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Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Picture book Monday - A review of The Word Collector

People collect all kinds of things. My daughter collects panda paraphernalia. She has panda toys, pencils, bags, plates, and pictures. My husband loves maps, in particular ones of vineyards and wine regions. I collect books, of course. In today's picture book you are going to meet a very unusual little girl who collects words.

Sonja Wimmer
Translated by Jon Brokenbrow
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Cuento De Luz, 2012, 9788415241348
Luna is a very special little girl who lives in a lighthouse in the clouds. In her spare time, she collects words the way “other people collect stamps.” She loves all kinds of words and delights in their sounds and meanings.
   Then one day she notices that her precious words are starting to disappear. She asks the clouds and birds what is happening to the words, and they explain that people are “too busy” to bother with the wonderful words, and that they are forgetting about them. The words are disappearing because the people “don’t think that they are important any more.”
   After a sleepless night full of worry, the little girl decides that she has to do something. She cannot let all those wonderful words disappear for ever. She packs all her words in a big suitcase and sets off on a very special journey.
   Children who like words that sing and hop, words that are long and complicated, will love this very unique picture book. The text is incorporated into the delightful collage artwork so that Luna’s story dances across the pages.
   This book not only celebrates the written word, but it also explores the idea that sometimes giving away the things you love is even better than collecting them for yourself. 

2 comments:

Books for Little Hands said...

A love the idea behind this book of collecting words. It looks like a great story that I'll just have to hunt down for my own collection.

Thanks for sharing.

Marya Jansen-Gruber said...

I am sure you will enjoy having this book in your library. Thank you for visiting!

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