What a Wonderful World [Paperback]

George David Weiss (Author), Bob Thiele (Author), Ashley Bryan (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568013698 | ISBN-13: 978-1568013695 | Publication Date: January 1994

What simpler way could there be to express to children the beauty and the harmony in the world around them than through the lyrics of this song by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele, made famous by the great Louis Armstrong? And what better visual accompaniment than the bright colorful artwork by award-winning Ashley Bryan depicting children of many backgrounds (and Louis Armstrong himself) performing a puppet show that brings the lyrics to life. Here is a book of brightness, wonder, and hope to be shared by all.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?Those of us familiar with the music of Louis Armstrong may cringe somewhat at this earnest, albeit colorful interpretation of his famous song. Bryan's vibrant, neon-colored illustrations tell a story of kids making puppets that will act out the lyrics?"I see skies of blue and clouds of white, the bright, blessed day, the dark, sacred night." Multicultural puppets and "Satchmo" dance away as the children behind the stage wave clouds, flowers, rainbows, and other props. The usual picture-book crowd is too young to know of Louis Armstrong or his nickname, and those who are old enough and do know of him may not especially want to think of him as a puppet. The song is a celebration of the world and its varied inhabitants and each page in the book reflects this, but all of these well-meaning parts?the lyrics that express a true emotion; the bright, upbeat illustrations; and the celebration of diversity?don't make a successful whole.?Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library,
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. Made famous by the late Louis Armstrong, this Weiss and Thiele song is interpreted in carnival colors by Bryan. A group of multiracial children use a puppet stage with banners flying and puppets (including a Louis Armstrong lookalike) in a wide variety of hues to dramatize the songs' lyrics. Smiling children, glowing yellows and pinks, and brilliantly colored pastoral settings make this more than a tribute to Armstrong, to whom it is dedicated. In the deft hands of artist Bryan, it is a song of joy from the lyricists who wrote it, the man who sang it, and the artist who envisioned it. Janice Del Negro --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Sundance Pubns (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568013698
• ISBN-13: 978-1568013695
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,348,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Wonderful World, July 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What a Wonderful World (Jean Karl Books) (Hardcover)

The lyrics to the song, "What a Wonderful World" by David Weiss and Bob Thiele come to life as Ashley Bryan imagines a wonderful world and creates this image in the form of a puppet show. Through the puppet show and the bright colorful illustrations the young audience is captured and can easily relate. It is a great book for young children! It is a book of hope for children and the world!

Note to teachers: This book is great for teaching diversity. Use the book and set it to the music of Louis Armstrong. The children will love it and adults will be moved. Let your children create props for their own puppet show or let children illustrate the book and put together for a class book. Then use Louis Armstrong's music again with the children's class book.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its colors and text burst with joy!, February 13, 1999

By 

Carson Kelty (Wilkinsburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What a Wonderful World (Jean Karl Books) (Hardcover)

This book is a joyful, moving tribute to Louis Armstrong and our wonderful world. My kids loved it and it brought me to tears. The words explode with emotion in the colorful illustrations. It is almost as good as hearing Satchmo singing that song. And - like the song - when it's over, you think to yourself, "Isn't it great to be alive!" My only criticism: The book should come packaged with Armstrong's recording.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful book!, May 9, 2003

By 

James Oberacker (Los Alamitos, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What a Wonderful World (Jean Karl Books) (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic book! My six and three year old children are already on their second copy - we wore out the first! Both of my daughters love to read it - actually sing it - over, and over, and over. They're fascinated by the pictures as well.

Of course, once they learned to sing the song, it was so easy to introduce them to the music of Louis Armstrong. This book was the perfect bridge. Now my six year old asks me to play "Lewis" for her when we're in the car.