{"id":25295,"date":"2014-11-16T22:27:35","date_gmt":"2014-11-17T02:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25295"},"modified":"2014-11-16T22:27:35","modified_gmt":"2014-11-17T02:27:35","slug":"review-of-emilys-blue-period-by-cathleen-daly-and-lisa-brown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25295","title":{"rendered":"Review of Emily’s Blue Period, by Cathleen Daly and Lisa Brown"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"emilys_blue_period_large\"<\/a>Emily\u2019s Blue Period<\/em><\/p>\n

by Cathleen Daly
\nillustrations by Lisa Brown<\/p>\n

A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, New York, 2014. 56 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

At first, I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d review this book. As a book about art, it could be seen as simplistic, and same as a book about kids whose parents are divorced. But as a story \u2013 a story about one particular girl, who happens to love art and happens to have recently divorced parents \u2013 it worms its way into my heart every time I read it.<\/p>\n

The format is a cross between picture book and chapter book. The pages are a bit larger than most chapter books, and the pictures take up more room on each page than the words, but there are indeed five short chapters, and no effort is given to making the text particularly easy to read.<\/p>\n

Emily wants to be an artist, and in school she\u2019s learning about Pablo Picasso. First, she learns about how Picasso liked to mix things up. Emily likes to mix things up, too. However:<\/p>\n

Lately, Emily\u2019s family is mixed up.
\nShe doesn\u2019t like this.
\nEmily\u2019s dad is no longer where he belongs.
\nSuddenly, he lives in his own little cube.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The story shows Emily and her little brother Jack going shopping with Dad to pick out furniture for his new home. Emily doesn\u2019t like any of it, and Jack ends up throwing a fit. This leads Emily into her Blue Period.<\/p>\n

I like the way Emily\u2019s Blue Period is understated. The author doesn\u2019t even mention why Emily\u2019s sad, just that she\u2019s sad. She doesn\u2019t show any of her art from that period, though in that chapter the illustrations themselves are mainly blue. And as far as comfort, we just have:<\/p>\n

Emily nuzzles her head into the spot under her mother\u2019s arm where it fits just like a puzzle piece.
\nEmily\u2019s Blue Period lasts quite some time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the next chapter, the final one, it\u2019s making a collage of \u201cHome\u201d that pulls Emily out of her Blue Period.<\/p>\n

This is a book that takes itself seriously about a girl who takes herself seriously. And it\u2019s all simply right.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/emilys_blue_period.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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