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jennywithaz's review against another edition
5.0
A hilariously funny "biographical" picture book about Gertrude Stein and her artistic circle of friends, written in imitation of her signature experimental style and accompanied by colorful, lively illustrations. I giggled a lot while reading it, and thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout. A fun, whimsical and original picture book.
shawn_brommer's review against another edition
4.0
Jonah Winter captures Stein's style, humor and wit in this picture book biography; it's as if he was a child growing up in Gertrude and Alice's home, hearing the rhythms of their words and ways. The book begs to be read - sung - aloud.
Calef Brown's clever illustrations and the brilliant design playfully explore poetic themes and the lives of these creative women. There is a sense of fresh creation and inspiration in these paintings that are alive and as witty as the text.
Introduce this book to all ages - I wish I would have had it in high school when I first began to appreciate and understand Stein's work. I wish I would have had this book in 1992 after I read Diana Souhami's biography, Gertrude and Alice, in 3 marathon sessions.
Gertrude oh Gertrude oh oh oh Gertrude Gertrude Gertrude. Thank thanks thanks three times thanks for words and words and words (yours).
Calef Brown's clever illustrations and the brilliant design playfully explore poetic themes and the lives of these creative women. There is a sense of fresh creation and inspiration in these paintings that are alive and as witty as the text.
Introduce this book to all ages - I wish I would have had it in high school when I first began to appreciate and understand Stein's work. I wish I would have had this book in 1992 after I read Diana Souhami's biography, Gertrude and Alice, in 3 marathon sessions.
Gertrude oh Gertrude oh oh oh Gertrude Gertrude Gertrude. Thank thanks thanks three times thanks for words and words and words (yours).
wordnerd153's review against another edition
2.0
Completely unique style of story telling and, while I appreciate the quirkiness, I didn't really enjoy it. I can't imagine any child understanding this book.
yoyology's review against another edition
4.0
wonderful is marvelous is fascinating is whimsical is wonderful
readitcourt's review against another edition
4.0
A catchy story about Gertrude Stein and all the people she knew (including Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway). This would be great to read aloud.
daniellejones's review against another edition
5.0
I am just dizzy with the with words and the illustrations. A good book is a good book is a good book!
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
5.0
Thoughts:
Go ahead and call it a children’s picture book, but I think you are wrong; the children I read this book to looked at me in bewilderment. It looks like a picture book. It reads like a picture book. But reading it to young children is like asking junior high students to read Great Expectations; it can be read, but it should be saved for those old enough to really appreciate it.
I loved it. It would probably be among my top picks for best nonfiction picture book. It’s bright and colorful. The text mimics the style of the subject, poet Gertrude Stein. It’s funny.
As Gertrude Stein might say, A picture book is a picture book is a picture book is a picture book. But sometimes it’s not.
A Sample:
“Talk talk talk talk. Laugh laugh. More talk.
Laugh. Okay. Enough.
And now it’s time for tea.
Teatime is teatime.
And look who’s here,
in time for tea.
It’s Pablo Picasso the Spanish artist.
Pablo Picasso looks so angry but no.
Pablo Picasso is Pablo
Picasso.
He just invented Modern art
which is not the same thing as being angry
but then again maybe it is.
Maybe it is
and maybe it isn’t.
Then again maybe it is.
It’s so hard to invent
Modern art.
Maybe it is
and
maybe it isn’t.
Maybe.”
Children’s Comments:
Sydney, 6, said, "Never want to read. It's wacky."
Vanessa, 6, said, "It's weird because they have a dog named Basket."
Joey, 6, said, "The title was weird."
Jony, 6, said, "The bear was in a chair!"
Children’s Ratings: 3, 1, 4, 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
Go ahead and call it a children’s picture book, but I think you are wrong; the children I read this book to looked at me in bewilderment. It looks like a picture book. It reads like a picture book. But reading it to young children is like asking junior high students to read Great Expectations; it can be read, but it should be saved for those old enough to really appreciate it.
I loved it. It would probably be among my top picks for best nonfiction picture book. It’s bright and colorful. The text mimics the style of the subject, poet Gertrude Stein. It’s funny.
As Gertrude Stein might say, A picture book is a picture book is a picture book is a picture book. But sometimes it’s not.
A Sample:
“Talk talk talk talk. Laugh laugh. More talk.
Laugh. Okay. Enough.
And now it’s time for tea.
Teatime is teatime.
And look who’s here,
in time for tea.
It’s Pablo Picasso the Spanish artist.
Pablo Picasso looks so angry but no.
Pablo Picasso is Pablo
Picasso.
He just invented Modern art
which is not the same thing as being angry
but then again maybe it is.
Maybe it is
and maybe it isn’t.
Then again maybe it is.
It’s so hard to invent
Modern art.
Maybe it is
and
maybe it isn’t.
Maybe.”
Children’s Comments:
Sydney, 6, said, "Never want to read. It's wacky."
Vanessa, 6, said, "It's weird because they have a dog named Basket."
Joey, 6, said, "The title was weird."
Jony, 6, said, "The bear was in a chair!"
Children’s Ratings: 3, 1, 4, 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
jennywithaz's review
5.0
A hilariously funny "biographical" picture book about Gertrude Stein and her artistic circle of friends, written in imitation of her signature experimental style and accompanied by colorful, lively illustrations. I giggled a lot while reading it, and thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout. A fun, whimsical and original picture book.
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