused a lot on the boy's inability to communicate in the beginning of the book, it is just as much about using the heart's language to communicate as it is having a heart that is open enough to hear what is being said. THE HEART'S LANGUAGE is a wonderful story about unconditional love and listening with more than your ears.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THe Heart's Language, August 5, 2005

By 

C. C. Thomas (Seattle,) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Heart's Language (Hardcover)

A VERY BEAUTIFUL BOOK, both illustrations and the story! While it does not mention Autism, and can actually cover a number of disabilities, the book touches your heart. It would be a wonderful book to read to small children,or have for older children to read to themselves. (As well as adults)
The illustrations are LUSH and LOVELY, as is the message in the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart's Language, January 9, 2007

By 

Sylvia C. Wilmeth "Book devourer" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heart's Language (Hardcover)

Having heard Lois-Ann Yamanaka speak on several occasions, this new book touched me greatly. I have heard Lois-Ann speak about her son, who is autistic. One of my daughters has been working with autistic children for several years now and is presently working on a graduate degree in "Profound and Severe Disabilities; so guess what she received for Christmas! She, too, was greatly moved by the story and called from the East Coast to thank me profusely for it. She wants to get several copies to give to parents of some of the children with whom she works. The story is beautiful and the lovely artwork enhances it even more.