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September 2026 - A Day at the Beach
By Kristen · 5 posts · 55 views
By Kristen · 5 posts · 55 views
last updated Sep 07, 2025 06:50PM
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Probably not a future Newbery...
By Kristen · 25 posts · 299 views
By Kristen · 25 posts · 299 views
last updated Nov 10, 2010 04:28PM
What Members Thought
I liked but didn't love this, and have no interest in seeing it on the Newbery list. I found it overly repetitive and self-consciously quiet, and it will mightily confuse your more literal children (though I enjoyed the slips into surrealism). I don't think we see a compelling presentation of plot here.
I'm glad she included some of Neruda's poetry at the end, though it annoyed me that the author's note seems to be written for the parent or teacher rather than a child reader. ...more
I'm glad she included some of Neruda's poetry at the end, though it annoyed me that the author's note seems to be written for the parent or teacher rather than a child reader. ...more
In a small village in Chile, Neftali Reyes is a shy boy whose mind is always wandering; he finds beauty in the simplest things in nature and is fascinated by words. His father, however, wants him to be more focused and hard working so that he might become a doctor or a dentist.
The reader follows Neftali as he grows up; we learn that, as an adolescent, he still has trouble focusing in school and that he still has a love of words. In fact, he has filled dozens of notebooks with his thoughts. He a ...more
The reader follows Neftali as he grows up; we learn that, as an adolescent, he still has trouble focusing in school and that he still has a love of words. In fact, he has filled dozens of notebooks with his thoughts. He a ...more
Oh, what a book. Lovely, magical, very endearing. I adored the way the text and the illustrations flowed along with the story. It just all worked together to evoke a sense of wonder to me. I can see why this is being mentioned as a possible Newbery contender. A must read!
Although this fictional story of a young Pablo Neruda is a beautifully written story, it is written in a quiet, somewhat abstract style that will make it a hard sell to young readers. It's also quite sad in several respects.
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Autobiographical novel about the difficult childhood of the poet, Pablo Neruda. There is Newbery talk around this book too.
This is almost an autobiography, but it's written in a sort of dreamy style. About the poet Pablo Neruda.
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A very good book. Touching and a bit of an eye opener to the power of words.
An inspiring, fictionalized account of the childhood of poet Pablo Neruda, filled with captivating illustratins by Peter Sis.
There is nothing wrong with this book. The writing is beautiful, and Peter Sis's art is breathtaking. I just can't figure out the audiance. I don't think many young readers will be clammoring for this story of Pablo Neruda's sometimes harsh childhood.
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Loved the lyrical nature of the book. Such beautiful writing. All the more beautiful when you realize who the narrator is. Amazing figurative language.
Beautiful story about young Pablo Neruda's struggles to be himself despite a difficult, authoritarian father.
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Jan 27, 2011
Katharine
marked it as to-read
Jun 12, 2011
Jodi
marked it as to-read
