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notmythunder's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
matilda_holroyd_'s review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Loved the way in which Jordan creates an semi-autobiographical book about life with a stutter and how beauty can be found in difference
hereisenough's review against another edition
4.0
This narrative is beautiful artistically and visually- I love how a book about muteness employs such stunning, intentional language and calls itself a poem. The diction begs the reader to read out loud. The art is also incredible, sharpening detail in accordance to the moment in the story. This book does not specifically clarify the protagonists speech issue, but the author's note discusses a stutter and silence. At its core, I think this book reminds readers that what you see or hear from a person does not reflect the richness of their inner worlds. I feel this in myself, as someone who is quiet and sometimes has anxiety, and I too feel connected to nature and it's multifacetedness. This is a beautiful book to read aloud and discuss, addressing a source of anxiety in such a beautiful, calming manner.
writethruchaos's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
internationalkris's review against another edition
5.0
Such a wonderful picture book. It is impossible not to empathize with the main character as he struggles with his speech issues. And what an understanding father; such an excellent representation of a supportive male parent.
emilybriano's review against another edition
5.0
I read this when it came out and thought it was beautiful, but when you pair it with the Odyssey Award winning audiobook it becomes transcendent. I highly recommend you listen and read simultaneously.
willa_'s review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It takes a while to address what the child is dealing with (stuttering), which may create opportunity for many children dealing with different speech things to find a connection with the text. The art and poetry in this book are beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
General anxiety centered around speechmat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
A boy. A river. A stutter. A bubbling, whirling, churning and crashing cacophony. I Talk Like A River is yet another masterpiece from illustrator Sydney Smith whose deeply resonating illustrations orchestrate wholly within and around Jordan Scott's deeply personal, powerful poem.
With words and lines interspersed between close-up frames and double-page spreads, we follow one boy on his journey to try and overcome or at least, be at one with, his stutter. Scott's poem, much like Smith's paintings, are of two halves. In one half, the day seems calm and collected and yet as the realisation of school dawns, so the stress and the meter of poem begins to build and stutter: mirrored by Smith's blurred, tense illustrations and stark use of frames within frames. Freedom and imprisonment through words then is the theme of the first half of the story here.
Asked to speak in front of the whole class, the boys closes in and his world loses focus from the pressure and humiliation. It is only later, when his father takes him for a drive to the forest, that he finds time to be calm. On the water's edge, his father points out that his son's stutter and the river share much in common. The words in his head might be hard to say because they also, at times, 'bubble and 'churn' and 'whirl' and 'crash'. Rather than let the fear of his stutter drown him, the boy begins to realise that he must be at one with it because just as the river can move rapidly, so it can also be calm and smooth.
Descending into the river, the boy has an epiphany; a spiritual awakening of sorts where he realises that he is not alone and that he need only close his eyes and 'see' the river to find that inner peace and acceptance. In doing so, the world becomes less threatening and scary.
It goes without saying that the book is a work of art in and of itself. Smith has clearly worked so tirelessly on not just giving space to Scott's words but thinking carefully about how his visual and spiritual world can work alongside them: the central gatefold is a masterstroke.
Finally, it is worth noting that Scott, who is a performing poet, has a stutter and went through much of what our protagonist did. Yet he sees the 'terrifying beauty' in his stutter now and embraces it when he recites his poems. Do seek his work out on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwoNtePaNcc
With words and lines interspersed between close-up frames and double-page spreads, we follow one boy on his journey to try and overcome or at least, be at one with, his stutter. Scott's poem, much like Smith's paintings, are of two halves. In one half, the day seems calm and collected and yet as the realisation of school dawns, so the stress and the meter of poem begins to build and stutter: mirrored by Smith's blurred, tense illustrations and stark use of frames within frames. Freedom and imprisonment through words then is the theme of the first half of the story here.
Asked to speak in front of the whole class, the boys closes in and his world loses focus from the pressure and humiliation. It is only later, when his father takes him for a drive to the forest, that he finds time to be calm. On the water's edge, his father points out that his son's stutter and the river share much in common. The words in his head might be hard to say because they also, at times, 'bubble and 'churn' and 'whirl' and 'crash'. Rather than let the fear of his stutter drown him, the boy begins to realise that he must be at one with it because just as the river can move rapidly, so it can also be calm and smooth.
Descending into the river, the boy has an epiphany; a spiritual awakening of sorts where he realises that he is not alone and that he need only close his eyes and 'see' the river to find that inner peace and acceptance. In doing so, the world becomes less threatening and scary.
It goes without saying that the book is a work of art in and of itself. Smith has clearly worked so tirelessly on not just giving space to Scott's words but thinking carefully about how his visual and spiritual world can work alongside them: the central gatefold is a masterstroke.
Finally, it is worth noting that Scott, who is a performing poet, has a stutter and went through much of what our protagonist did. Yet he sees the 'terrifying beauty' in his stutter now and embraces it when he recites his poems. Do seek his work out on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwoNtePaNcc