#blogbookaday: They Say Blue

Summary:  “Caldecott and Printz Honor-winning illustrator Jillian Tamaki brings us a poetic exploration of colour and nature from a young child’s point of view. They Say Blue follows a young girl as she contemplates colours in the known and the unknown, in the immediate world and the world beyond what she can see. The sea looks blue, yet water cupped in her hands is as clear as glass. Is a blue whale blue? She doesn’t know — she hasn’t seen one.
Stunningly beautiful illustrations flow from one spread to the next, as time passes and the imagination takes hold. The world is full of colour, and mystery too, in this first picture book from a highly acclaimed artist.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: A young girl searches her world for answers to her questions and proof of the statements people say, “They say blue is the color of the sky.” This story (and I’ll use that word loosely) as this is much more of a poem or musings of the natural world, is about color and seasons and childlike wonder. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, full of movement even with the sparest of text.

Personal Reaction: This one took me a minute to figure out – it’s not a story about a little girl per say, but more of a poem about nature. This would make an interesting read aloud for older elementary or even middle school students about the power of words chosen for a poem or examples of similes and metaphors. If you pay close enough attention the story begins with the text – “They say blue is the color of the sky.” But the last page is a sky filled with the reds and oranges of a sunset.

Title: They Say Blue
Author: Jillian Tamaki
Illustrator: Jillian Tamaki
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Publication Date: March 1, 2018

This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!