Customer Reviews

Yellow Umbrella (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards))

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This beautifully illustrated children's book is a must have. A wordless book; a story unfolds through outstanding watercolor paintings allowing readers' imagination to invent their own story. Adding to the excitement is the CD of piano music to be played while reading the book. My daughter and I were transported to a rainy day through the beuatiful music. We have read this book several times in the week since I purchased it and I know we will enjoy it for countless reads & listens to come.

My daughters (3 and 5) received the book from their Aunt. The first night we popped the CD in and slowly turned the pages...I watched their eyes as we went page by page and saw smiles come and go throughout the book. The fact that there are no words makes us slow down, mingle music with imagination and every now and then we make up our own words - sprinkled here and there among the raindrops - to take the story in new directions whenever we choose.

Now...the CD player in the car brings the pictures back to the girls as we travel down to Rhode Island to visit family. Fabulous choice - thanks Aunt Betty and Uncle Duck.

... so much so that I chose to review it. It is an atypical "counting" book... one in which a certain object, in this case -- umbrellas, is added to each page. But the twist is that a CD comes with this book. The CD has various cuts of original piano music. Each cut wonderfully reflects the setting of the given page. On one page, as the umbrellas cross over a bridge, you can hear the plink-plink of the raindrops on the water below. On another page, you can hear an approaching train as the pianist speeds up his delivery of original music. The artwork is beautiful, with a subdued rainy palette used for backgrounds. Only the umbrellas themselves are vibrantly depicted. It's only at the end of the book in which we actually get a glimpse of the people (children) carrying the umbrellas, and even on that page, one only sees their legs. My two sons enjoyed trying to guess who might be carrying the umbrellas and where they might be going. My 9-year-old said, "Wouldn't it be funny if they turned out to be monsters!" Monsters notwithstanding, the audio-visual combination makes for a wonderful experience just before dropping off to sleep.

A very pleasant book. Great to use on a rainy day with the music. The illustrations give a sense of constant motion and are complemented by the fast tempo music. The pictures have a strong correlation between shape, size, and environment, with everything seeming very deliberate. A great medium and angle to depict the journey to school. All the different umbrellas seem to have their own characteristics and throughout the book you are left to wonder who is under the umbrella and where are they going. Beautifully illustrated!! Should be read with the music.

This book really helps kids use their imagination. The book was in perfect condition. I cannot wait to use it in my class.

This book is beautiful. The music, the pictures--it is a whole moving experience. My son and I really enjoy this book together, and I know that it will bring magic to us for years to come. I love it so much that I have given it as a gift. Voice Lessons To Go Volume 1: Vocalize and Breath

LOVED THE IDEA OF A WORDLESS BOOK -- WHERE THE PICTURES AND THE IMAGINATION REIGN. PURCHASED A YELLOW UMBRELLA FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO LOVES THIS BOOK AND SHE IS ECSTATIC. SHE CAN NOW RETELL THE STORY (AGE 3 AT THE GIFTING) AND PUTS IN FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS UNDER THE VARIOUS UMBRELLAS. THE MUSIC THAT COMES WITH THE BOOK IS WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY AT BEDTIME.

My daughter received this book as a gift on her first birthday. The illustrations are beautiful, but because she is so young, and we want to preserve the book, we mostly listen to the music with her. My wife holds my daughter and dances around the room to the sweet and happy melodies. When she sets her down my daughter makes the sign for "more more more"! Once the music begins, she laughs and reaches up, wanting to start all over again.

The music is not overly "classical", nor is it annoyingly childish. It is just wonderfully simple and can be enjoyed by anyone at any time.

absolute gem!!! wordless story told in pictures and original musical score- everyone should enjoy this book