Hello, hello!
Welcome back to another day, another post here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
As I said in my first post of the day, the site is going to the animals, and post number two is no exception. This post is celebrating the BOOK BIRTHDAY of a NEW Children's Storybook available with Doubleday Books for Young Readers. It's a story that really leaves the imagination wide open, and is certainly open to interpretation as to its meaning. Curious? You should be! Ready or not, here comes our second title of choice in the review spotlight...
by
Phillip C. Stead
9780593375082
Doubleday Books for Young Readers
About the book...
The limitless possibilities of the world outside our windows—and the warmth and comfort of home—are explored in this thoughtful meditation on the imagination, as seen from the point of view of a wise old dog.
Any child who has ever felt uncertainty about the world outside will be soothed and enchanted by the open-ended, seemingly-unanswerable, and utterly whimsical questions this book poses: “Will I ever be the dawdle of a penguin? Will I ever be the waddle of a snail? Will I ever be the tumble of a honeybee? Will I ever be the bumble of a whale?”
Children will love poring over the vivid, whimsical artwork, asking their own imaginative questions, and thinking about their own view of the world outside their window. It’s a perfect story for families to share together from the warmth and comfort of home.
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This was a rather curious read for me.
I was intrigued by the title because, honestly, I love a long quirky one, and dogs are totally my bag; combine the them both with a story, and I'm so there! But there was a question of where exactly that was once I began reading. It had whimsy and imagination, yes, and the images were creative matches for the narrative, but admittedly, I was perplexed by the questions posed. I wasn't certain if I was suppose to be focusing on the curious wonderings purposed by such seemingly random ideas, or if there was something else at work story wise as he kept returning back to the old dog at the window.
Personally, my heart was in turmoil because I was sensing something darker than merely the wanderings of a mind outside of the "box" they were currently in. I was glad to see it was all in my mind, but then it made me think about how broad the range for interpretation was for a story like this. I mean, my mind went there, but where would it take someone else's? We're all in influenced by our surroundings, and the goings on in our own lives. We can't help but bring them along for the ride, even when reading, but the light they shed on certain stories, especially ones that are more freeform can create a plethora of experiences beyond the norm.
In the end, I'm left with wondering, myself, whether I will ever be a penguin's dawdle, and yet find comfort in the fact that I can at least open that window for a wizened old dog. Who will you help open a window today?
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About the author...
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Special thanks to Josh at Random House Children's Books for the digital copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available today via Double Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
Hmm! Loving the quirky title and the colourful cover, I found myself intrigued by the synopsis but I suspect that I too would be left feeling oddly perplexed by what sounds to me like an oddly surreal little read.
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