If . . .

I received an ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book has a collection of thought provoking and beautiful artwork. I loved reading and studying each picture and am going to read back through it and talk about each picture with my daughter.
A fantastic book for play on words and developing imagination.

I have a copy of the original publication which was published in 1995. I fell in love with its uniqueness, imaginative qualities and especially the artwork. I have the same feeling when I read it as I experience when I look at Salvador Dali's works of art. It's a picture book of surreal possibilities making it a classic worthy of a special 25th anniversary edition.

This enhanced edition includes two brand new stories together with a sprinkling of freshly added spot illustrations. The illustrations are created in beautiful watercolours. They are large, crisp and truly intriguing.

I for a while had my book displayed on my coffee table, in plain sight, so visitors could enjoy the magical book as well. Both young and old readers will be mesmerized and delighted as they thumb through Sarah Perry's fantastical world.

The book will now be reissued in 2020, enhanced and expanded, so a brand-new generation will be able to enjoy it. The author has included at the end of the book a Readers' Guide to the Secrets of "If..." which I found very interesting indeed. The book is delightful, original, and one that kids (and adults) will go back to read (and ponder) again and again. It would be a wonderful tool for art teachers to use to stimulate their classes or for creative writing projects. I highly, highly recommend this book.

From the cover to end-plates, and everything in between, this book is beautiful. Each new page reveals dynamic drawings that offer more and more details with each viewing. The pictures range from elegantly breathtaking to downright unsettling, creating an immersive experience for the reader. The Reader’s Guide at the end offers some great information to help guide readers in their exploration of the illustrations, sure to be a hit with parents. This reprint of a classic is sure to enchant a new generation of young readers.

With children ages 3, 6 and 9, I read a lot of picture books and don’t like most of them. So, I was surprised at how delighted I was by Sarah Perry’s If... . The illustration style is realistic but once you take a quick second to look closer, you see the bizarre and enchanting combinations of animals, objects and environments reconfigured into surrealistic scenes. My 3-year-old laughed he turned each page to an amusing picture. Every illustration is preceded by an intro phrase. For example: “If turtles were magnetic...” When you turn the page, the illustration completes the sentence. The end of the book invites you to continue creating your own juxtapositions. I love how this book creatively upends how we conventionally see things and invites us to do so more.

Incredible artwork that leads the reader to imagine "what if?" This book would be a pleasure to read to children and let their imaginations take over. I can see teachers using this to guide students into their own "what if" ideas. Our library will be purchasing it to add to our creativity/imagination section.

Twenty-five years after its original publication, If by Sarah Perry still holds up. The perfect book to read to young children to begin a conversation about what could be.

What a beautiful and timeless classic! A wonderful book that encourages young and old to use their imagination.
Beautiful illustrations as well!

This book is great! As a speech pathologist, I can use this book to teach all ages. It has a chance to answer wh-questions. Children can also ask their own questions. The illustrations are beautiful, and useful to talk about adjectives and have the students use their own writing skills. I service children from the ages 3-21 and feel that this book can be used by all ages. This is definitely on my purchase list.

What a beautiful book to make its re-entry into the world! The drawings are wonderfully playful and really lead the imagination. I look forward to seeing this out in the world again!

A beautiful picture book book that would work wonderfully as a stimulus for creative writing and art work.

Dear God, how did I somehow miss this book over the past 25 years? It is an absolutely stunning piece of work and needs to be a part of every child's library! It stretches the imagination with wacky ideas like what would happen if frogs ate rainbows and then turns them into illustrated interpretations of each statement. The drawings/paintings are breathtakingly beautiful and really make you think. You could have so many discussions about different ways to interpret each of these sayings and try to create your own interpretations. Plus the book is almost open-ended, allowing you to think of even more on your own. And again, it just gorgeous. I think my favorites are the dogs as mountains and holding music. Although the toes as teeth is amusing. They are all just wonderful and a great introduction to surreal art, which is one of my favorite styles.

There's a Readers' Guide at the end of this with some explanations as well as other thought-provoking questions.

I quite emphatically give this book 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

LOVED this! I'm definitely going to use it in my Language Arts classroom, I just have to figure out how...

A deceptively understated book, If... by Sarah Perry inspires readers to imagine a fantastical world of “what if’s” that will have children laughing and adults reminiscing their childhood imagination. With beautiful illustrations and themes, this book is a lesson in slowing down and revisiting the joy and wonderment that made the childhood experience so lovely; I even had to do a double take of the cover halfway through the book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Perry is a genius. There is no work of art that has astounded me in recent times as Perry's work. The book while compels you to imagine, the most noteworthy element of it is how the illustrations are rendered. I doubt this book could have been done so brilliantly in the hands of any other.

If... by Sarah Perry is pure artistic and poetic creativity. It...is something different. A book you would feel proud you discovered, observing the delight of those you share this treasure with. A welcome to the absurd but magically beautiful world of Surrealism. A juxtaposition of illustrations, ideas, and intermedia. A modern day Fluxus event. The interaction between the text and the reader will surely prompt the reader to continue with their own Ifs... If skunks made honey...If chickens laid lemons. This will be perfect to prompt children writers to write and illustrate their idea.

This is a thought provoking and beautifully imagined book for all ages! As the title suggests, this book will leave you thinking "What if?". The illustrations are wonderfully done, and it brings your imagination to life!

This book was silly and wonderful, full of interesting scenarios for you to imagine with your children or students. I imagine this book would make an excellent choice to teach hypotheticals to young ESL students or just to have some fun.

‘If...’ (the 25th Anniversary Edition) is a book full of whimsical and thought-provoking questions, coupled with surreal imagery. It invites you to exercise your imagination and expand upon the amazing things pictured.

If cats could fly...
If music could be held...
If ugly were beautiful...

This book is accompanied at the end by a fantastic reading guide that encourages readers to ask ‘if... what then?’. This section perfectly demonstrates how to explore ‘If...’ in further depth and really show how these types of questions can turn any kernel of an idea into a writing or art prompt!

Disclaimer: Thank you Netgalley & Getty Publications for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely a book I will be buying for the library!

This is a beautiful book for dreamers and those who like to explore the thought of if.... As such it will surprise you, make you want to keep on dreaming creatively and also to explore the world around you - both the natural world as we know it and one that could be.

First of all the book is a teaser since if you don't read the description then there isn't much to tell you about what the story may actually be about. Then again the magic begins if you also pay attention to the cover and notice the details of its illustration.

The writing itself is very simple and easy to follow so beginning readers will find this a good book to start reading on. Each page has only just a few words to explain the thought while the following illustration is what drives home the point in a beautiful visual.

And although the words are calming and inspiring it is most definitely the beautiful and brightly colored illustrations that bring it altogether. Although there are a few illustrations that didn't really stand out to me like the toes, the worms and the zebras, all of the rest of them did and they were charming. I found a few that just had me laughing with the thought.

In the end I have to say I found a new children's book that I like and I cannot wait to find someone to share it with....

**Please note I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review**

Absolutely ingenious. Illustrations that fill you with every kind of emotion, from laughter, to wonder, to awww... and that’s just outright gross. A challenge at the end to dream up your own crazy ideas, accompanied by a readers guide explaining the inspiration behind some of the bewildering illustrations.

I would highly recommend this whether it’s for your child or yourself, I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this book.

If I had to pick a favourite, it would probably be “If dogs were mountains...”

It took me an inordinate amount of time to figure out how to view this book. My apologies!

I am glad I persisted, it is a magical and thought-provoking little read. My children talk like this all day long, if teachers were cats or if I could talk to mongooses. If butterflies were travelling princesses. I love any book that promotes imagination and storytelling, the interactive element is delightful!

I would love to own a hard copy one day.

A lovely, thought-provoking book. Very enjoyable and would definitely recommend to parents. Could be good for class discussions.

What an inspirational book! I am only sorry that I missed its original publication because I can visualize the possibilities to use this in the classroom to spark creativity and imagination.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Getty Publications for the ARC of this book.

Do you remember when a thought just pops inside your head, like "What if pigs can fly using their curly tails as a propeller?" Yeah, this book is a collection of such weird yet utterly interesting thoughts and illustrations. It summons inspiration and creativity.

A truly odd and magnificent book. I found the artwork to be amazing and couldn't stop staring at it. The book was so interesting and I think it would be a great read for any kid.

"If" by Sarah Perry was beautiful. I loved the bizarre "creations" and the art style is gorgeous, some really caught my eye like the space whales and the butterfly hair. Beautiful illustrated book.

Wow! Such fantastic illustrations - so clever. I will inspect my toothpaste carefully tonight: check out the image for yourself.

This is a beautiful book that I think children would love to explore. There is so much you can talk about in each picture and nothing is quite what it seems. I love the illusions which blur reality and can imagine many different ways that this book could be used across the curriculum to inspire writing, art and creativity.

Wonderful nook - don't miss it!

4 imaginative stars
If... is one of those rare interactive books to get readers (and those read to) to ponder art, imagination, and even the absurd. It invites them to see the world in a new way. It gives the perusers things to count and colors to find, questions to ask.
The only page I did not like was ‘if... mice were hair.’ Yuck. I LOVED ‘if... music could be held.’ I have long imagined a similar magical picture.
Author Sarah Perry hope the book would trigger a smile (whether private or shared. If... still does, 25 years after its first printing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great reprint.
This is a great book for helping bend your imagination.
Some of the artwork has been used in examples or other famous works.
The imagination is tested by the images and words to make you think out of the box.

I love this strange little book, it's beautiful. For a picture book it really opens the door for lots of discussion. Firstly to open the narrative to explain concepts such as braille that is mentioned in the book, hopefully in a way that makes it fun to learn. I also just love the idea of sitting down with a child and making up your own stories based on the images you see. Some of the illustrations are definitely out there, but the artwork is beautiful and has potentially to create a truly special connection with your small person.

Simply stunning. The 25th-anniversary release of a classic, beautifully-illustrated, incredibly imaginative picture book—one you'll want to visit again and again. If turtles were magnetic, if music could be held, if worms had wheels, if ugly were beautiful (a warthog with a diamond tiara is shown), if dogs were mountains, if cats could fly, etc. Sarah Perry brings us phenomenal drawings of these and other what "if" scenarios. Five stars.

Exquisite paintings that boggles the mind...images of whales swimming in outer space and so much more! Creativity can be limitless for those who dare. The word “if” is so powerful and this book encourages us all to dare.

A wonderful addition for any library. Love it!

4 stars

Memorable illustrations! What an imaginative art!

As I went through each page with my son, it made us smile.
I asked my son the suggested question, we looked at the illustration, and we played to imagine stories or other possible perspectives. Some illustrations were really our favorites, like "If dogs were mountains”, "If hummingbirds told secrets" “If fish were leaves”.

Imagination is one of our most valuable capacities that make us stand out as humans, that allowed us to reach the moon and from where so many inventions are born to solve problems or give us comforts. In these times of global crisis, it is essential to nurture and develop this skill in children, since constructive imagination and innovation are essential and essential for professional development, entrepreneurship and business success.

My sincere appreciation to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

This anniversary version of IF, Sarah Perry’s iconic children’s picture book, is a wild ride of color, weird images and clever text. Feels a bit psychedelic actually. It holds your attention through its originality and beautiful illustrations. A must-have for those who dig fantastical art.

Pub Date 03 Mar 2020

Grateful to Getty Publications and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#If #NetGalley

Great art work with a lot of fantasies. This book is gorgeous! I had to smile more than once to see things coming to life. Many thoughts and illustrations, starting with If... Marvelous works!

I remember this book! I am so happy that it is available for a new generation of writing workshop teachers. I am certainly going to share it with my preservice teachers. It cries out of imagining, exploring and reaching down deep for your surreal illustration, which of course, you have to write about. What a treasure!

This is such a fun book, filled with imaginative images that invite dreaming up stories to go with them. In this 25th anniversary edition, we get new illustrations, plus a reader's guide to some of the secrets and hidden things within the illustrations throughout the book. Great fun for all ages!

#If #NetGalley

Breathtaking and surreal, this is a glorious reprint of a children's picture book. The illustrations are amazing watercolours, in which anything can happen.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange of my honest opinion.

O, wow! A surreal book for kids that is really not holding back - this was peculiar and fun and I can only dream about all the laughs and discussions the little ones can have while reading this book. Plus the invitation to create more "what ifs..." at the end was great.

Lovely read!

How did I miss this little gem over the years? What a wonderful flight of imagination! It's oddness would be enjoyed by children of all ages. Loved the illustrations!

This is a sparsely worded book at less than a 100 words, if you do not include the newly added Reader’s Guide at the end of the book for this edition (which is also fascinating, by the way!). And not one complete sentence in those less than 100 words too……

But this book is all about the illustrations, and of course those short pithy ‘If...’ questions next to them that together are bound to lead to much longer discussions and exercises in out-of-the-box creativity!

Opening this book is like looking into a child’s actively imaginative mind and having it pop out at you in brilliant colors. Consider these examples from the book that range from the sweetness of mountains that are giant sleeping dogs to the total grossness (for adults at least) of mice as your hair!!

The book effortlessly takes you on a trip to the great land of imagination, to the start of the wonderful and weird conversations you can have with little ones (or even with other adults), to get yourself or anyone to bend their minds a little more, or – to use the cliched phrase – step out of the box completely! This makes it a great resource for inspiring creativity for your art projects as well as writing exercises, as well as to simply enjoy it!

In Summary
Surreal, outlandish, weird, enjoyable, surprising, beautiful, magical, unsettling, whimsical and totally, totally out-of-the-box imaginative and creative.

So yes, go ahead and invite your imagination with If… by Sarah Perry, for it is a must-have for every creative’s and every child’s bookshelf.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley and Getty Books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

If... is simple yet evocative. The first time I read through this book, I felt pulled in two different directions. On the one hand, I wanted to sit and stare at the pages without blinking. On the other, I was eager to discover what else this book had to offer. The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking, and I wish I could frame every single page and hang them around the house. It's like the author combined the silliness of Alice in Wonderland with the feeling of walking through a museum.

I recently learned this book celebrated it's 25th anniversary, and I'm really surprised I haven't stumbled across it before now. If... has profoundly impacted my perception of the world, and it's made me consider various other what ifs that are not addressed within the pages of this book. I am ecstatic that I get to share this wonderful work of art with my children, and introduce them to a new way of thinking that nurtures their imaginations.

My favorites: If dogs were mountains... & If caterpillars were toothpaste... They're all fantastic, but those would be my top two. My only complaint would be that I ran out of pages! Additionally, the Reader's Guide at the end was interesting and educational, but explained in a way that made you want to know and learn more. I cannot praise this book enough, and if it's something you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing, please do yourself a favor and borrow it from the library or just buy it outright.

This is such an amazing book that will prompt all sorts of imaginations, those of children and parents alike. I can only imagine the amazing and wonderful thoughts this book would bring out in children. Because this is an anniversary edition, I’m sure that it has already done so much good for children’s imaginations and will only continue to do this important job.
Each page is a startling image that combines two things that our world’s law of physics wouldn’t allow. For instance, “what if cats could fly?”. The images seamlessly blend these opposites together and allow for a believable outcome that is both interesting and beautiful, sometimes even silly.
On top of everything else, these are secrets to look for in some of the images that make it a more exciting book to read with a child. I strongly believe that children should read throughout the day – not just at bedtime – and this would be the perfect book for that. It would sharpen the reading and observation skills of the children reading it. This fact, for me, makes this book stand out from other children’s books.
I recommend this book for anyone looking for their child’s next favourite read.

This book definitely delves deep into the imagination and urges you to let go of any tethers to the real world if only so you can fully enjoy the book. The illustrations were far more substantial than the text by itself; and together they create a wonderful book that truly does have multiple stories as it is stated at the end of the book. Each page and each illustration begs your curiosity and creativity. It was an experience to read this book and I would definitely recommend this book to kids because they are so much better at letting go of any inhibitions and fall face first into stories that barely mirror their reality.
The cover especially drew me to this book and I'm so glad it was made in such an eye-catching manner that I couldn't skip it.
I have not read the first and original edition, but I definitely appreciate this second edition. Happy 25th anniversary of this book to the author, I'm sure it will do well with the readers of today!

<i>*Thank you to the publishers; Getty Publications, the author; Sarah Perry, and Netgalley for my free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.</i>

A very enjoyable children’s book. My children are aged 2-5 and loved the silly illustrations. It gave us all a good giggle before bedtime. A must have for your miniature book worms.

Sarah Perry’s “If…” captures the endless imagination of young children quite wonderfully, bringing to life all of those “what if” thoughts with interesting and bizarre illustrations.

If cats could fly… If turtles were magnetic… If dreams were visible…

Reading this book will surely inspire kids in the 3-7 age range to invent and explore more creative ideas about life.


Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for sending me a free digital copy of this book to read and review.

Somehow, I had never seen this book until now, the 25th anniversary, and I think it's great. Very surreal and I love the concentration on animals. That being said, if you are truly supposed to imagine these scenarios as real, it can get a bit horrifying! The one that stood out right away was 'If caterpillars were toothpaste.' Well, naturally if that were the case we'd smush them against our teeth and they would die and we'd have animal guts all around our mouth which would probably make us sick. So...I feel like maybe that one isn't as magical as some of the other examples. I mean, how can that end up well for us or the caterpillar? It's kind of the same thing with 'If butterflies were clothes.' As soon as we sat down, they would be crushed. If they fly about at their own whimsy, would that leave us nude? So with these few exceptions, it's quite enjoyable, albeit a bit dated. Worth a look!

This is a thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated book that makes you think outside the box. Some of the ideas in this book are a bit creepy, but it definitely gets the creative juices flowing and makes you come up with your own “what if’s?”. I imagine that many fun conversations could be had while reading this book with your kids!

I received an electronic copy from Getty Publications through NetGalley.
An updated 25th edition of Perry's book.
So much to see in these amazing illustrations and read the accompanying text. Readers can write further stories to go with each drawing. Readers can even combine pictures to spin larger tales. Perry encourages independent thinking and creativity as readers explore the details in the illustrations and then push farther with their own imaginations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an electronic copy of the @5th Anniversary Edition.

This is an incredible book that is truly as lovely to read as it is to look at. There are some really thought provoking "if" statements that are accompanied by such beautiful illustrations. As an educator I love the Readers' Guide at the end. There are little prompts to encourage deep thinking that would make for excellent writing prompts as well. This will be a gem for sure in my classroom library.

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

Excellent illustrations and wonderful colors. The font was well spaced and easy to read. It's great study in surrealism.

Overall, 4/5 stars- the deduction is due to the "toe teeth" and the "caterpillar toothpaste" grossing me out. There are some things that should never be put on paper.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this copy of If.... to read and review!

If.... by Sarah Perry is a strange children's book. It's a little mature for young pre-readers but likely too young for readers. My 3,5 yr old son and I read this together. The book has pages with the concepts of magnets and Braille which go over his head entirely and are not easily explained. This is always frustrating when reading to my kids.

Many pages I found disturbing, unsettling, and creepy. When I snuggle and read with my children, the last image I need in my head is toes for teeth. Like, what the heck? Why??

However, my son did like it. He does indeed have a strange taste in books as he loves the bizarre old stories of Theo LeSieg like Wacky Wednesday (another very disturbing book....), the silliness of Richard Scarry, and the oddness of Shel Silverstein's poetry.

Even though he liked it, because I am the one reading it, my opinion trumps his. I would not purchase this book or recommend it. If mice were hair? I would throw up and want to die. Ew.

A marvelously illustrated book that is perfect for engaging a child’s imagination. It opens a world of creative possibilities to anyone looking to expand what is real and fathomable.

This is a dada book. It encourages fantasy, imagination and introspection. It made me think about all the different ways the world can be seen, all the perspectives I didn't even consider yet. It's a wonderful book about ideas, creation, poetry and image. I loved it.

A mix of what ifs and fine art for children. Much more high minded than most picture books and still accessible to young ones. The photos are though provoking and will likely lead to lots of what if drawings by readers who are also aspiring young artists.

If. . . by Sarah Perry is sure to set curiosities running. Both funny and imaginative, I imagine this book will help foster dialogue with children and get them creating their own “If” combinations.

Fuel for the Imagination

Even though this book has been out for 25 years, I hadn't heard of it. What an incredibly visually stunning and imaginative book! If you are new to the book like me, what the author does is present an “if” scenario like “If caterpillars were toothpaste…” and then has a detailed, usually colorful, and sometimes amusing illustration of that idea. Some illustrations were funny. I particularly liked the unfortunately magnetic turtle, who didn't look thrilled about all those items attached to its back! This book could be simply enjoyed on its own, or it could be used to encourage a child's imagination, where they could come up with their own implausible “if” scenarios and maybe even draw them. I love it when books inspire imagination in kids. My own love of reading started in childhood and stemmed from using my imagination to “see” the book or imagine new stories for favorite characters. To this day, I still love the adventures that books take me on. I love that, in this book, the reader is encouraged to both enjoy the whimsy of the book itself and come up with her or his own scenarios. The author does have a two-page reader guide in the back that first tells of the different ways you could use this book with a child and then shares some things to look for in a few of the illustrations. A fun book to encourage playfulness and seeing other possibilities.

What a lovely little book this is. Illustrations are thought-provoking and beautifully done, and each one is as enchanting as the last. The bit which explains the ideas behind the images is an especially nice addition.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Getty Publications and Sarah Perry for my ARC.

This picture book gave me so much Dixit-vibes :) I loved it. The pictures were beautiful and very interesting, I can imagine them as a Dixit card. This book is perfect to think.
I knew that this book will be surrealistic, and I am not a fan of that. I requested this book because I was interested in it. I was not sure that I will like it, but I was too curious. Some pictures were amazing for me and wanted to see more about it, some were disgusting and some were a little bit boring. I gave 3 stars because of that and because I am not a fan of surrealism at the end, but it surprised me in a good way :)

I requested and received this book from Sarah Perry and Getty Publications through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a weird and strange book that encourages kids to use their imaginations. Some of the illustrations were creepy and some of them were thought provoking. As long as you have an imagination this book will be fun and allow you to explore your own wild ideas.

I'd like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.
I thought it was okay, not my cup of tea though..

This is a very unique book. We love the idea of using it to talk about imagination and make believe. Ada and I love giggling at the things that were dreamed and then thought about our own ‘Ifs’ after. It is a great story, especially to play and enjoy.

This book is very eye catching, but what I love the most is the stories within stories in the pictures ("If mountains were dogs" making an appearance in "If Clouds were spirits"; 88 ants in the number 8 in "If Ants could count", etc.). The cover is absolutely magnificent, and it embodies the whimsical and imaginative mind-bending experience within. This book whet my appetite for other works by Sarah Perry.

This surreal and lushly coloured book truly lives up to its reputation as weird. The premises set up by the text and then vividly realised by the coloured illustrations are bizarre in a way that children can identify with, until the whimsy is knocked out of them. For the imaginative child this will be a sensory feast and for the older sceptical child it still has appeal.

The illustrations are beautiful, and the if statements really lead to some fun conversations with my kids. I Think my favorite was “if hummingbirds told secretS” they would talk really fast. It leads to fin conversations getting your kids to expand their imaginations.

I absolutely adore this book. The artwork is beautiful and the story is imaginative and interesting. I think this book would be amazing for kids, encouraging imagination and curiosity. My favorite piece of art is "If only dreams were visible," which happens to be the last one in the book. Overall, I would defiantly recommend this as a gift for kids.

Super cool book!!! Some of the Ifs were pretty funny also!! Great book to get the imagination going!! Also full of stunning illustrations!

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I loved the creativity of this book. The simple text could be interpreted may ways and it was fun to see the authors take. The addition of the readers guide at the back with a few discussion questions and information about some of the pages from the author is a nice bonus.

If…
By: Sarah Perry
4.3 / 5.0

This picture book is a great way to get a child to think. It lets the imagination to wonder and to ponder scenarios. This book could lead a child to invent something based on how this book got them thinking. I think this book would be great to read at bedtime when a child could look at the illustrations up close. The illustrations were really fun to look at even for me.
I had never heard of this picture book before, but now I will never forget it. People are always asking for good picture books for a baby shower or even just for a child they don’t know much about and this one would be perfect. It isn’t tailored to a specific gender, which is great. Many people ask me for a picture book for a girl or boy, but don’t know anything about them and that leaves me stumped a lot of the time. I will definitely try to display this picture book as much as possible.



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/If-Getty-Trust-Publications-Museum/dp/0892363215/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=If...&qid=1591391306&sr=8-2

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-sarah-perry/1132798987?ean=9781947440050

This review will appear on my blog on July 2, 2020.

This 25th Anniversary Edition by author #Sarah Perry is timeless and end chanting.For all these children at home right now this is perfect for them since it’s so imaginative.And the photography I enjoyed.
Take a fantastical journey where anything can happen:leaves turn into fish 🐠,cats fly with wings,humans have tails and dreams become visible.Its a #Wonderland 🎩 experience.
Thank you,
#Netgalley,#Sarah Perry and #Getty Publications

The art in <i>If...</i> is a joy to look at! It demonstrates that our imagination can take us anywhere. I would not want to spoil the art for you, so go ahead and take a look for yourselves.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book via Netgalley

I vaguely remember reading this as a child. The imagery accompanying the if statements are still as weird and beyond what I had imagined. Fun exercise in imagination and expectations.

What an intriguing book! If fish were leaves, or spiders read braille, or you could see dreams. Beautifully illustrated with a plethora of ideas to challenge your mind. So many possibilities for discussion on every page and I loved that you have some question points at the end of the book to help you look a little deeper into the imagery. A brilliant book to help children explore the concept of reality and fantasy and give them ideas to help construct their own interwoven imaginary concepts. #if #NetGalley Thanks NetGalley and Publisher for digital review copy.

A visually inviting and unusual look at nature using creative but sparse vocabulary. The book is a wonderful way to inspire curiosity, imagination and discussion with the many 'what if...' scenarios. These include if cats could fly. if dreams were visible, if music could be held. This one book could promote hours of discussion and debate amount children... and adults.

I did not like this at all, and spent the entire reading experience both grossed out and bemused. It is unclear which audience this is aimed at, as whilst the text is very simplistic, the ideas are so abstract, and the illustrations less colourful and striking than I would expect in a children's book. Not for me at all.

This is a such a very quick read , but every sentence in this book has a lot of feelings and punch to it.
All the wishes has that child like tone, its refreshing and it made me feel good. In this day and age, we
all need silly wishes even if they are just wishes. The 2 words that I will use to describe this book are.. MYSTICAL and Fun! :)

This book opens up lots of 'what if's'. Some of the illustrations are lovely, like the If music could be held and if dreams were visible. Some are creepy - like the if toes were teeth and if caterpillars were toothpaste! Its a different type of book that makes you want to stare at some of the illustrations whereas other pages you want to skip past quickly! Thank you Netgalley for letting me review this book.

Whimsical ideas with beautiful illustrations. An adventure in what if... the world looked a different way... what if mice were hair, if the moon were square. The author encourages readers to further elaborate on each proposed scenario. Lovely book

This is a book full of “If…” possibilities such as “if toes were teeth…” It is designed to provoke further possibilities. In the example, if toes were teeth, the question could be how would you eat an apple? There are other ideas that can be used with each prompt. For instance, one could be shown to a class or student and the assignment would be to write a story about what they see. There are plenty of other things going on in each picture such as looking further into a picture to see the dogs as mountains in the background, number of ants making a figure eight, or what emotions would arise or how would an experience change. The number of prompts opens up the possibilities for further exploration and the ideas that flow from them are endless.


I received an ARC from Getty Publications through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I received an ARC of If… by Sarah Perry thanks to Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If… is a tale that has been around for over 20 years, 25 to be exact, I've been given the opportunity to read the new version which includes two new arts. What I like the most about this book is that is a simple book but it can teach you so much and every time you read it you would learn something new. I totally recommend this and hope that everyone will have a great time reading it. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.


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Recibí una copia gratis de If… por Sarah Perry gracias a Netgalley a cambio de una reseña honesta.


If… es un cuento para niños que salió por primera vez hace 25 años, este día he tenido la oportunidad de ver la nueva versión y hacer una reseña. La nueva versión no cambia mucho de la original solo añade dos nuevas ilustraciones pero la magia del libro sigue siendo la misma. A medida que lo leemos nos encontramos con diferentes supuestos de como serian las cosas si por ejemplo el cabello de las personas estuviera hecho de ratones.

Lo que mas me gusto es que es un libro sencillo y aun así puede enseñarte tantas cosas porque el simple hecho de imaginar algo diferente en el mundo te hace apreciar como es el mundo y como es nuestra realidad porque estoy segura que a nadie le gustaría tener dedos en lugar de dientes.

Las ilustraciones son increíbles y siempre me ha sorprendido como libros tan cortos y sencillos pueden cambiar tanto tu perspectiva del mundo. Recomiendo este libro para todos, puedes disfrutarlo sin importar la edad que tengas y también sería bueno que se lo leas a los pequeños de tu familia porque este es sin duda un libro que sobrevive el paso del tiempo y te hará sentir lo mismo que hizo sentir a las personas que lo leyeron hace más de 20 años.

No debería de ser sorpresa que mi calificación para este libro es 4 de 5 estrellas, lo ame e incluso lo leí dos veces porque me había gustado tanto.

El libro en esta nueva edición estará disponible a partir del 3 de marzo, 2020 pero la versión original está disponible desde 1995.

Beautifully illustrated, this book has more than a touch of the surreal and the eccentric but at the same time encourages us to be children again and dream up the unimaginable. The dream world is just that and with pictures imagining caterpillars to be toothpaste and zebras that have stars and stripes, this is a book that could stir up a fun conversation on a long car journey. Now imagine a world where turtles were magnetic....

An imaginative and surreal picture book. If... imagines the world if things were a little different such as 'If turtles were magnetic' and 'If dogs were mountains'.
Beautifully illustrated and thought provoking, yet sometimes unsettling; If... could be an entertaining read for children and adults alike.

This book is gorgeous! The artwork is intricate and beautiful and the concepts are bound to inspire and fire the imagination of children and adults alike. As a primary school teacher, the art work will be fantastic as a stimulus for discussions and even for stories. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Despite this being an 25th anniversary edition, I'd never heard of this story!
No wonder it's being republished - it's amazing! So imaginative and gorgeous. I'm so sad I didn't know it existed earlier, so many missed opportunities that it would have been great in.
And a fun addition with the "secrets" at the back of the book, to make a reread more enjoyable!
I'll be looking out for a copy to add to our shelves.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning and full of detail. I loved that it focussed on the natural world. Very imaginative and creative, leading to an eventual dream about what would happen if...

Whenever I feel down, I read children's books. If... by Sarah Perry is one of those books that will stay with you and it will make you dream about all the ifs in your life. This would make a perfect present for all children and new mothers. The illustrations are very well done. Highly recommended.

The cover of this book is what instantly made me want to read it. The title “If...” instantly draws the reader in and makes their imagination begin to picture what this book will be about.
I thought this book was a really fun and creative one for children.
The author sets up so many scenarios with her questions. “If the moon were square... if toes were teeth”.
A really great book to get the imagination working! I really felt like I was there in the book seeing and witnessing all these scenarios the author presented me with.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

5 Blazing Stars for "If..." !

Holy moly, what an amazing ride is this book! It's been a long while since I've opened a book and turned to the first page and immediately placed upon my face the largest smile possible. This book does that for every single page!

But moreover, this book is a family game night just waiting to happen with young children and old!

What if frogs ate rainbows? The art shows us one possibility for what that could look like, but what stories that could fetch from a mind's eye! What if leaves were fish, or ugly was beautiful? What stories would they tell? What characters would they meet?

This book takes the concepts of Dali and shrinks it to size, earths that idea into possible new ways of thinking. I saw this was a Getty Museum feature, and thought it would at least be beautiful. I had zero idea of the feast awaiting inside this book. This book could make for fantastic "rainy lunchtime" classroom games, or perfect pizza night childhood entertainment, or just be a great adult fantasy writer's prompt!



Walking a museum should be a given for every child. Unfortunately it is not. This book takes the gifts of what should be gained in museum adventure and brings it to your sofa or bedtime story potential with your children of all ages. Yes, start with perusing the book. But don't stop there. Let this book be a springboard to joining unexpected concepts and new stories to be had. After all, isn't that what gifts the world new technology, new ideas to save what seems unsavable, the conjunction of what seems so disparate, the joining of the impossible?

The interior art is fantastic. I do wish they'd chosen a more "punchy" piece for the cover. The cover art translates wonderfully when inspected on the interior, up close, but loses some steam when rendered in thumbnail, as is the way these days. So know that the cover is a weak symbol of the powerful interior. Dive in.

This book is a magnificent wonder. Buy it, even for your adult sole self.

If...by Sarah Perry
25th Anniversary Publication Date: March 3, 2020
Out Now!

Description from NetGalley...
“Take a fantastical journey where anything can happen: leaves turn into fish, cats fly with wings, humans have tails, and dreams become visible
 
First published in 1995, Sarah Perry’s delightful picture book of “surreal possibilities” was the Getty’s first children’s title and has remained a beloved backlist classic over the course of two decades. Perry’s magical watercolors conjure up a world of limitless possibilities. Children of all ages will enjoy this romp through an inspiring, imaginative world. Reissued to celebrate a remarkable book’s 25th anniversary, this enhanced, expanded, and enlivened edition will appeal to a brand-new generation of readers.”

Thank you to @NetGalley @gettypublications for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.

My thoughts...
This really is a fantastical book. The cover gives you a glimpse at the imagination you will find in this book. Kids love imagining and creating, and this book will encourage them to further broaden their minds and imagine even more. Adults can have so much fun with kids using this book. This book is thought-provoking, with great illustrations and some are even Dali-esque.

Sarah Perry’s surrealist work is an attractive enough picture book, which is now being reissued in honour of its 25th anniversary. I’d never before heard of the book, and having now read it, I don’t think I was missing out on much. There is no plot, nothing to hold a collection of outlandish “what if” propositions together. Children might enjoy the work, and teachers might like using Perry’s ideas as a model for students to create their own fanciful speculations and images. Beyond that, however, I don’t see much point in the book. I’m a bit surprised it’s endured for a quarter of a century. I’d say you can safely pass on this one.

Having never seen the original version of If... that was created 25 years ago I can only really rate this book with how I feel about it as an adult now.
I thought the illustrations were great and some were very beautifully detailed. It is a a fairly simple book with If statements on each double page with some outlandish picture for eg. "If caterpillars were toothpaste" or "If dogs were mountains". I can appreciate how this could spark some imagination in children but as an adult I'm unsure what message the book is trying to convey. The 25th anniversary has some new illustrations and an authors note section in the back.
Thanks to netgalley.com and Getty Publications for this review copy.

I was finally able to download and open this book. I am so happy that this worked because the illustrations are simply beautiful. I enjoy going through this book with my 5 year old grandson.

As an adult I found some of the images a little creepy but I can completely see how t would appeal to children whose mind are constantly questioning how and why.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A collection of thought provoking and wondrous pieces, full of fascinating details.

This book has wonderful illustrations. It's unusual, strange but it is entertaining. Reading this book make me feel like I am in a completely different world where fishes are leaves, where whales lives in outer space, where the moon is square, etc. It is a highly imaginative book and helps the kids to be creative. It is wild and fun! The reason of why I gave it a 3 stars is because I just don't feel it is for me. But I really think a lot of kids would love this book :) It is the book that parents can talk about with their kids. Perhaps having an interesting and fun conversation? :D.
All in all, a great great book!

This is such a wonderful book for exploring silly or thoughtful questions, stretching imagination, and visualizing these new ideas. Each simple "If" statement is paired with a creative and beautiful illustration, and those were really engrossing. They brought out giggles and thoughtful reactions from my young son.

Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an old favorite that always seems to do well with K-6th grades, so I'm very pleased to see that it is being reprinted. There's nothing like a caterpillar perched on a toothbrush, spiders reading Braille, and toes for teeth to provoke an uproarious response!
The new version has 2 additional spreads (I love the turtle!) and end notes that invite further reflection.

This is such a cute children' book! It allows children to imagine all sorts of things, even the 'impossible' ones. The illustrations are extremely beautiful as well, I was mesmerised. Rating: 5/5 stars.

'If...' by Sarah Perry is a picture book that makes the reader pause and think, and has done so for 25 years!

The whimsical cover of a tree with leaves made of fish drew me in. From there, I was introduced to flying cats and magnetic turtles and other wonders. Each page offered strange wonders and and an open ended sentence, like 'If dogs were mountains....' Imagination and creativity abounds here and encourages the reader to think differently.

The book ends with a readers' guide into The Secrets of If.... The pictures are ones you might just pass over, then you notice the odd details. I really enjoyed pausing to read this.

I received a review copy of ebook from Getty Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful ebook.

A beautiful book about unleashing you imagination and creativity. With a series of prompts pairing unusual and disparate things, and followed by lovely illustrations to match, "If..." can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I envision this book as a fun starting point or conversation starter for teachers, parents, and even for personal mind-jogging.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book left me wowed. It was a wonderful and strange book, exploring what ifs and reminding the reader it's always nice to dream on and enjoy the worlds only existing in dreams. This is not only for children but for anyone at any age, who enjoys a bit of adventure. Highly recommend this book.

Twenty-five years later, Sarah Perry's "If..." remains as full of whimsy and wonder as ever. Readers of all ages will enjoy studying the beautiful pictures time and again for details they may have missed. The hybrids and fanatastical images are thought provoking and indeed make one wonder, "What if?"

This was beyond everything that my imagination could possible thought of. The book itself is the definition of art as a perception about a own reality of the world.

I showed this book to my younger siblings and they loved it. It contains gorgeous and clever illustrations and it really instigates children's imaginations and creative side. Definitely recommend.

This was a fantastic coffee-table type book for people to enjoy creative juxtapositions of imagery with words. It is also great for reading and pondering over the images. Perhaps this would be a good book for children to read with adults who want to ask questions and think deeply about the concepts presented. The content is great and it is challenging to think of the answers to the questions at the back. That exploration seems like it is A PART of the reading process, and should not be separated. I. wish that the questions were closer to the artwork, as it would be a great "in-situ" type of prompt for readers, rather than requiring them to go to the back of the book to explore. Perhaps having the question text be on the periphery, or a call out? Anyway, a novel book for exploring language and creativity. Would love to see more like it.

If by Sarah Perry. A interesting book said my grandson. He liked it that ants made the number eight because he is eight. He goes these are like riddles. I asked him do you like it. And he said he does. One other thing Sarah Perry is my grandmas name.

I can see why this was republished! It is a surreal classic, reminiscent of 'Tuesday' by David Wiesner. I adored the captivating and strange illustrations. This book is perfect for kids around 4-6 as they will easily be able to spot what's wrong/different about each picture vs. reality. My 5 year old loves picture books like this so I can't wait to show it to him.

Thank you NetGalley and Getty Publications for providing this ARC.

A collection of ponderings of what it would be like if music could be seen or turtles were magnetic, or a whole host of other improbable and impossible ideas were true? Each spread includes a pondering on one side and a illustration imagining it true on the other.

I’ve never come across this book until I saw the 25th anniv. ed. up for review on NetGalley. I decided to see what it was like. It certainly does spark the imagination. This book would make a great story starter or conversation start tool. The situations dreamed up are wild, crazy, and very out of the box. Recommended for dreamers, those with healthy imaginations, and those who like to wonder “what if…?”

Notes on content [based on the ARC]: One illustration shows a child with a bare butt.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If... by Sarah Perry is a free NetGalley e-picturebook that I read in late January.

Whoa. Surreal, creepy, realistically fanciful, and a book that you probably shouldn’t encounter when you’re under the influence and/or have an issue with or a fear of lumpy repeating patterns.

I received an electronic review copy of #If from #NetGalley

Everyone needs a copy of this book! It's perfect for reading to kids, but also wonderful for adults to flip through and explore - there's a good reason it's been popular for so long that this is the 25th anniversary edition. There is also a reading guide at the end that includes discussion questions about the stories/pictures and even about the endsheets! Every single illustration in this book is absolutely stunning and beautifully done, and of course all of the text perfectly matches the pictures. I recommend this book to everyone, regardless of your age or what genres you like or even whether you like fine art.

If . . . is a reformat and re-release of a gorgeous picture book from 1995 by Sarah Perry. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Getty, it's 48 full color pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a very short book, but overwhelmingly lush and beautiful. The pictures are surreal and realistically rendered. The artwork is precise and engaging, it draws the eye and invites a lingering contemplation. I have revisited the book a couple times since my original read-through, and I've found myself thinking about one picture or another many times in the intervening hours.

Each of the 23 paintings (not counting endpieces) has a one sentence introduction "if" ants could count, hummingbirds told secrets, dreams were visible, with the artwork illustrating the posit on the facing page. The illustrations are surreal and dreamlike with lots of semi-hidden subtleties and sly details.

This is an all-ages book. Adults will appreciate the beauty and creativity while children will likely appreciate identifying the features of each of the illustrations and everyone can enjoy hunting the hidden 'easter eggs' in each painting.

This 25th anniversary edition also includes a reader's guide with some background info on some of the pictures as well as 2 new paintings and some new spot illustrations.

Gorgeous book, haunting in a good way.

Five stars.

My Review: I vaguely remember seeing some of these illustrations as a kid but not this book, but I love when older and backlist books get a new breath of life. This is definitely a book of whimsy, you don't really get a story only ideas and beautiful artwork to spark the imagination. I think my favorites are "If Cats Could Fly" and "If Clouds were Spirits". In addition to these wonderful little imagination starters, the images also have little hidden secrets, which are revealed at the end to send you back into the book. It is really a lovely book, that will be great for all ages but really great to help spark young creative minds.


My Rating: This is definitely a book that stands the test of time, it is so creative and unique and will spark those quality it the readers as well. You can't help but send your imagination flying while paging though this one. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

What child doesn't love to ask the question, "What if..." This book beautifully illustrates just that question.

While, as an adult, I found that some of the illustrations made me squirm uncomfortably, (Mice as Hair, Toes as Teeth) children will adore it. Plus, it helps their mind bend into new ways of thinking! What a great classroom exercise to talk out before giving students a problem/project where they need to think outside the box.

4.5 Stars (but only because some of the pictures gave me the heebie-jeebies)

Thank you to NetGalley & Getty Publications for giving me this digital copy to read and review.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of this book was wonderful. I love how it inspires the imagination of kids across ages. I could read this with little ones and could also use it to spark ideas of using imagination for older reachers. I loved the illustrations and the secrets in the back! This book is great!

Imagine having butterflies for clothes or whales in space. In this updated 25th anniversary book by Sarah Perry, beautifully painted watercolor illustrations show these imaginative images. Simple text let's the reader imagine before turning the page to the illustration. The endmatter shares hidden surprises within the illustrations throughout the book. The endpapers are included in the mysterious surprises letting the reader guess what the ants are showing. This would be an amazing book to springboard into an art class or creative writing class! Bravo to the J. Paul Getty Museum for publishing this magnificent book of art and imagination!

Beautiful illustrations! I love the imaginative nature of this book - though a few of the pages made me cringe! (I HATE mice, so the "what if mice were hair" page had me turning to the next page very quickly!

This is a simple yet complex book. Filled with beautiful and intricate illustration and imaginative scenarios, 'If...' is a fun read with a great concept. I loved the art, it was vivid and unique.

'If...' would be a fun read for children (and adults), encouraging creativity and for minds to roam free. I'd recommend this book to both children and adults.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Getty Publications for an EARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An creative and thought provoking picture book; beautifully illustrated in vibrant colour. Perfect for challenging and stretching the imagination of readers, both young and old.

What a fun book to share with a child. What if? Talk about the pictures, go on flights of fancy. What a joy!

If.. by author Sarah Perry is a really fun and adorable book of surreal possibilities. A great children’s!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"If" is one of my favorite questions. This book is beautifully illustrated and I love the creative thought that went into this book. As a creative writing teacher, this would be a great resource.

The pictures made me think of Surrealism and of the work of some artists like Leonor Fini.
It's a breathtaking read and I fell in love with the pictures.
One of those book I'd like to own in hardcover as it's amazing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Quick fun book that all ages can enjoy. I think kids would enjoy the silliness of some of the scenarios while adults can really appreciate the amazing illustrations. Although in personal taste I found toes as teeth and mice as hair a bit disturbing lol. I think this is a great book for letting imagination run wild.

I'd never heard of this book before, what a fantastic concept! Great for curious and playful minds, I can hear the kids giggling away at it now.

This book will be a delight to school-age children who are beginning to develop a sense of more complex humor and ideas. Adults and teens who appreciate art will also enjoy it. Some of the pictures startled me when I flipped to them (example was the mice in hair), but this only lasted a few seconds and then I liked the uniqueness. The intriguing “if” statements followed by the lush illustrations are a great pairing. I do not remember reading the original book, so the concept seems refreshing to me. This is a title for not only reading, but it can be a path to creative writing and artistic expression in classrooms and libraries.
Thanks to Getty Publications for an e-galley.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Beautiful book with some lovely, thought provoking ideas and gorgeous illustrations - it will be a great book to have in the classroom!

I am first reviewing this for myself. I find some of these pictures interesting and some super unsettling and terrifying (What if toes were teeth??? No thank you!) But as a mother, I think my 3-year-old would probably find it interesting, and probably as she gets older she'd only be more interested in making up more "What ifs." But I don't know if I could deal with seeing the horrorshow of toes for teeth long enough to let her really enjoy it until she's old enough to read it on her own.

If by Sarah Perry
If is a beautifully illustrated book. Each page encourages the imagination to run in all directions. I can just see this book being read in a group of 4 year olds, priceless! A unique way to instill thought and communication of all ages. This would make a nice party get acquainted game.

I'm not gonna lie, the cover itself is what pulled me towards this book. The very strange fish on a plant esthetic had me curious, and with a title like "If..." - the suspense was killing me.

Apparently it was made back in the 90s, so I'm shocked I never picked it up as a kid. I devoured books as a child, but my city wasn't super diverse in it's library offerings. Lucky me, I get to pick up this book so many years later!

This story presents many "what if" scenarios like cats flying and magnetic turtles. The pictures are beautiful and the story is soft, simple and sweet. This book is definitely for a very young audience, but it's a very fun book. I could see three to five year olds bonding with parents and reading buddies over this joyful little book.

My biggest positives:
1. The art is FANTASTIC. The Siamese cat flying was beautifully drawn, and that's just one of many. Add that to the wild cover page, and you've got some wildly beautiful art. It didn't feel like a picture book, because it was just so darn pretty.

2. The creativity of some of these what ifs is absolutely wild. Worms with wheels?! I never wouldh ave imagined it. I am totally impressed. Except for my only negative of the book.

3. The braille shout-out! I totally approve and got super excited to see that splash of diversity! That's not a word I see too often and man am I proud!

4. The Reader's Guide at the end was very interesting to read as an adult reader. The kids might not like it as much, but I was intrigued. It had me thinking like a kid again!

My (obviously very personal) negatives:
1. Mice... as... hair... What? Why? Who thought of this?! Honestly, I'm curious. I'm horrified. My hair as mice?...

Overall, I'd say this is a must read picture book. It stands in line with Robert Munsch's classics, The Hungry Caterpillar, Grandma and the Pirates (my personal fave) and other wonderful popular books. This book is unique, full of creativity and imagination, and totally thought provoking. We need more books like If... littering the shelves of children everywhere.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for this awesome opportunity to pick up this literary classic.

Lovely surrealistic illustrations of the "what if" premise. The book is a wonderful tool to start the creative processes of children and adults. What would it look like if cats drove or cows played cards. A definite purchase for my collection.

I loved this book! The art is beautiful and the rhyme is wonderful. It'd be the perfect bedtime story for kids!

My nine year old son and I received an advance reviewer copy of the new edition of this book. We’d never read it before.

We enjoyed all of the pictures and the secrets described at the end. The ideas were interesting, surprising, and sometimes weird—in a good way. They got us thinking about if the world was different from how it is now.

It’s similar to another favorite of ours, Imagine a World. Enjoy!

I had a smile on my face as I flipped through each page of this book. It truly captures the magic and joy of childhood. Each page brings imagination to life by illustrating "what if" scenarios in beautiful and detailed drawings. This is the type of book children and parents will enjoy reading over and over again. In my mind, this is the perfect example of everything a children's book should be.

I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book. They are probably the best I’ve ever seen! It was a little strange, but I like strange!

I really enjoyed this children's book. If... is comprised of surreal illustrations preceded by an 'If' statements, similar to "If snowflakes could sing." That one isn't included in the book, but it's an excellent non-spoiler example of what sort of if statements are within the pages. The illustrations are absolutely lovely; some have a touch of the whimsical and some are downright weird. This would be a great book to use in a classroom, perhaps as fun journaling prompts or starting an ad lib. sort of a story orally.

Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for providing a digital ARC.

I adore this children's book and love the idea of these crazy pairs that the author put together. Sarah Perry explores and illustrates what it would look like: if cats could fly, if mice were hair, or if worms had wheels. And much more.

Illustrations are lovely, and the whole design of this book is beautiful.

I have a mixed feeling about this collection. Some of the pictures are wonderful, sparks imagination, and some of other pictures are giving me chills, too surreal, and yet too real, feels like the nightmare coming true. I guess that also shows a powerful side of this book.

A quirky fun book that invites your imagination out to play - the pages offer up simple "what ifs" vibrantly illustrated (sometimes more than meets the eye at first glance). Whether you simply giggle over the creative possibilities or use the ideas to spark your own, kids and adults alike will enjoy a fantastical flip through theses pages.

I just reviewed If... by Sarah Perry. #If #NetGalley

Opening the book, I had no clue what would be inside. A picture book? Nicely drawn images? But actually the author promotes imagination of something different, and makes us create stories of the unknown.

Review of eBook

Imagination takes flight in the pages of this stunning book. Over a two-page spread, twenty-two different “what if” fantastical suppositions are matched with a full-page illustration. What if: cats could fly . . . dogs were mountains . . . music could be held . . . whales lived in outer space . . . the moon were square?

But the colorful watercolor illustrations reveal even more. What can you discover? And what is your own “What if” idea?

Although intended for young readers ages four through seven, this magical picture book, a twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the original publication, is sure to delight readers of all ages. Two new “what ifs” have been added for this edition: What if turtles were magnetic . . . and What if dreams were visible . . . . And don’t miss the surprises awaiting you in the Readers Guide to the Secrets of “If . . .”

Take an imaginative journey of endless possibilities and see where this book takes you.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Getty Publications and NetGalley
#If #NetGalley

The highly illustrative nature of this title will appeal to children without question. The illustrations are very high quality, but I can see adults struggling with some of them (toe teeth, for example!). I would definitely stock although I think the quality of the book is lost in digital form, as time is needed to sit and fully absorb the beauty of the illustrations.
I can see the appeal to children who can't quite read yet as a book to "read" independently, which is very important. It might also be quite fun for children to have a go at recreating some of these ideas, or suggesting how they may alternatively look.
The final pages give some brief ideas on how to interact with the book, these are easily expanded on by parents, I feel. They would also make great talking points for discussions between parents on how to get the most out of the book.

This is the 25th anniversary version of this book of which I was completely unware until I got an email about it asking if I'd like to review it. It sounded good to me, and now I'm happy that I did because this book is beautiful, and amazing, and it's lots of fun. My kids would have loved this too, when they were younger. They probably still would.

The book, some fifty pages long, asks a question and then illustrates it in gorgeous detail and bold colors. The cover illustrates one of the internal pages, which asks "What if leaves were fish," and shows a branch with some fruit and a bunch of shoaling green fish! There are pages showing slumbering dogs as foothills, butterflies as clothes, flying cats, hair made of mice, worms on wheels and dreaming meerkats. The author, in a small section at the back, invites the readers' imagination to run wild, using her illustrations, and combining them or making up stories about them - or dreaming up your own.

This was an amazing, sweet, fun, and wonderful book and I highly commend it.

‘’If cats could fly…’’

‘’If frogs ate rainbows...’’

‘’If music could be held…’’

‘’If clouds were spirits…’’

‘’If butterflies were clothes…’’

‘’If dreams were visible…’’

If only they could reach a little higher…

This is the 25th Anniversary Edition of the picture book of poems and dreams by the American sculptor Sarah Perry. Surreal images and one-line poems that dare us to think of a whimsical ‘’what-if’’...

Many thanks to Getty Publications and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love this book. One of my favorites was What if teeth were toes. I love the detail in all of the pictures. The book makes me wonder what other possibilities are out there. Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This is a lovely picture book of odd things to think about. A good jumping off point for discussions after reading the book.

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Now, can't say that I have ever wondered about any of these things. I mean, puppies as hills? Fish as leaves? Music you can hold?

It makes for lovely pictures, though, and quite enjoyable. Weird, yes, but enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

If...dreams were visible, what would that look like.

Together with your imaginative children, you can experience the what ifs and go even further. The what if's gives your child possibilities that can seem endless. With colorful illustrations to guide you, you may even have your own what if's.

Thank you Getty Publications and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Five-year-olds with vivid imaginations will love this book. "If dogs were mountains," "if butterflies were clothes," "if music could be held," each idea accompanied by a wonderful illustration. An opportunity to branch out from this book and let children think creatively, outside of the box.

Very surrealistic and imaginative. This book imagines "what if...." with a myriad of items, some I really enjoyed ("What if whales lived in outer space?"), some I found rather creepy ("What if mice were hair?"). The illustrations were wonderfully rendered to go along with the "if".
Would be a great book to utilize with the study of surrealism.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is my first time seeing it. I laughed out loud, awwed, and felt sorry for that poor turtle carrying around all that stuff. And then I got to the secrets at the end, and I want to read it all over again!

I can see this book as a fantastic jumping-off point for so many things. Kids can draw their own pictures, come up with their own what-if scenarios, and write stories using the prompts in the book. I love it. So clever!

I was unfamiliar with the original book, so this was new to me. It is very abstract and unique, and I think would make a great mentor text or reading prompt!

If… was captive-iting-- a word I just made up that is a combination of ‘captivating’ and ‘inviting’ to the imagination. Sarah Perry’s illustrations were surrealist and thought provoking, and children will be inspired by the outside-the-box quality inspiration that trails after each picture ends and a new page begins.

I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. That's what you feel when you see these illustrations.
It is a different work of art that focuses on different concept than we normally presume.
It is simple book with nano sized captions and big hearted illustrations.
Artwork is mesmerizing.
At end there is worksheet and little details for kids to interact with pictures in book.
Every kid will like it.
It is so beautifully structured .
Coffee table book which puts least stress on readers mind.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.

DISCLAIMER: In exchange for a fair and honest review, I received a digital copy of this book from NetGallery.

OH MY.... my grandchildren, at the ages of 13 and 20, are too old to want a copy of this, but rest assured, I will buy one for great-nieces, nephews, and in the DISTANT future, Great Grandchildren.

The illustrations are magical. There is a warmth to this book that simply made me smile.

My favorites "Ifs" were:

"If music could be held..."
"If ugly were beautiful..."

This gorgeous volume will stick with me for a long time as I remember the magic in everything.

This book is completely captivating. The illustrations are absolutely lovely. This is a new favorite for our family and one we'll return to again and again.

There is nothing I love more than sitting down of an evening with my children and reading them a bedtime story. They are two very different ages - 8 and 2, yet this wonderfully illustrated book help and captivated both of their imaginations! A gorgeous, thought provoking book that will stand the test of time and is a beautiful addition to any story book collection.

Thanks to #netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have the original version of If... and have read it many times to challenge children's thinking, spark their creativity and initiate wonderings.
IF is a book of surreal possibilities. It can be explored in many different ways. Use a single illustration or combine several to create your own stories. For example, "If frogs ate rainbows..." what would their croaks sound like/look like? From the front cover illustration of oranges growing on a branch of fish "leaves" to the end, each illustration is preceded by an introductory phrase such as “If butterflies were clothes, if lightning made rhinos, " while
the illustration completes the sentence on the next page.
The end of the book invites you to continue creating your own "what if..." IF takes ordinary things and invites us to create extraordinary possibilities.
Great book for showing #growthmindset.

What a lovely book to stir the imagination, not only of children but of us fuddy duddy adults as well. A book to be dipped into time and time again, a book to dream on - a book to wonder what if all the people in the world thought of "if"s what a wonderful peaceful world this could be.
Love this book, a wonderful gift to share.

I got an eARC from the publisher for the 25 years edition of this book.

I just love looking at these images and start to think about other If... s and what pictures I would draw.

Hilarious, mind boggling and amazing :0)

A book dedicated to the odd and the imagined. The illustrations are gorgeous. softly drawn and colorful with one question, “If...”. Encouraging you to use your imagination. What if cats could fly? What if worms had wheels? I like the open ended questions and thought provoking pictures. The weird and the interesting. A fun book to look at with kids.

If is a delightful short book full of creativity, imagination and beautiful watercolor illustrations. This fed my inner child, my sense of whimsy, and my sense of wonder! I love it!

Sure to be adored by children and adults alike, the "what if" lines are great beginnings for story-telling, giving the readers a chance to dip into their own creativity.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Getty Publications for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Surreal possibilities”

Surrealism at its best! This was one of the most uncomfortable and interesting books. Some of the concepts were strange yet appealing. I don’t think I’ll ever look at toothpaste the same after seeing caterpillar toothpaste. Illustrations are very creative and encourage new ideas and combinations.

My favorite was the dog mountains, fish leaves, and cloud spirits. I haven’t read the first edition, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wasn’t disappointed. This is for anyone who likes daydreaming and have vivid imaginations. But also, for people who aren’t creative and want some exposure. I have some artistic friends who I think will love this!

I loved this book. Beautifully illustrated, 'If...' is a wonderfully imaginative book filled with ideas that change the way you think. With ideas as simple as, "If cats could fly...", "If zebras had stars and stripes...", and my favourite, "If turtles were magnetic...". and fantastical images to illustrate them, this really does stretch the imagination. A lovely book just to read alone, but I think it would bring real joy to discuss this with children and let their imaginations run riot. Thank you to Sarah Perry, Net Galley and the publisher, Getty Publications for an ARC.

Loved this book!!! The turtles are my favorite I think :) Every library and artist should have a copy for sure!

Now and again you get a book that's just that little too off-kilter and unusual you can't work out what to make of it. And for me this was one – allegedly a classic for the last twenty-five years and yet something I'd never heard of nor seen; a collection of wonderful visual ideas, such as the representation of music if it could be held in the hand; and at times a deep effort, and at other times inanely silly, pointing out the visual similarity toothpaste has with a caterpillar, and so on. Some of the images are charming – a landscape of dozing dogs, some are Pythonesque – the teeth on a girl's face that almost seem to want to become piano keys yet are actually toes, which is even worse, some are just weirdly unsettling. So there is clearly a variety in this selection of bluntly-presented dreamscapes, but I have no idea what the point of buying this would ever be. You flick through it in ten seconds flat, react to the pages, the end. Just what, apart from sharing it occasionally with people you hope are on its wavelength, would it ever be worth putting on your shelf for? Worth reading, not worth buying to read – this is a real curate's egg. I don't like to be so dismissive of the talent that is undoubtedly on display here in the visuals and some of the ideas, but I still can't equate that with the use of purchasing this.

The art in this book, and it really is art, would be worth seeing even if there were no words. It is such a great way to get a child’s imagination working.

This book is bizarre, but definitely in a good way. The children I work with will enjoy studying these images to see what they can discover. Every time I have looked at the illustrations in this book I have found something I hadn't noticed before. The book will be great for discussion in class.

A surreal collection of artworks representing childlike imaginations. The illustrations are deeper than is first apparent. Butterflies as clothing, dogs as mountains, fish as leaves and so on and so forth. Beautiful artworks preceded by If... statements. Found the If toes were teeth very intriguing! Vibrant artworks, some are amusing whilst others are though provoking. Beautiful book.

This book was received from the publishers via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Really surprising little book with surreal ideas, associating subjects that have very little or nothing to do with each other. Some of them have at least a visual resemblance (for example the caterpillar as toothpaste), but most are quite mindblowing. A refreshing view, entertaining and stimulating creative thinking.

.. stunning mindblowing book - each pictures gives you so much to think of! very cool for long Roadtrips, where you can talk about all the IF´s =) wondeful Images ...

Note 1 or A

Marvelous works with various level of comprehension and representation behind it. More complex then it might look in the first read. Fun, original and deep! Perfect!

This is definitely surreal, as advertised. If... is a collection of fanciful artwork that invites readers to imagine outlandish possibilities. Each picture is preceded by a simple "if" statement. The reader is then left to look at the picture and elaborate on the imaginative possibilities.

Some of the pictures are just a little too weird (If toes were teeth... kind of grossed me out), but many really do make the reader think. This could be a great book in a classroom setting if used as a catalyst for creative writing projects. The illustrations--subject matter aside--are all well done.

I think I probably would recommend this one, especially to creative readers who are looking for jumping-off points for their own stories.

Ever wondered what's inside a child's mind? It's this book. A child thinks of flying cats, of mountains as dogs, and the moon as a square. It's a wonderful journey into imagination and the possibilities of the human mind. Based solely on that, it does it's purpose admirably. However, some things were just out of place. Some were creepy, I mean toes instead of teeth? However, many inspired me into thinking about more things like this, which is what this book was trying to do. The anniversary edition includes two more stories. I'm looking forward for more books like this one.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable picture book that explores the idea of imagination in a short and snappy way, accompanied by beautiful illustrations.

My only issue with this book is that it is difficult to ascertain the age group that this is aimed at. The illustration style appeals to me as an adult but I'm not sure that it would appeal to most children, particularly those who are younger.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I think I would buy a copy for my son in the future, but I don't think it will be for everyone.

3 out of 5 stars!