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10th out of 72 books
—
77 voters
Virginia Wolf
by
Kyo Maclear (Goodreads Author),
Isabelle Arsenault
Vanessa's sister, Virginia, is in a "wolfish" mood -- growling, howling and acting very strange. It's a funk so fierce, the whole household feels topsy-turvy. Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells Vanessa about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint Bloo...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
March 1st 2012
by Kids Can Press
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Virginia wakes up in a terrible mood and her sister, Vanessa, tries to lift her spirits. After trying a few simple activities, Vanessa gives up and decides to create a glorious painting of flowers. Vanessa recovers from the doldrums and the sisters once again enjoy their cheerful friendship.
I also enjoyed the illustrations and found them a good compliment to the mood and text of the story. The shadows and use of darker illustrations are especially effective in depicting Virginia's wolfish mood....more
I also enjoyed the illustrations and found them a good compliment to the mood and text of the story. The shadows and use of darker illustrations are especially effective in depicting Virginia's wolfish mood....more
(Hovering between 3 and 4 stars - 3 for the text/4 for the art).
Vanessa's sister Virginia wakes up one day feeling wolfish. Everything bothers her, she won't talk to anyone, and she just wants to be alone, under the covers, in bed. Vanessa wants to cheer her up, but isn't sure how. She tries just keeping Virginia company, cloud-watching with her, and maybe that helps, but Virginia still doesn't want to talk to anyone. "If I were flying right now I might feel better," Virginia eventually says, an...more
Vanessa's sister Virginia wakes up one day feeling wolfish. Everything bothers her, she won't talk to anyone, and she just wants to be alone, under the covers, in bed. Vanessa wants to cheer her up, but isn't sure how. She tries just keeping Virginia company, cloud-watching with her, and maybe that helps, but Virginia still doesn't want to talk to anyone. "If I were flying right now I might feel better," Virginia eventually says, an...more
What an odd but awesome little book. Loosely based on the life of Virginia Woolf, this book has a little something for adults and children. Fans of the real-life author will enjoy the references to her life, and children can enjoy this story about sisterhood, overcoming sadness and constructing your own reality - one that will make you happy. The illustrations are unusual and yet remind you of childhood in an intangible sort of way.
I've seen other picture books loosely based on the lives of adul...more
I've seen other picture books loosely based on the lives of adul...more
When her sister Virginia falls into a very bad mood, Vanessa tries to cheer her up. After Virginia indicates that perhaps traveling to Bloomsberry might cheer her up, her sister uses her artistic talent to create that perfect place that Virginia has imagined. Virginia is intrigued by the beautiful world her sister has created, but in the light of day, she realizes that it is not as perfect as she had first thought. The mixed media illustrations, using ink, pencil, watercolor, and gouache, are be...more
Week 3
Virginia woke up in a wolfish mood. Her sister Vanessa tries to improve her mood by creating a painting of a place called Bloomsberry, "with frosted cakes and beautiful flowers and excellent trees to climb and absolutely no doldrums." Slowly but surely, Virginia begins to feel better, shedding her wolfish mood and the whole house becomes more enjoyable.
"Virginia Wolf" is appropriate for ages 4+ (Grades PreK+).
I really, really loved this book! The story line and illustrations are amazing....more
Virginia woke up in a wolfish mood. Her sister Vanessa tries to improve her mood by creating a painting of a place called Bloomsberry, "with frosted cakes and beautiful flowers and excellent trees to climb and absolutely no doldrums." Slowly but surely, Virginia begins to feel better, shedding her wolfish mood and the whole house becomes more enjoyable.
"Virginia Wolf" is appropriate for ages 4+ (Grades PreK+).
I really, really loved this book! The story line and illustrations are amazing....more
This was the second beautiful picture book that I brought home from America.
It's watercolour illustrations splash and soak across the stage, in stark contrast to the sombre little wolf watching the proceedings.
This is the story of Virginia Woolf (some artistic liberties taken) as told by her younger sister, who is desperate to bring Virginia out of her black mood with something special.
This is a wonderful collaboration where the story is really shared between the artwork and the text, and the th...more
It's watercolour illustrations splash and soak across the stage, in stark contrast to the sombre little wolf watching the proceedings.
This is the story of Virginia Woolf (some artistic liberties taken) as told by her younger sister, who is desperate to bring Virginia out of her black mood with something special.
This is a wonderful collaboration where the story is really shared between the artwork and the text, and the th...more
I admit I was intrigued by both the title and cover on this one. My curiosity about how this related to Virginia Woolf had to be satisfied!
Virginia Wolf is an inventive, beautiful book. The cover provides a peak at the exceptional, lovely illustrations throughout the book. The story follows sisters Virginia (Woolf) and Vanessa (Bell) as Virginia begins her day by acting very "wolfish." In fact, she's grumpy and surly and clearly suffering from a serious case of the doldrums. Vanessa uses her cr...more
Virginia Wolf is an inventive, beautiful book. The cover provides a peak at the exceptional, lovely illustrations throughout the book. The story follows sisters Virginia (Woolf) and Vanessa (Bell) as Virginia begins her day by acting very "wolfish." In fact, she's grumpy and surly and clearly suffering from a serious case of the doldrums. Vanessa uses her cr...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it's a sweet story about one sister cheering up her grumpy sibling with compassion, patience, and creativity. On the other hand, because the book alludes to Virginia Woolf (also, Vanessa Bell and Bloomsbury) it's also alluding to mental illness and suicidal despair. Even though children won't know that, I feel the book inadvertently suggests that if you can't cure a loved one's depression, you're just not wonderful enough -- not the kind of ide...more
Age: 1st-3rd grade
Tough Issue: Depression
"Vanessa's sister, Virginia, is in a "wolfish" mood -- growling, howling and acting very strange. It's a funk so fierce, the whole household feels topsy-turvy. Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells Vanessa about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint Bloomsberry on the bedroom walls, transforming them into a beautiful garden complete wi...more
Tough Issue: Depression
"Vanessa's sister, Virginia, is in a "wolfish" mood -- growling, howling and acting very strange. It's a funk so fierce, the whole household feels topsy-turvy. Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells Vanessa about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint Bloomsberry on the bedroom walls, transforming them into a beautiful garden complete wi...more
If I were able to give this book separate ratings for the story and the illustrations I would give a solid 3 stars and 5 stars respectively.
I had concerns similar to those stated by some of the other reviewers. My primary concern being that the reference to Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell will go over the heads of most children. Secondly, but possibly more alarmingly, the author describes Virgina's experience as a bad mood. Obviously, what plagued the real Virginia Woolf was a much d...more
I had concerns similar to those stated by some of the other reviewers. My primary concern being that the reference to Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell will go over the heads of most children. Secondly, but possibly more alarmingly, the author describes Virgina's experience as a bad mood. Obviously, what plagued the real Virginia Woolf was a much d...more
Délicieuse variation sur le personnage de la romancière anglaise Virginia Woolf, cet album met en scène une Virginia enfant, aux prises dans un monde fantasmagorique, où elle se transforme en loup. Elle devient alors "Virginia Wolf", la louve.
Témoin de cette mutation, sa grande soeur Vanessa nous raconte, avec des mots d’enfant, et beaucoup de pudeur, les troubles qui assaillent Virginia. Par la magie du dessin et de la couleur, avec toute la douceur du monde, Vanessa va ramener Virginia à la vi...more
Témoin de cette mutation, sa grande soeur Vanessa nous raconte, avec des mots d’enfant, et beaucoup de pudeur, les troubles qui assaillent Virginia. Par la magie du dessin et de la couleur, avec toute la douceur du monde, Vanessa va ramener Virginia à la vi...more
Virginia Wolf is a really sweet book about sisters Virginia Wolf and Vanessa Bell. One morning Virginia wakes up in a very "wolfish" mood and nothing makes her happy. Everything in their world turns upside down. Her sister asks her what would make her happy and Virginia says a trip to Bloomsberry. Since Vanessa doesn't know where that is she finds a creative way to take her sister to the place that will make her happiest.
This book is appropriate for ages 5+
This could be a really fun book to us...more
This book is appropriate for ages 5+
This could be a really fun book to us...more
Virginia Wolf is a story about two sisters, Virginia and Vanessa Wolf. One day, Virginia is in such a terrible mood that it affects the entire household. She is behaving wolfishly. She even makes wolf sounds and howls at the moon! Vanessa wants to cheer her sad sister up. She begins to draw flowers, birds, cupcakes, candy, plants, a swing, and trees in beautiful, bright colors all over the wall. Finally Virginia Wolf comes out of her depression to play with her sister.
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Ages:...more
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Ages:...more
Read this after hearing about it during a children's book panel on "The Next Chapter" on CBC Radio.
The illustrations are very creative, quite detailed, and wonderful. They were the icing on this story-book cake. I say that because it was a very good story also which discussed what I think is a large part of a child's life: feelings! Virginia wakes up in a "wolfish" mood, and some children will understand that mood very well. As I did. So, I love the story, I love the pictures; where did I knock...more
The illustrations are very creative, quite detailed, and wonderful. They were the icing on this story-book cake. I say that because it was a very good story also which discussed what I think is a large part of a child's life: feelings! Virginia wakes up in a "wolfish" mood, and some children will understand that mood very well. As I did. So, I love the story, I love the pictures; where did I knock...more
A simple, yet touching tale about one girl’s almost heroic effort to get her moody sister out of the doldrums, “Virginia Wolf” warms the heart and reminds us of the time when someone who loved us tried to jolly us out of a bad mood. Loosely based on the relationship between the real Virginia Wolff and her sister Vanessa, it celebrates the warm, strong bonds of sisterhood that can prevail even over a determined fit of depression.
The illustrations follow the mood of the writing, with the world at...more
The illustrations follow the mood of the writing, with the world at...more
I absolutely adored Kyo Maclear's Virgina Wolf. Illustrated by the extremely talented Isabelle Arsenault, this is the story of sisters Virginia and Vanessa as battle Virginia's sadness and anger with imagination and colorful art.
I love that this book has the potential to inspire and guide not only the grumpiest, most wolfish child, but also adults who've also fallen prey to their wolfish tendencies. No matter your age, Vanessa's determination and the beautiful illustrations within Virginia Wolf'...more
I love that this book has the potential to inspire and guide not only the grumpiest, most wolfish child, but also adults who've also fallen prey to their wolfish tendencies. No matter your age, Vanessa's determination and the beautiful illustrations within Virginia Wolf'...more
I read about this book and found it at my library. Lucky me! It is a lovely story, words and illustrations, about a little girl feeling a bit wolfish one day, and she won’t even get out of bed! The story says: Bright became dim./Glad became gloom. Illustrations are dark and the dialog is hand drawn. The girl’s sister is determined to help, & has one more idea, and begins drawing a garden and a few other whimsical things onto the walls of Virginia’s room. You’ll need to read to discover how i...more
I loved how this book dealt with a tough subject that is difficult for children to understand. It will help any one of them dealing with something like this to see that they are not alone. Sometimes people wake up and they are not happy (whether it be sibling or parent). It was so sweet how Vanessa tried to cheer her sister up and my favorite part is how she just lay with her in bed at one point. The only thing that kept me from giving it four stars is the fact that everything was all better aft...more
Pour ma part, dès qu'il y a les illustrations d'Isabelle Arsenault, je tombe sous le charme. Ajoutons à cela le titre évoquant Virginia Woolf, et voilà, j'avais très hâte de le lire.
Autant le dire tout de suite, je n'ai pas été déçue. Les illustrations sont magnifiques, truffées de petits détails, parfois très colorées et enfantine mais parfois sombre et hachurée. Il est donc question de Vanessa, la soeur de Virginia qui trouve sa soeur irritée un matin, celle-ci est devenue loup et criant sans...more
Autant le dire tout de suite, je n'ai pas été déçue. Les illustrations sont magnifiques, truffées de petits détails, parfois très colorées et enfantine mais parfois sombre et hachurée. Il est donc question de Vanessa, la soeur de Virginia qui trouve sa soeur irritée un matin, celle-ci est devenue loup et criant sans...more
Virginia is not feeling happy in this story of sisterly love and creativity. She is feeling so down in the dumps that she is depicted as a wolf. The hand lettered text in different sizes an styles also helps to convey the emotion in the story. The illustrations are primarily back and white, but begin to become more colorful as Virginia’s sister endeavors to lift her spirits. In the end, Virginia falls asleep and the next day, she is happy again, the colors are bright and she is no longer a wolf....more
What a lovely book!
I love how bleak and grey and gloomy the pages are when Virginia is feeling bleak (and grey and gloomy). I think her loving sister Vanessa adds to this greyness as well, being unhappy with her sister's unhappiness. The pages grow steadily more and more colourful, and less and less empty, as Vanessa creates a perfect place, a world where Virginia can feel bright and cheerful and not alone. They share it together, because what good is a perfect place without someone you love to...more
I love how bleak and grey and gloomy the pages are when Virginia is feeling bleak (and grey and gloomy). I think her loving sister Vanessa adds to this greyness as well, being unhappy with her sister's unhappiness. The pages grow steadily more and more colourful, and less and less empty, as Vanessa creates a perfect place, a world where Virginia can feel bright and cheerful and not alone. They share it together, because what good is a perfect place without someone you love to...more
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
There are lots of children’s books about having a bad day. Poor Alexander and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day comes immediately to mind. So does Kevin Henkes’ Lilly in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, in which her kind teacher tells her, “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.” This life lesson has served me well over the years, and is the subject of Kyo Maclear’s wonderful new picture book, Virginia Wolf. And no, that is not a typo.
Virginia...more
There are lots of children’s books about having a bad day. Poor Alexander and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day comes immediately to mind. So does Kevin Henkes’ Lilly in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, in which her kind teacher tells her, “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.” This life lesson has served me well over the years, and is the subject of Kyo Maclear’s wonderful new picture book, Virginia Wolf. And no, that is not a typo.
Virginia...more
Children have bad moods, they have emotions that swing on a large pendulum, and anyone who has ever encountered a two-year old tantrum thrower will understand that it is part of them. Few will grow up to have the mental issues that Virginia Wolf faces, but these strong emotions are pretty universal.
How do we treat the kids around us who do have these strong emotions? In this picture book Vanessa has a number of suggestions for ameliorating her sister's ill temper, from music to food. What works...more
How do we treat the kids around us who do have these strong emotions? In this picture book Vanessa has a number of suggestions for ameliorating her sister's ill temper, from music to food. What works...more
I have been looking forward to the release of this book and it most certainly lived up to my expectations.
Vanessa is a young, cheerful girl with a sister, Virginia. Virginia hasn't been herself lately...she feels "wolfish" instead. When Virginia is "wolfish", she makes strange sounds, stays in bed, scares away her friends, doesn't enjoy the things that usually make her feel happy, is bothered by the slightest bit of noise, and just wants to be left alone. Vanessa is very supportive of her sister...more
Vanessa is a young, cheerful girl with a sister, Virginia. Virginia hasn't been herself lately...she feels "wolfish" instead. When Virginia is "wolfish", she makes strange sounds, stays in bed, scares away her friends, doesn't enjoy the things that usually make her feel happy, is bothered by the slightest bit of noise, and just wants to be left alone. Vanessa is very supportive of her sister...more
This stunningly beautiful picture book perfectly describes all of our "wolfish" days! Virginia wakes up feeling very wolfish and she just can't shake it. Her sister tries everything to cheer Virginia up but it seems like nothing will work. Until they work together to create the perfect place, Bloomsberry. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and are paired with rich vocabulary and vivid descriptions. This book is to sure to relate with just about everyone as we have all felt like Virginia!
Virginia Wolf tells the tale of Virginia and her sister. Virginia is in a bad mood and her sister paints images on her wall to cheer her up. This book is for ages four to eight. I think all children can relate to being in a bad mood. This book highlights the power of escaping to a place like Bloomsberry. Everyone has a place they go to when they are in a bad mood whether it is real or imagined. This book would be a great way to spark a child's imagination and inspire them to dream up fantasty wo...more
This is a beautiful book, but I was disappointed in the story. It is a childhood tale based on the real-life relationship of Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa. It is told from the perspective of Vanessa as she tries to cheer up her sister who is in a wolfish mood. It was just a little too complex and dark for children. I ended up feeling really bad for Vanessa who suffers from her sisters mood. It is a compelling read, but I don't know if it will work for most children.
Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault - Really interesting book. A sister wakes up feeling wolfish and the other sister works the whole day to help pull her out of that wolfy mood. My favorite part of the book is the art expression after the home is upside down... made me wonder if people would connect this with how a family is put in turmoil when there is an alcoholic or drug addict in the home... quite the thought provoking book.
Virginia Wolf is ethereally beautiful but has limited kid appeal. The use of historical characters adds a layer of significance but also of confusion. The doldrums are a smudged charcoal black, and Bloomsbury is absolutely gorgeous, at least until the kids wake up the next morning. A strong narrative about the power of depression and the transformative power of art. The illustrations could almost tell the story on their own.
This book is all kinds of gorgeous, from language to concept to design. I admit to having a fascination with Virgina Wolf (what self respecting feminist literary scholar doesn't), but I think this book will interest people (including children) with no context for Virginia. Picture book biographies are all over the market, but this one is truly unique in that one of the main characters turns into an actual wolf. Love, love, love!
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Kyo Maclear is a children’s author, novelist and essayist. She was born in London, England and moved to Toronto at the age of four with her father (a foreign correspondent and documentary filmmaker) and mother (a painter and art dealer).
Kyo is the author of two critically acclaimed children’s books, Spork (2010) and Virginia Wolf (2012), both illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published with K...more
More about Kyo Maclear...
Kyo is the author of two critically acclaimed children’s books, Spork (2010) and Virginia Wolf (2012), both illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published with K...more
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“One day my sister Virginia woke up feeling wolfish. She made wolf SOUNDS and did strange things...”
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Aug 16, 2012 05:54am