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The Starry Giraffe
In the tradition of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree , a generous giraffe gives away all of his apples to his hungry friends in this winning picture book that begs to be read aloud.
Poor starry every time he reaches for a yummy red apple from a tall tree, one of his hungry friends comes along and the generous giraffe shares the treat. Just when you think he has nothing left to eat for himself, a turn of the page shows the starry giraffe is at an apple orchard and there are apples and trees galore!
A disarmingly delightful debut picture book from Andrew Bergmann, an accomplished New York based artist and storyteller, The Starry Giraffe puts a surprising twist on a classic story.
Poor starry every time he reaches for a yummy red apple from a tall tree, one of his hungry friends comes along and the generous giraffe shares the treat. Just when you think he has nothing left to eat for himself, a turn of the page shows the starry giraffe is at an apple orchard and there are apples and trees galore!
A disarmingly delightful debut picture book from Andrew Bergmann, an accomplished New York based artist and storyteller, The Starry Giraffe puts a surprising twist on a classic story.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published June 13, 2017
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 23, 2017
Very cute. The kids will love this during story time.
Jungle, Giraffes, Sharing.
Jungle, Giraffes, Sharing.
December 29, 2024
Wah saya merasa berjodoh dengan buku ini. Awalnya K yang meminta membeli buku ini dan kemudian ketika dibaca saya dan Ayahnya merasa buku ini benar-benar menginspirasi. Pada dasarnya, pesan moral dari buku ini adalah tentang bagaimana kita mau berbagi kepada orang lain. Sebuah buku yang menyenangkan sekali untuk dibaca dan sampai saat ini masih menjadi kesukaan.
December 29, 2017
A kind character modeling how to give and expect nothing in return and then the last page plot twist made us all giggle.
September 25, 2019
Read at Storytime on September 25, 2019
Theme: Fall is Here! Stories
Read at Storytime 9/19/18
Theme: Apples are the Best!
Read at Storytime 9/20/17
Theme: Apples!
The kids were so worried if the giraffe would have enough apples after sharing with all the other animals. Cheers were made at the end.
Theme: Fall is Here! Stories
Read at Storytime 9/19/18
Theme: Apples are the Best!
Read at Storytime 9/20/17
Theme: Apples!
The kids were so worried if the giraffe would have enough apples after sharing with all the other animals. Cheers were made at the end.
June 14, 2017
Richie’s Picks: THE STARRY GIRAFFE by Andy Bergmann, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, June 2017, 40p., ISBN: 978-1-4814-9100-6
“It’s mine but you can have some
With you I’d like to share it
‘Cause if I share it with you
You’ll have some too
Well if I have a cake to eat
If I have a tasty treat
If you come to me and ask
I’ll give some to you”
-- Raffi, “The Sharing Song” (1976)
“Just when she opened up to take a big bite, a little brown mouse popped out of his hole.
‘I’m very hungry,’ he squeaked, but I am much too little to reach those delicious apples.
‘Here you go,’ said the giraffe.
‘Thank you,’ said the mouse as he moused back into his hole.”
THE STARRY GIRAFFE is a wonderful story for preschool audiences about sharing. A series of hungry animals come along and are offered apples by the giraffe who, of course, can readily retrieve them with her long neck.
The book features bold, digitally-rendered illustrations of the giraffe, the other animals, and the tree with the bright red apples. They all stand out clearly against a white background and pale blue/gray ground. The critters are endearing and comical: The family of skunks, rendered in shades of gray, each member dancing around with an apple; the snake who, from her profile, has clearly gulped down two; the huge rhino who carries one off in his dainty little lunch box.
First-time author/illustrator Andy Bergmann is a long-time storyteller. His sense of timing is exquisite. He builds to a climax and an ending that are filled with heart, hilarity, and meaning:
‘The starry giraffe was hungrier than ever. Only one lonely apple remained on the tree.
She looked around to see if anyone else might arrive. It was all quiet.
[PAGE TURN]
The giraffe stretched up high and picked the last apple.
[PAGE TURN]
Then she noticed a tiny inchworm staring up with a hungry face.
Worms quite enjoy apples, so she gave him the final one.
[PAGE TURN]
The giraffe’s stomach rumbled. She felt tired and a little sad.
[PAGE TURN]
After a few moments of rest, the starry giraffe stood up tall.
[PAGE TURN]
She walked to the next tree and ate twenty-seven apples.”
Kids who empathize with the giraffe’s hunger and sadness will take great delight in the reveal that there is a whole line of apple trees ready for the picking. In fact, in addition to the line of eight trees on that reveal spread, the next page turn yields the back endpapers which feature a line of another ten trees full of apples. We get the impression that the fruited trees go on and on and on.
This notion of abundance, that there is plenty for all, makes me recall the Diggers in San Francisco in the sixties [see Diggers (Theater) in Wikipedia]. It also inspired me to retrieve and (again) re-read Mario Cuomo’s 1984 Democratic Convention keynote speech, specifically the two paragraphs about the wagon trains.
Others believe in a zero sum game. I can imagine them having a negative reaction to the giraffe giving away apples without remuneration or quid pro quo.
To which philosophy would you like your children aspire? Imagine when you’re old, infirm, and unproductive. Will you prefer to get booted from the wagon train by the strong and able-bodied, or to be cared for by those who have resources? There’s currently a national debate about kicking 23 million people off of their healthcare. Can we, as a country, “afford” to give everyone clear water, clean air, and health care? I guess that depends upon your philosophy.
One of my top favorites so far this year, THE STARRY GIRAFFE is a delightful, eye-catching, simple tale about a star-covered giraffe and an apple tree. But it also can and will be viewed as a significant values-education book and even social commentary.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“It’s mine but you can have some
With you I’d like to share it
‘Cause if I share it with you
You’ll have some too
Well if I have a cake to eat
If I have a tasty treat
If you come to me and ask
I’ll give some to you”
-- Raffi, “The Sharing Song” (1976)
“Just when she opened up to take a big bite, a little brown mouse popped out of his hole.
‘I’m very hungry,’ he squeaked, but I am much too little to reach those delicious apples.
‘Here you go,’ said the giraffe.
‘Thank you,’ said the mouse as he moused back into his hole.”
THE STARRY GIRAFFE is a wonderful story for preschool audiences about sharing. A series of hungry animals come along and are offered apples by the giraffe who, of course, can readily retrieve them with her long neck.
The book features bold, digitally-rendered illustrations of the giraffe, the other animals, and the tree with the bright red apples. They all stand out clearly against a white background and pale blue/gray ground. The critters are endearing and comical: The family of skunks, rendered in shades of gray, each member dancing around with an apple; the snake who, from her profile, has clearly gulped down two; the huge rhino who carries one off in his dainty little lunch box.
First-time author/illustrator Andy Bergmann is a long-time storyteller. His sense of timing is exquisite. He builds to a climax and an ending that are filled with heart, hilarity, and meaning:
‘The starry giraffe was hungrier than ever. Only one lonely apple remained on the tree.
She looked around to see if anyone else might arrive. It was all quiet.
[PAGE TURN]
The giraffe stretched up high and picked the last apple.
[PAGE TURN]
Then she noticed a tiny inchworm staring up with a hungry face.
Worms quite enjoy apples, so she gave him the final one.
[PAGE TURN]
The giraffe’s stomach rumbled. She felt tired and a little sad.
[PAGE TURN]
After a few moments of rest, the starry giraffe stood up tall.
[PAGE TURN]
She walked to the next tree and ate twenty-seven apples.”
Kids who empathize with the giraffe’s hunger and sadness will take great delight in the reveal that there is a whole line of apple trees ready for the picking. In fact, in addition to the line of eight trees on that reveal spread, the next page turn yields the back endpapers which feature a line of another ten trees full of apples. We get the impression that the fruited trees go on and on and on.
This notion of abundance, that there is plenty for all, makes me recall the Diggers in San Francisco in the sixties [see Diggers (Theater) in Wikipedia]. It also inspired me to retrieve and (again) re-read Mario Cuomo’s 1984 Democratic Convention keynote speech, specifically the two paragraphs about the wagon trains.
Others believe in a zero sum game. I can imagine them having a negative reaction to the giraffe giving away apples without remuneration or quid pro quo.
To which philosophy would you like your children aspire? Imagine when you’re old, infirm, and unproductive. Will you prefer to get booted from the wagon train by the strong and able-bodied, or to be cared for by those who have resources? There’s currently a national debate about kicking 23 million people off of their healthcare. Can we, as a country, “afford” to give everyone clear water, clean air, and health care? I guess that depends upon your philosophy.
One of my top favorites so far this year, THE STARRY GIRAFFE is a delightful, eye-catching, simple tale about a star-covered giraffe and an apple tree. But it also can and will be viewed as a significant values-education book and even social commentary.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
August 4, 2017
Starry Giraffe was very hungry when she came upon an apple tree full of ripe red apples. She selected the most delicious-looking apple and picked it. But just as she was about to eat the apple, a little mouse appeared and told Starry how hungry he was and that he was far too small to reach the apples on his own. So Starry gave him the apple. She turned back to the tree and picked the second most delicious apple to eat. But as the was about to eat it, a family of skunks came up. The giraffe gave them each an apple. And so it continued, with the giraffe picking apples and animals appearing. She gave each of them away until finally there were no more apples on the tree! But just when readers think that there are no apples yet, the story takes a great twist.
This picture book looks at generosity and the power of sharing as the giraffe at the center of the story chooses again and again to share the apples with other animals. The twist at the end moves the book away from more traditional tales and adds a layer of silliness to the story. Abundance is a huge part of this story as the creature with the abundant source of food chooses to share it will all.
Bergmann’s illustrations are simple and bright. The star-covered giraffe is unusual with her starry pattern and the stick-thin legs. The images have a strong graphic punch to them with bright animals on white backgrounds and pale green grass.
A dynamic and modern twist on a story of sharing. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
This picture book looks at generosity and the power of sharing as the giraffe at the center of the story chooses again and again to share the apples with other animals. The twist at the end moves the book away from more traditional tales and adds a layer of silliness to the story. Abundance is a huge part of this story as the creature with the abundant source of food chooses to share it will all.
Bergmann’s illustrations are simple and bright. The star-covered giraffe is unusual with her starry pattern and the stick-thin legs. The images have a strong graphic punch to them with bright animals on white backgrounds and pale green grass.
A dynamic and modern twist on a story of sharing. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
December 2, 2017
Starry picks the perfect apple, but just as she is about to take a bite, a mouse appears and asks her to give it to him. Starry, only slightly disappointed, does just that and picks the second-most-delicious looking apple on the tree only to have another animal too small to reach the apples materialize and request the apple that she picked. This cycle continues until Starry has given away the last apple on the tree without having eaten a single apple herself. Then hungry, sad, and tired she lies down on the ground. Luckily for her, there is another apple tree nearby whose fruit she is finally able to eat.
Is Starry's selflessness kindness or foolishness? Is the moral of the story that it's okay to say no, that one doesn't always have to share, or that one should give away everything one has to the less fortunate and just suffer the disappointment? It looked like poor, sad, gentle Starry wasn't going to get a single apple, demonstrating that sometimes no good deed goes unpunished. Only the mouse says "thank you." All the other animals simply accept Starry's gift as their due and don't demonstrate any gratitude.
These are all good talking points for young readers. My take is that one isn't obligated to share, and it's best to eat coveted food somewhere out of random bystanders' sight, so one won't be pressured to share with ungrateful freeloaders.
Is Starry's selflessness kindness or foolishness? Is the moral of the story that it's okay to say no, that one doesn't always have to share, or that one should give away everything one has to the less fortunate and just suffer the disappointment? It looked like poor, sad, gentle Starry wasn't going to get a single apple, demonstrating that sometimes no good deed goes unpunished. Only the mouse says "thank you." All the other animals simply accept Starry's gift as their due and don't demonstrate any gratitude.
These are all good talking points for young readers. My take is that one isn't obligated to share, and it's best to eat coveted food somewhere out of random bystanders' sight, so one won't be pressured to share with ungrateful freeloaders.
September 23, 2017
Bergmann, Andy. The Starry Giraffe, PICTURE BOOK. Aladdin, 2017. $15.99.
The starry giraffe is hungry! She grabs an apple off of an apple tree and is about to eat when a little mouse runs by asking her to get an apple for him too. She passes him her apple and is about to eat when more animals arrive, one by one. She passes them all apples and they eat happily. Eventually there is only one apple left. The starry giraffe is about to eat it when she sees a little inchworm. She gives the inchworm the last apple and lies down, tired a bit sad. After a little bit of rest, she hops back up, moves on to the next apple tree and eats twenty seven apples.
Just when you’re about to feel really badly for this sweet, generous giraffe, the surprise ending gives you a good chuckle and is a delightful way to wrap things up. Young readers will appreciate it too.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
The starry giraffe is hungry! She grabs an apple off of an apple tree and is about to eat when a little mouse runs by asking her to get an apple for him too. She passes him her apple and is about to eat when more animals arrive, one by one. She passes them all apples and they eat happily. Eventually there is only one apple left. The starry giraffe is about to eat it when she sees a little inchworm. She gives the inchworm the last apple and lies down, tired a bit sad. After a little bit of rest, she hops back up, moves on to the next apple tree and eats twenty seven apples.
Just when you’re about to feel really badly for this sweet, generous giraffe, the surprise ending gives you a good chuckle and is a delightful way to wrap things up. Young readers will appreciate it too.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
August 2, 2023
The plotline is reminiscent of "The Giving Tree." While the artwork is reminiscent of "The Very Hungry Catepillar." At least, that's how it seems to me.
BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS HERE?
In this picture book for very young readers, a generous giraffe gives all of her apples away. She gives them to her friends. Giving-giving-giving.
Why can't that sweet little girl giraffe tell her friends, "Get your own apples."?
This mystery is never explained to my satisfaction.
IF I WERE TO HAZARD A GUESS?
I'd suppose that this picture book is a contemporary version of traditional teachings about the Martyrdom School for Girls, and how graduates of this educational program are next to Godliness.
But then there's that redeeming ending. Redeeming, sort of.
Make sense of all this, Goodreaders, as best you can.
FIVE STARS for sweetness and ambition.
BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS HERE?
In this picture book for very young readers, a generous giraffe gives all of her apples away. She gives them to her friends. Giving-giving-giving.
Why can't that sweet little girl giraffe tell her friends, "Get your own apples."?
This mystery is never explained to my satisfaction.
IF I WERE TO HAZARD A GUESS?
I'd suppose that this picture book is a contemporary version of traditional teachings about the Martyrdom School for Girls, and how graduates of this educational program are next to Godliness.
But then there's that redeeming ending. Redeeming, sort of.
Make sense of all this, Goodreaders, as best you can.
FIVE STARS for sweetness and ambition.
June 15, 2017
Illustrations are great but giraffes don't eat apples and so it makes it a bit difficult for me to enjoy a book that is fundamentally wrong. I know it's a picture book for children and the rules can bend lots in a picture books. Still, children learn lots from picture books and "teaching" them that giraffes eat apples is a little hard for me to swallow. I totally did not see the larger lesson of sharing and selflessness until much later because I was hung up on the apples.
November 26, 2017
I'm surprised this book wasn't on the Goodreads Choice awards for this year. I thought it was way better than a lot of the other candidates.
I normally don't rate children's books because people can just read them to see if they like them. But this one deserves a rating. It teaches that no matter how much we give there are always blessings for us. We can never give too much.
Read it! It's amazing!
I normally don't rate children's books because people can just read them to see if they like them. But this one deserves a rating. It teaches that no matter how much we give there are always blessings for us. We can never give too much.
Read it! It's amazing!
April 5, 2019
So if you read this after reading other children's picture books you have expectations of how this will end, however it defies these expectations while still providing the best end ever.
I loved the illustrations and that the text was very simple.
Honestly, the title has very little to do with the story other than what the giraffe looks like, but that is okay too.
The ending is honestly the best and I would recommend it to anyone just for the ending.
I loved the illustrations and that the text was very simple.
Honestly, the title has very little to do with the story other than what the giraffe looks like, but that is okay too.
The ending is honestly the best and I would recommend it to anyone just for the ending.
September 26, 2022
For some reason I had in my head this was a corny, saccharine story, but I'm not sure where I got that idea! It's a cute one with a funny twist at the end that will probably surprise most kids. I'm not sure why the giraffe is starry - I also thought this had something to do with an apple having a star pattern when cut crosswise, but no mention is made here. Still, a fun one to do with a group of kids.
January 13, 2019
A hungry giraffe finds a tree whose apples look so delicious. Just when she is about to eat one, a little animal asks for it. More animal friends come along and Giraffe keeps giving away the apples until the tree is bare of its fruit. Giraffe is still hungry. Cute story and nice ending. Fun illustrations.
November 17, 2022
Storytime Themes: Food, Animals, Sharing, Surprise
I was considering this one for Storytime next week. At first, I thought that it was cute enough, but not really something I was interested in reading for Storytime. Then I turned the last page and just about fell out of my chair LAUGHING!
Yep. This one's a keeper!
I was considering this one for Storytime next week. At first, I thought that it was cute enough, but not really something I was interested in reading for Storytime. Then I turned the last page and just about fell out of my chair LAUGHING!
Yep. This one's a keeper!
June 9, 2017
I loathe The Giving Tree, but this story does not make me nauseous. The giraffe gives expecting nothing in return but it would be nice to at least some of the critters reciprocate his kindly gesture.
August 25, 2017
Simple illustrations with lots of white background keep the reader's eye focused on the important details.
Simple text set in large font present sentences in a variety of lengths.
Simple story/theme with somewhat unpredictable ending will be great for showing empathy and selflessness!
Simple text set in large font present sentences in a variety of lengths.
Simple story/theme with somewhat unpredictable ending will be great for showing empathy and selflessness!
August 26, 2017
A very cute story that reminds me of the giving tree. The giraffe keeps giving away apples to all the animals before she gets a chance to eat. A good read aloud for children that teaches about helping others.
November 20, 2017
There's this hungry giraffe standing in front of an apple tree. Each time he takes an apple from the tree, a friend shows up who is also hungry. The giraffe ends up giving away all the apples from the tree.
August 24, 2021
I do really like this book. There are a few places where the wording is quite awkward, at least to me, but the twist at the end got a real laugh in my storytime today, the illustrations are large and clear, and the story is fun to read.
June 11, 2017
The ending surprised me!
June 20, 2017
The ending gave me a snort.
July 10, 2017
Giraffe shares apples with all of the animals until they are all gone. Hilarious twist at the end! K-2 kids would love it--and it would be a great readers' theater (acting out)
July 13, 2017
Wonderful Children's book! Sharing is caring!
August 4, 2017
I love the illustrations
September 11, 2017
A very tall giraffe is picking an apple for a snack but each time he picks one someone shows up and wants it. What will eh do? nice sharing theme. toddler and up
September 18, 2017
I love giraffes.
October 4, 2017
This book was so sweet and I loved the little twist ending.
October 28, 2017
Wonderful book!
December 19, 2017
An all-time favorite I laughed aloud and even my girls liked it (ages 16, 19, 23) Sharing, disappointment, perseverance, patience, sharing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews