Member Reviews
I didn't like it. This book is a collection of verses taken from other poems, not the original work of the author. (Nothing wrong, just letting you know ^^)
I simply understood I'm not into poetry at all.
So cute! I loved it from beginning to end! What an adorable story! I had no idea how uplifting children’s book could be to an adult!
2.5/5 stars
i really love what this book attempted but it really didn’t work for me. i thought it would just be a compilation of the editor’s favorite poems, but it was a story about the changing seasons made from them.
so, this collection of excerpts from historical nature poems was weaved into a narrative of a young girl waiting for spring. nature poetry has been one of my favorite things to read since i was a child, so i recognized a lot of the poets’ voices. while the idea was wonderful, the variety of voices strung together made the tone of the book feel very disjointed. the story was solely word-for-word quotes of a variety of poets put together, and not all of them meshed.
at the end, all the poems that the excerpts were from are there to enjoy. that was the only thing that made me understand how the story was made. i think for some kids, the sophisticated chaos of this book’s formatting will scratch an itch inside their brain. for other kids, it will probably leave them as confused as it did me. it definitely channels that untranslatable train of thought unique to an emotionally engaged child. all that being said, i think young readers will at least relate to ivy's feelings about the different seasons.
i will say, the art was absolutely superb. every time i see someone do woodblock art that looks this stunning my brain dissolves.
In Ivy in Bloom, Vanita Oelschlager celebrates Spring with poetry from great poets and writers of the past. Oelschlager starts her book in poetic verse, lamenting winter's dreariness and spring's promise. By using shades of black, grey, brown, and white, illustrator Kristin Blackwood plays on this dreary time between seasons. Blackwood begins to paint the pages with brilliant colors as springtime approaches. In order to complete her book in verse, author Vanita Oelschlager ceases writing and instead uses the writings of famous poets and writers from the past.
Here's a look at how the first poet's words transition from the author's writing.
Vanita Oelschlager wrote:
When, oh when,
Will spring be here?
When will outside be
Yellow and blue,
Green and red
And bright orange too?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote:
W(hen) winter winds are piercing chill,
This came from his poem Woods in Winter.
Ending the book are words from Robert Browning's poem, The Year's at the Spring.
God's in His heaven —
All's right with the world.
Kristin Blackwood illustrates a sunny day with birds flying through the air. In the background are trees. The green grass is dotted with colorful flowers. A rod iron and stone fence surrounds the area. At the forefront is a barefooted little girl in a pink dress swinging on a swing.
At the back of the book, there is a listing of all the poems and the writers' words. Words that appear in the text are highlighted in green. The poet's or writer's brief facts are given, as well as what poem or written text they are penned.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Beautiful. A wonderful collection with a gloriously wonderful cover. I would purchase this for many friends as a gift.
Any book that so cleverly introduces great poets to little ones is a winner. Vanita Oelschlager is a creative author who always provides a creative book. This lovely book starts with original poetry to introduce a young girl who is quite bored in the winter months. The book then uses phrases from famous poets and authors as spring arrives. Kristin Blackwood's illustrations change from the monochromatic brown and black winter illustrations to brightly colored springtime pictures. . The afterward includes brief bios and complete poems or passages from the original sources of the poetry used. Older children will get a better taste of those works and might be prompted to read more. This delightful book will serve as great introduction to classic poets for little ones and I recommend it to poetry lovers of all ages.
A cutely illustrated book that was a quick read. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really great either. 2.75/5
Thank you Netgalley and Vanita Books LLC for access to the digital ARC. My interest in this title comes from a love of poetry personally, matched with the desire to begin building a collection of titles to use in homeschooling. I think this title is a great example of how imagery can be perceived in poetry through visual representation. I can see this title working in a homeschooling unit, I appreciate the added resource at the end of the story that highlights the specific lines referenced to create the story. Although a well done short tale with great images, I was not expecting there to be a reference to "God" in this title. While this figure is appropriately introduced, the inclusion of said figure could raise questions for children in families that are not familiar with the figure. It was an unexpected line for a title that I was fully expecting to be about spring time. As an adult with a understanding of God, I can see how spring time would evoke thoughts of God in many as it relates to many aspects of the general belief; Easter etc. While I feel that there's no wrong in it, I'm just not able to give it a full 5 stars because I personally would omit reading this to a 4-7 year old whose background I am unsure of. That being said I do think others will find the reference warming and intentional with the imagery that was depicted. Overall a wonderful book, great pictures, love the collection of reference poems at the back! Note from reviewer: I feel strongly that poetry as should all writing should serve the author in the highest form of seeking their truth and desire to share it as such in their word and eye. Which leads me to say: topics / themes / beliefs are allowed to be presented in the manor the author best sees fit, we can enjoy others writing and skill without necessarily conforming to their beliefs.
What a cute book!! I loved the illustrations, and I think my nieces will love this. They are ready for pool weather, so this book is the perfect one to read while we enjoy the sun and wait for pools to open. I loved that the majority of the book is easy to read for a child, and that there is poetry in the back for adults.
This cute children's book is all about springtime vibes! The author nails it with colorful visuals and poetic writing that captures the magic of March and April. From the blossoming flowers to the gentle breeze, it's like peeking out the window and feeling the excitement for the season change. The illustrations are amazing and match the story perfectly. Plus, the poems flow so nicely, making it an easy and enjoyable read for both kids and adults.
The first thing that drew me to this book was its stunning artwork. Each illustration is a masterpiece in itself, capturing the serene yet melancholic essence of winter with breathtaking detail. From the frost-covered trees to the soft glow of candlelight in the girl's cozy home, the artwork beautifully complements the story, evoking a sense of wonder and nostalgia.
One aspect of the book that particularly resonated with me was the attention to detail in depicting the girl's home. The cozy interiors, filled with warm hues and inviting textures, serve as a comforting contrast to the starkness of the winter landscape outside. It's these small details that add depth to the story and make it feel all the more relatable and immersive.
"Ivy in Bloom" is a touching and beautifully crafted children's book that I would highly recommend to readers of all ages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
I think this book is a must read for modern day children. It is important that the poets that are featured in this book are not lost to time. They must live on. This book has some wonderful and beautiful poems. I can see slightly more mature readers enjoying this book!
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The lovely springtime is the subject of the novel. The author's use of vibrant visuals to complement her writing about the beauty of nature and the springtime improved the piece. It looked out the window, expressing the child's hopes and dreams for March and April. I offer this book a five star rating because it does a fantastic job of describing the elements, which include flowers, wind, winter, light, water, clouds, land trees, etc. The author gave us a straightforward yet adorable children's book and strengthened it with the work of many additional writers.
This was a very cute book. I really loved the illustrative style and the richness of the colors used. I would buy this book for my kids.
Ivy In Bloom is a quick cute children’s book about the change in weather, from a dark cold March to the beauty of spring and all it brings. The illustrations are fun and are the perfect match for the story. The book is in a poetic style and flows beautifully.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook ARC of Ivy in Bloom: The Poetry of Spring. I really like the concept of this book, but I didn’t realize it was aimed at children until I started reading it. Realizing I’m not the target audience though, I still recommend this book to fans of poetry to see how the lines of different poems about spring are used thematically. In the end, I felt the book came together really well. If you’re looking for a children’s book, this would be great. If you’re looking for poetry about spring in general, you also get that with this work.
On dreary winter days, it is easy for all of us to hope for spring. The young girl in this title is eager for the brightness of a new season. She is impatiently waiting until her world becomes more colorful.
The book opens with rhyming text and a wintry view of the world. As the book continues, young children will watch for signs of spring and will find excerpts from some well known authors on the subject.
The illustrations in this book are distinctive and filled with detail. They go nicely with the text.
Recommended for young listeners and their adults. There are ideas here for poems to explore further.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Vanita Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Cute little story about a young girl waiting for spring. It's told through short, simple to understand poems that were originally actually a part of longer poems written by a few different authors.
This little book of poems is very cute.
They feel so cozy. Just so comfortable. Ivy in bloom is same too. What was a pleasant surprise that it was the poetry of spring by all the great poets and writers of the past.
It is a beautiful collection of poetry set alongside some stunning illustrations of the perfect representation of Spring!
Glad to have read it. Will definitely recommend it.
The original poem was cute, if not great, and went well with the pictures. There were excerpts from some real masters, and I think this is a great introduction to important poems.
Parents and teachers can read this and let kids learn some of the simple words, and us it as a jumping off place where they explore some of the other poetry cited.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.