Customer Reviews

Yesterday I Had the Blues (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards))

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

 

 

My daughter (4 1/2) insisted on bringing this book home from school one afternoon, and after reading it to her for the first time, I understood why. Frame's sense of cadence is mesmerizing - the timing, phrasing and articulate descriptions of childhood moods and experiences are nothing short of infectious. After reading it that night, we checked out a copy from the library. After reading it every night for a week, I'm about to buy a copy. This book - a poem, really - has the kind of rhythm that makes Dr. Seuss, Ezra Jack Keats and Don DeLillo's poetry and prose sing. You and your child will love it.

I really enjoyed reading this book today. I thought it was cute, imaginative and fun for any child 3 to 8. I think the illustrations are adorable. The 'play' with color in both the text and illustrations is so creative and original.

This is a story about an imaginative, sensitive little boy with a wry sense of humor who describes his own moods as well as those of his family by comparing them to colors - his sister feels prissy (pink!), his mom is mad (red!), his grandma is joyous (yellow), his aunt feels creative (indigo), etc. The author free-associates about emotional states and colors with a dizzying lyricism and charm that made me AND my 7yo smile. The art is bold and fun, with a unique flair for leading the eye on a journey from one side of the page to another with its attention to bright little details. But the prose itself is the best part about the story - funny, quirky and alive with imagery that sparks the imagination of even very young children. We had fun naming other variations of "the blues" and "the grays" and "the indigos" ourselves. This book would stand out in any children's home library. It's been a while since we had THAT much fun reading one short little story! =)

I gave this book to my 4 year old grandson for Christmas, he loves it. We've been reading it almost every night!