When Giants Come to Play [Hardcover]

Andrea Beaty (Author), Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

A whimsical story of imagination and friendship, illustrated by one of the most respected illustrators of our time.

In this beautifully written, lyrical text, a little girl named Anna enjoys a day with some unusual playmates, a pair of giants who visit only "when the sun shines just so and the wind blows like this and that on its way to somewhere else." The giants adapt familiar childhood games to suit their size, giving acclaimed illustrator Kevin Hawkes opportunities to play with scale, and the premise is the perfect platform for his quintessential, "larger-than-life" characters.

From Clifford, the Big Red Dog to Danny and the Dinosaur, the idea of a giant friend who helps you do things you couldn't do yourself is a classic, much-loved children's book theme. Humorous and a little wistful, When Giants Come to Play is a celebration of the power of imagination and friendship that could become a classic.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K–A delightful romp, full of imagination, told in lyrical prose. Some summer mornings, when the sun shines just so and the wind blows like this and like that on its way to somewhere else, giants appear. Anna waits for them just beyond the end of the lane, and they play hide-and-seek, marbles, catch, jump rope, and myriad other seasonal games. At midday they share mint tea and cakes dripping with chocolate frosting. At night, Anna drifts off to sleep, a smile on her face, hoping the giants have come to stay. Large, full-page illustrations in charcoal pencils and acrylics depict the oversize, affable playmates and diminutive girl engaged in whimsical play.–Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

A perfect summer day in Anna's comfortable world transpires when two playmates, who just happen to be giants, join her to play. They engage in common enough activities--hide-and-seek, gathering flowers, playing catch. However, with two hulking giants, everything is a little bit different: in their game of catch, Anna is the ball, and when the trio picks peaches, the giants pull out the tree, roots and all. As big as they are, Ann's playmates are never threatening or overpowering, and Anna always seems in charge. Hawkes uses a softer palette than usual for this book, and his gentlemen giants seem pale in comparison to the giant sisters he created for Lynne Bertrand's Granite Baby (2005). However, their softness and their slight resemblance to Laurel and Hardy, along with their willingness to involve themselves in Anna's activities, will encourage children to hope as Anna does at the end of the story that the giants will eventually "come to stay." Randall Enos
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810957590
• ISBN-13: 978-0810957596
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical Picture Book, September 15, 2006

By 

Paula Cohen (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Giants Come to Play (Hardcover)

I love this author! The story of Anna's adventures with the giants are brought to life with Kevin Hawkes illustrations. We've worn out our first copy already, it's a picture book that brings out the imagination and lights up the kids.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delight for both kids and adults, August 8, 2006

By 

J. Durango (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Giants Come to Play (Hardcover)

The whimsy and playfulness of Andrea Beaty's text combined with Kevin Hawkes' always amazing illustrations make this a picture book that readers of all ages will enjoy. My 5-year-old son and I both love this perfect read-aloud book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, December 27, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: When Giants Come to Play (Hardcover)

This is an amazing book! With wonderful pictures it makes the story come to life! I can't wait for the sequel. This author is a miracle! I would recommend any books written by her!