Gordimer Byrd's Reminder

Rating:
Summary: Just wonderful
Review: Everyone images magic in their lives, and so does Gordimer, and lord knows there's enough fantasy in kids books (and play station games et al) to go around and around and around. The moral in this book is that magic does exist, but not in fairy tale form. It comes from celebrating the commonplace, and using it, in fresh and extraordinary ways. My eight-year old son loved the sense of mystery and wonderment that comes from the text and illustrations. My daughter (11) took it along on a babysitting gig. She read it to her five-year old charge who was delighted with the unwrapping stillness of the tone. My daughter brought it back and pointed out some of the magic in the illustrations themselves and challenged my son to find all of them, and he suprised her with a few discoveries she'd missed. Somehow, the writer captured the sense of discovery and wonder that life is all about in a kids book. It's a pleasure.

Rating:
Summary: tink tink tink
Review: Gordimer's days are a mix of musky blues, greens and grays. He eats squash blossoms and pine nuts and he hangs out with Olivia Katz who wears glasses big enough to reflect all the things he loves.

My kids wanted me to read this book to them, over and over, so they could figure out the mysterious parts by studying the clues found in the stunning illusrations. Weinstock captures the yearning for magic that we all share. This is not just a book for children but for all adults who haven't given up the quest. I want more books about Gordimer!

Rating:
Summary: Great children's lit in the Sendak/Steig tradition
Review: If you like children's books in the tradition of Maurice Sendak and William Steig -- gentle, wise fables that are poetically written and beautifully drawn, with a lesson that holds just as true for adults as children -- then you'll love this quiet, funny, charming picture book. This is the kind of book that, unfortunately, is disappearing from young readers' shelves as publishing becomes more and more indebted to movies, television and product promotion. My daughter loved looking at the pictures of Gordimer's treasures, and the text was a pleasure to read aloud. I'm sure this one will become a favorite around our house.

Rating:
Summary: Gordimer Byrd is a MUST HAVE book - a new favorite!!!
Review: My daughter (age 5) LOVES this book! It is a story about a bird who finds the magic in his own imagination. The writing is beautiful, clever and funny. The illustrations are outstanding. The story draws you in and takes you on an unexpected journey. From his mundane life working pecking dimples in a thimble factory, Gordimer Byrd discovers that ordinary objects can become spectacular treasures in his hands. As he discovers his own spark, you will too. The pages where Gordimer takes all of his "treasures" out of his closet and where he tries to get magic out of a not-so-magic pebble are especially memorable. This book is our new favorite. Finally a new book with depth and creativity in both the text and illustrations. BRAVO!

Rating:
Summary: Read 1000 times
Review: This is a great great book. Apart from it's beauty, humor and sweetness, the best thing about it is that it is not only tolerable for the 100 readings that any good children's book gets, it actually gets richer and more amazing with each reading. The illustrations are so delicate and detailed and nuanced, that you'll discover something great in them each time you look at them. And the story is the same, mysterious, sweet, sad, funny and thoughtful, and you'll come to understand different things about it the more you read it. Not one of the ones you'll want to misplace after the first read.

Rating:
Summary: bound to be a classic !!!
Review: This is the kind of book that you'll ENJOY reading the kids again and again - and trust me, they'll ask (mine had me read it to him 4 times tonight)! They'll also love losing themselves in the wonderful, otherworldly pictures (which bounce off the sweet humor of the text delightfully). Gordimer as drawn in both senses has a lovely "everybyrd" quality. It has a great (and nice and subtle) message, too: Engage the world, and don't let the thumble dimpling get you down!

Rating:
Summary: A reminder for all of us
Review: Who among us hasn't experienced Gordimer Byrd's brand of malaise? Unhappy with his station in life and bored in his job, he's about to give up on hope and finally accept his lot. In the process of letting go of his dream he discovers that he has the ability to fashion another kind with his own two wings. Out of lemons, Gordimer makes lemon chiffon pie. Robert Weinstock's character is a gentle inspiration that will be a special reminder for this adult.