Ce este un copil?

by Beatrice Alemagna

La domanda è di quelle che lasciano senza fiato. Ma Beatrice si dimostra all'altezza e procede sicura, forte della sua lunga frequentazione del mondo infantile e di un immaginario raffinatissimo e, insieme, potente, amato dai bambini di molti paesi. "Un bambino è una persona piccola," con piccole mani, piccoli piedi e piccole orecchie, ma non per questo con idee piccole. Dall'intreccio di parole cristalline e immagini poetiche nasce un libro divertente, commovente, folgorante: una galleria di ritratti a misura di bambino che piacerà a piccoli e grandi. Che cos'è un bambino? È un libro da leggere insieme, per aiutare i bambini a rispondere alla domanda "Chi sono io?". E per aiutare gli adulti a capire cosa sono i bambini. Età di lettura: da 5 anni.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, School

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Beatrice Alemagna was born in Bologna, Italy in 1973. She graduated from the Istituto Superiore for industrial arts in Urbino, Italy. She has won numerous international awards for her illustration. She now lives in Paris, France, where she works as an author and illustrator as well as a designer of childrens books, posters and collages.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philosophical thoughts and moving statements about childhood. This author has really thought about what childhood feels like, the innocence, fragility, hopefulness and living for the moment. This book was happy/sad and poignant, the illustrations were wonderful and very fitting.

Children are like sponges. They soak everything in: bad moods, bad ideas, other people's fears.

This book reminded me of a Spike Milligan quote that went along the lines of-your children don't grow up but someone takes them in the night and replaces them with an adult.

I think this book is aimed at children, I can't think how children would find this interesting. The interest comes from an adult looking into the world of childhood from an adults wistful perspective.

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educativo. Inclusivo. Visivo.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Italian as Che cos'è un bambino?, this philosophical picture-book from author/artist Beatrice Alemagna offers a meditative examination of childhood, and the nature of the child. Each two-page spread features a description of things children do, or of how they experience the world on the one side, and a full-page illustration on the other. Occasionally, there is discussion of adults as well, either in contrast to, or in comparison with children. In the end, the narrative concludes, a child is a small person, one who needs kind eyes in order to fall asleep...

Unlike some of her other picture-books, from On a Magical Do-Nothing Day to The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy , it feels as if Alemagna is aiming What Is a Child? as much at adult readers as at children themselves. There is a sense of change here, but it is change that is seen looking backward, rather than forward - change seen in retrospect. There is a wistful quality to the narrative, as opposed to a hopeful one. It's almost as if this were the inverse of those aspirational picture-books, like Dr. Seuss' Oh, The Places You'll Go!, or Emily Winfield Martin's The Wonderful Things You Will Be. Which isn't to say it is sad or depressing, merely quiet and contemplative. The artwork is striking, and done in a slightly different style than the other Alemagna books I have picked up. I liked that there was no cuteness here, and that sometimes the children weren't depicted in an ideal sense (in one scene, a little boy is picking his nose). Although I am glad, as an admirer of Alemagna's work, to have read this one, I'm not sure to whom I would recommend it. Perhaps to those who prefer more philosophical picture-books? I could be wrong, but I suspect this is one that will have greater resonance with adult readers, than child listeners.

[Aily · Rating 1 out of 5]

questo libro mi è sembrato un po' uno spreco di carta, tbh.. e i disegni mi hanno inquietata leggermente ^^' ovviamente se a qualcuno è piaciuto buon per lui, ma a me ha dato l'ennesimo motivo per non volere figli AHAHAHAH

[Rebecca Crunden]

Very wholesome! Lovely art.

[Gab 📖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma che importa pensarci adesso?

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: A child is a small person. They are only small for a little while, then they grow up. They grow without even thinking about it. Slowly and silently, their body grows taller. A child is not a child forever. One day, they change.

Premise/plot: "What is a Child?" That is the question asked and answered by author, Beatrice Alemagna. Her answers are thoughtful, and, at times poetic. She definitely takes the question seriously.

My thoughts: I really found myself loving the text. Here's a phrase that caught me: "The children who decide not to grow up will never grow up. They keep a mystery inside them." And another, "Children want to be listened to with eyes wide open."

While I loved the text, I didn't love the illustrations.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published earlier in Italy and the United Kingdom, this book is an interesting visual and philosophical treat as each page explores concepts of childhood and what it means to be a child. Some of the realizations are quite profound, especially, for instance, thoughts on what it will be like to be grown up, on the smallness of a child not equating the size of his/her ideas, how they express emotions openly in a way that adults do not, and how they seem forgetful but really aren't, often stashing everything away in book bags or drawers. Even after I finished the book, I kept thinking about what it means to be a child and what it means to be an adult and how some youngsters really don't have much of a chance to be children. The book made me ponder modern concepts of childhood.

[Oznasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to wonder, for whom is this book intended? The adult in me can appreciate the poetic writing. The illustrations, in their way, are great. But is this book really intended for children? I doubt that many children would really understand the text. My rating of this book is based on it being published as what appears to be a children's book. I consider it to have very little kid appeal. If your experience suggests that I am wrong please tell me why.

[Josie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite pages:

"Children are like sponges They soak everything in:bad moods, bad ideas, other people's fears.
They seem to forget, but then everything comes out again in their school bag,
or under the covers or in front of a book,
Children want to be listened to with eyes wide open."

That last line has my heart.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un albo poetico che racconta l’infanzia con semplicità e meraviglia, attraverso domande e immagini delicate. Con parole essenziali e illustrazioni intense, Alemagna dà voce alla curiosità, alla fragilità e alla forza dei bambini, ricordando agli adulti lo stupore di guardare il mondo per la prima volta.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Musings on what makes children and childhood unique.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poesia

[Ruut DeMeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more from this author! The words are poetry and the illustrations are art. By the end of this you’re just hoping you’re one of those grownups she describes, who are secretly still children.

[Epp Petrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lugesin kusagilt, et juba lapseeas tekib inimesel eelistus, kas talle meeldivad juturaamatud või nn kontseptsiooniraamatud ehk dokumentalistika. See siin on puhtalt kontseptsiooni kirjeldav raamat ja vastabki just nimelt pealkirjas esitatud küsimusele: "Kes on laps?" Millised on lapsed? Mis eristab neid suurest inimesest?
Soovisin seda raamatut kätte võtta osaliselt ilmselt seetõttu, et olen ise kirjutades samale küsimusele vastust otsinud enda lasteraamatus "Suure inimese tunne", mina tegin seda küll jutuvormis, tegelaste abiga. Kokkulangevusi tegelikult on küll: see tunne, et laps justkui ootab midagi, uut maailma, mis on teistmoodi kui lapsemaailm; ja samas teadmine, et lapsed ja täiskasvanud on ikkagi paljudes asjades ühtemoodi. On ka võimalik valida, otsustada: südames mitte kunagi suureks saada.
"Kes on laps?" on vaieldamatult moodne raamat, kujutan ette, et lasteraamatute messi hitt, igatahes tuletab miski selle raamatu juures väga meelde Bologna messide külastamise kogemusi. Vaatasin nüüd, autor ongi Bolognas sündinud, ilmselt on ta väga kaua aega iga kevad seal messil käinud ja olnud "nagu käsn" (nii ütleb ta laste kohta, "nagu käsnad"). Raamat on julges suurformaadis ja ka teksti suurus on selline, et sobib algajatele lugejatele. Mõnes kohas ma korra kahtlen, kas teksti iseloom ikka sobib samale vanuserühmale, kohati on justkui liiga abstraktne, aga kokkuvõttes moodustab kõik terviku.
Tekstis on palju üldistusi, võiks ju vastu vaielda, kas saab öelda, et "Kõik teavad, et lastele ei meeldi koolis käia"... aga samas lõigus öeldakse, et neile meeldib "peegli ees nina kirtsutada" ja muid mängulisi tegevusi. Lastele meeldivad üldistused, elu reeglid. Ja samas meeldivad neile konkreetsed detailid, ka neid on siin. Suurtele inimestele meeldib "minna magama nii, et kollane koer polegi kaisus".
PS. Mulle meeldib, kui ka lasteraamatutel on leheküljenumbrid, siin raamatus neid pole. Samas, olen märganud, mismoodi lastel tekib oma lemmiklehekülgedest nagunii mingi oma mälumaastik ja nad saavad ka tõesti ilma numbriteta hakkama.

[Tuhkatriin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kolmepoolesele alguses pildid ei meeldinud, aga kui teksti ka lõpuks läbi lugesime, ütles, et nüüd hakkas raamat meeldima. Mõtteid justkui tekkis: kosmosesse sõitvad bussid ja otsalõppematud trepid ajasid naerma ("Päris elus nii ei ole!") ja silma sattunud šampoonitilk pani kaasa elama ("See läheb üle!"), aga nii üldiselt võttes on minu meelest siiski tegemist pigem lasteraamatuga täiskasvanutele.

[نسيبة العزيبي · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read ! This book is a treat for both children and adults. The illustrations are bright and beautiful.. I wanted to write a proper long review as I usually do but couldn’t wait. I’ll do that in Arabic in my Instagram account for Arab readers. Meanwhile this book is worthy of your time and admiration.

[Neda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually didn't like the illustrations at all.. To me the characters seemed to be deformed and I didn't quite understand the reason! Plus I would fully appreciate the descriptions of children. I find them rather banal.

[Isabel Tolentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grandi, invece, amano dormire al buio.
Non piangono quasi mai, neppure se lo shampoo entra nel naso, e se capita, piangono piano.
Tanto piano che i bambini non se ne accorgono o fanno finta di non vedere niente.

Alla fine i grandi e i bambini, tutti, facciamo cose strane :')

[Josecita Hernandez Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de mis libros favoritos. Deberíamos leerlo siempre después de un agotador día de maternidad/paternidad. En una sociedad en donde esperamos que los niños crezcan velozmente, sus palabras son una alerta necesaria.

[Ana Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

lindas ilustrações! nao li para uma criança, mas fico imaginando que muitas das respostas que elas poderiam dar à pergunta na capa, estao no livro. para mim faltou um pouco mais de fantasia, mas mesmo assim, uma boa introdução à uma postura reflexiva diante da vida.

[Austria Kovalenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I found this boring.

[Meg T]

Written through the child’s eyes, of what they experience and comparison between them and adults. It demonstrates what children notice and how much they take in of the world around them.

[Jocelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations freaked me out, I can't imagine how they might scare a kid :O

[Hanneleele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma ei tea, kuivõrd see lastele peale läheks, ent täiskasvanutele kulub küll vahel meeldetuletus ära :)

[Reelika Kullerkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Väga armas ja mõtlik ja natuke kurblik raamat, mis pakub midagi nii lapsele kui täiskasvanule. Millised lapsed on ja millised nad täiskasvanuks saades on.

[Fée Brandt · Rating 1 out of 5]

umm idk ok text… scary illustration

[Nes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu kitap, çocuğun hep çocuk kalmadığını yetişkinlere mi çocuklara mı anlatıyor bilemedim. İlginç ve güzel bir anlatıma sahip bir kitap.

[Karla Gontijo · Rating 4 out of 5]

O texto é bem adequado para crianças pequenas, embora nos pegue de surpresa em determinado momento ao dizer que "Existem crianças chatas, odiosas, (...) que às vezes quebram os pratos, as vasilhas e tudo o mais". 🤷🤦
E o que dizer das ilustrações??? Bastante excêntricas...

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non ho mai sopportato quelle affermazioni del tipo: "I bambini sono belli". L'ho sempre trovata sbagliata, riduttiva.
I bambini sono complicati, sono sfaccettati, sono lisci e sono ruvidi.
I bambini sono leggeri e divertenti ma sono anche pesanti e ostici.
I bambini sono pianti, sono sorrisi, sono risate e sono capricci.
I bambini sono misteri, sono fiocchi di neve e raggi di sole. Sono tempeste, paura del buio e supereroi.
I bambini sono un sacco di cose e per vederle tutte occorre tempo e pazienza. Occorrono mille luci diverse: quella sfacciata del sole di mezzogiorno, quella riflessa, quella brumosa dell'alba, quella bluastra delle lampade al neon, quella fioca della lucina notturna.
Questo libro cerca di essere questo: in ventaglio di luci diverse per aiutarci a vedere cosa è un bambino.