Venetian Lullaby

by Judith L. Roth, Kendra Binney (Illustrator)

The sounds of lapping water and dipping oars ease readers into the famous canals of Venice, Italy. With mother as gondolier and father singing his calming song to baby, a family floats serenely through this one-of-a-kind historic city, past features as unusual as stone winged lions and golden masks and as comfortably familiar as babbling neighbors and drying laundry. The baby drifts deeper and deeper into Venice’s maze and—finally—sweet sleep.

Genres: Picture Books, Italy, Childrens, Music, Travel, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 19, 2021

About the author

Judith L Roth has lived half of her life in a beach town in Southern California and the so-far second-half of her life in northern Indiana. She loves reading, traveling, kayaking, music, nature, and of course, cats. She's been a piano teacher, a youth minister, an editor, and an ASL interpreter—but before any of those occupations, she was a writer, and during those jobs she was a writer, and now she writes almost full-time. She is a mother to two wonderful young men, and a grandmother to two wonderful little girls. She lives on a river bank with her husband and three cats.

Reviews

[Anitra Rowe Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Venetian Lullaby" is a picture book is about a baby rocked to sleep aboard a Venetian gondola. With water lapping, laundry waving in the windows, and ringing bells filling the air, the story sets a charming and relaxing tone. Musical, rhyming text soothes, as does soft and dreamy artwork. Venetian Lullaby creates memorable images and sounds as it leads little ones gently to sleep.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and super simple rhyming text follow a family through a boat ride in Venice until she falls asleep.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dreamy and soothing picture book read-aloud for young children; perfect for bedtime! The illustrations transport you to Venice, but not in a grand-sweeping way that may feel overwhelming. The focus is honed in on a family on a gondola ride as you read through the lyrical text. It's charming and a simple read. (I especially appreciate that the woman in the story is the gondolier.)

I'd put this in the 2-4 year old age range.

**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Page Street Kids. Opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having visited Venice, Italy several times, this book had my heart from the first page. With gentle, soft watercolor illustrations and a soothing rhyming text, this book is perfect for reading before bedtime or naptime.

[Cristina Raymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Roth's beautiful lullaby transports children through the canals of Venice viewing the beautiful scenery and architecture of this amazing Italian city. Roth does a wonderful job creating the rhythmic motion of a gondola ride with a father, mother, and baby. Kendra Binney's soft illustrations highlight all of the main attractions of Venice. This is a perfect book before bed or for children to be introduced to the Venetian culture.

[Cara BookShelfMomma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful that books again are taking my baby to a foreign country. Today while reading Venetian Lullaby by: Judith L. Roth we visited the canals of Venice, Italy. The words are melodic coming off my tongue. The beautiful illustrations by Kendra Binney really show different scenes you would encounter. I love this book, it was great to read before bedtime.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venetian Lullaby by @judithlroth & illustrated by Kendra Binney is the sweetest lullaby for those who have been to (or have admired from afar) the canals of Venice, Italy. What a sweet bedtime story for a baby in your life.

[Peggy Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bedtime, in a gondola, in Venice. I love the lyrical language in Venetian Lullaby by Judith Roth, and the rhythm is perfect for bedtime—“Feel the boat a-bobbing, baby. Close your sleepy eyes.” The beautiful illustrations by Kendra Binney seal the deal in this bedtime picture book.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, Kendra Binney's illustrations takes this sing song story to the next level. A family takes a gondola for a ride throughout Venice, Italy. They see many things, but not their baby. It is comfortably taking a nap. This would be a wonderful book to read a child before bedtime.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a baby can't fall asleep here...we often take them for a drive. In Venice, you take them for a gondola ride! Each page is a 4 lined poem to be read as you float down the streets of Venice enjoying the different sights until the baby is FINALLY asleep.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

While yes I loved that this was in Italy....I really loved this sweet bedtime story. With subtle rhymes that lyrically flow of the tongue (much as the lapping of water against the side of the gondola), this almost put ME to sleep....in the best way

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An infant is lulled to sleep in their fathers' arms by lyrical, rhyming text as her mother steers the gondola through the canals of Venice, Italy.

Sweet illustrations. Recommended for one-on-one reading.

[Layah Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. The images are absolutely beautiful. I could look at each page for 10 minutes and still discover new things in the drawings. I will he reading this to my baby nephew any chance I get.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous setting and illustrations. Lyrical writing and story would be a perfect bedtime read.

Thanks to the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Children's Literature Centre at FSU · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lullaby you can read to your child

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a picture book that is 100% for adults who are reading go-to-sleep stories to their infants and pre-toddlers. Kids who pay attention to stories will not understand or grasp it.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the illustrations were a little strange, but the rhythm of the texts makes it a perfect bedtime story.

[Lori Tart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet lullaby story that is excellent for bedtime reading. The illustrations are dreamy and soothing.

[Y.Poston]

Gorgeous illustrations

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful bedtime book

[Kelly Veatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations reminded me of being back in Las Vegas at the Venetian hotel. But, this story wasn't very interesting.

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. Not a huge fan of the text.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable!

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lyrical and soothing and gorgeously illustrated too.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute book, not very long or rhymey. More than anything, I enjoyed the illustrations.

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book that rhymes about a couple that follows the city rivers of Venice to put their baby to sleep

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely rhyming text puts a baby to sleep on the canals of Venice. Lovely illustrations, too.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and calming prose. Perfect for a bedtime story!