The Sun Is So Quiet [Hardcover]

Nikki Giovanni (Author), Ashley Bryan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"Quiet . . .
like a quilt on a feather bed . . .
and frost on the window . . .
we write our names knowing . . .
the sun will melt them off

But the sun is so quiet . . .
that we don't care
we smile"

from Connie by Nikki Giovanni

The quiet and noisy, wintery and sometimes sunny poems in The Sun Is So Quiet will always make you smile. Nikki Giovanni describes riding rainbows, tiptoeing through strawberry patches, licking chocolaty fingers, snuggling under covers, and many other wonderful childhood moments. Ashley Bryan's warmest, most colorful illustrations make each page look like a bright, beaming smile.

Together, they have created a collection that you can linger over like a peppermint candy cane or enjoy as quickly as a snowflake melts on your nose.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Giovanni (The Genie in the Jar) and Bryan (What a Morning!) form a fruitful partnership in this ebullient collection of 13 poems. Whatever Giovanni's topic, her poetry builds on an underlying exuberance: of cold-weather preparations, she writes, "Bears store fat/ chipmunks gather nuts/ and I collect books/ for the coming winter"; she describes little boys as "Missing teeth skinned elbows/ Always/ Stinky sticky slippery/ Sweaty and Sweet." That joy is reflected in the warmth and vigor of Bryan's radiant, rainbow hues and stylized designs. The poems hover like butterflies, darting in to make their point and then fluttering off. Some, like the bedtime poem "Covers," are short and sweet, some are contemplative ("Connie"), while others are imagistic, as in her ode to snowflakes in the e.e. cummings-esque "Winter Poem" ("i squeezed them and they became/ a spring rain and i stood perfectly/ still and was a flower"). The bold, fluid lines of the gouache and tempera compositions make for a particularly eye-catching volume, just right for reeling in the read-aloud crowd and introducing them to the joys of poetry. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. There is an uneven contrast in these 13 poems, 12 of which have been previously published. They leave readers cold or hot, not only by their content but by their strength of imagery. The last poem reads like a shared stream of consciousness but is excitingly vivid in its imagery and succeeds in evoking the concept of quiet. The poet loves to include unlikely twists?a child prepares for winter by storing up books, the transformation from snowflake to rain to flower, the prickled pickle tongue-twister poem, and endless references to kissing. "The Reason I Like Chocolate" brings a sense of personal involvement to all who read it. But fairies in the sky for the post-Apollo generation?too cute! There is nothing quiet about the gouache and tempera paint illustrations?they are brilliant, almost bouncing off the page regardless of the temperament of the poem. The brilliant yellows, the vibrant patchwork quilts, and the shapeshifting snowflakes provide a visual feast, as if at times trying to bring life to the words. Reserve this one for well-stocked collections.?Ronald Jobe, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805041192
• ISBN-13: 978-0805041194
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely text and bold images, November 23, 2004

By 

Customer "kagiso" (Berlin, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sun Is So Quiet (Hardcover)

Nikki Giovanni is one of the finest writers of the century. If you and your child love words and appreciate the highest quality modern poetry you will both enjoy snuggling together and sharing this special picture book for children. The book evokes comfort and warmth as it explores rainbows, winter days, the taste of chocolate and other ordinary aspects of daily life. The bold drawing of African American girls and boys and everyday surroundings are especially imaginative.

It'sa wonderful way to introduce your child to new or unusual words and to how beautiful the sound of spoken English can be.

Highly recommend this as a part of your child's collection.