11/07/2016
Imagination can turn even simple objects into marvelous things, Elephant discovers as he strolls through a city holding a green umbrella. “I believe you have my boat,” a hedgehog tells him. “I crossed deep oceans on my boat and faced the crash of icy waves.” A cat, bear, and rabbit accost Elephant in turn, each with a dramatic umbrella story. Always courteous, Elephant replies patiently that he’s used the umbrella for play himself (“I was a pirate and the umbrella was my sword”). He invites the others to join him underneath it, where they picnic, trade stories, and, in a memorable final spread, soar into the rosy dusk of the sky aboard the umbrella—imagining is better together. Debut author Kramer’s imagination-fueled encounter makes good use of fellow newcomer Sassouni’s gift for conjuring up fairy-tale landscapes: old houses hunched up against each other, impossibly lumpy hills, and silly contraptions (“I flew through windy skies in my flying machine,” says the bear). And Kramer’s storytelling passages sustain their lofty tone with no off notes—no easy task. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)
Here is a story for those who love an object, be it a blanket, a toy, or in this case a green umbrella, so much so that it's very being is imbued with memories that make it unmistakably yours. And a story for those who have lost one such object and wish more than anything to have it back. Azúa Kramer reminds us all that many memories can be shared over a single prized possession. And as Sassouni's art plays in the worlds of joy and longing over a green umbrella, we see a group of characters come together to discover what they can offer another in need. There's no mistaking how easy it is to share this book.
A sweet story of a blossoming friendship between five lovable and imaginative characters, united by one special green umbrella. I want to jump right in to the lush paintings and join in their fun!
The text provides just the right amount of tension and repetition to propel the story forward at a nice pace. Reminiscent of Joan L. Nodset’s classic Who Took the Farmer’s Hat?
"A sweet story of a blossoming friendship between five lovable and imaginative characters, united by one special green umbrella. I want to jump right in to the lush paintings and join in their fun!"- Lauren Castillo, Author/ Illustrator of Caldecott Honor Book "Nana in the City"
"Here is a story for those who love an object, be it a blanket, a toy, or in this case a green umbrella, so much so that it's very being is imbued with memories that make in unmistakably yours. And a story for those who have lost one such object and wish more than anything to have it back. Azúa Kramer reminds us all that many memories can be shared over a single prized possession. And as Sassouni's art plays in the worlds of joy and longing over a green umbrella, we see a group of characters come together to discover what they can offer another in need. There's no mistaking how easy it is to share this book." - Matthew Winner, All the Wonders Podcast
01/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—A cast of animals interrupt pink Elephant's walk in the rain with his green umbrella. First Hedgehog insists that Elephant has his boat, in which he has sailed the seas. Hedgehog's boat looks suspiciously like Elephant's green umbrella turned upside down. Elephant assures Hedgehog that his umbrella is not a boat, and invites him to share it and stay dry from the rain. Next comes Cat, who is sure that the green umbrella is his tent, and on to Bear and Rabbit, who both mistake Elephant's green umbrella for their own. Each time, Elephant corrects the misconception and graciously offers his umbrella to keep the newcomer dry. Eventually, the rain stops, and the sun comes out. Elephant and his new friends decide to have a picnic. They use the green umbrella to shade themselves from the sun as they discuss their adventures. Whimsical and cartoonlike animals, depicted with a touch of vintage style, will delight readers as the story shows all the imaginative ways an umbrella can be used. The brightly colored acrylic illustrations complement the conversational text, which is suitable to read aloud to an audience. Unexpected textures in the trees and grass add interest and more whimsy. VERDICT The author and illustrator work well together to deliver a charming tale of sharing, friendship, and adventure. An enjoyable rainy day read-aloud.—Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services
2016-10-19
A pink elephant emotionally attached to an umbrella finds the same object has many uses for a series of animals he encounters one rainy day. It begins when a hedgehog tells the elephant, "Excuse me, I believe you have my boat." The hedgehog's story, about an eventful journey at sea in the umbrella is lovely, but the elephant tells the hedgehog, "I'm sure you're mistaken." The scene repeats with a cat who believes the umbrella is a tent for camping, a bear that insists it's a flying machine, and others. Politely but firmly, the elephant insists that the umbrella belongs to him, even sharing his own unorthodox uses of the tool, but he is polite enough to invite the animals to stay out of the rain and under the umbrella. The story ends, of course, in friendship and a picnic as well as the understanding that imagination can infuse the most mundane things with deep meaning. Illustrated in spreads that alternate the rainy-day narrative in vignettes with full-bleed spreads that allow the flight-of-fancy retellings to render a deeper mood, the animals' stories are delightfully descriptive: there's "the salty spray of whales" and "Northern Lights [that] glimmer above rolling hills." While the elephant stands firm in holding onto that umbrella, each of the animals is allowed a brief moment in the spotlight to tell a whimsical tale. The lesson about sharing and generosity is elegantly wrapped around lovely language. (Picture book. 4-8)
