8.07.2007

REVIEW: Cherry Time by Daniela Bunge


How many of you have been fortunate enough to encounter books published by minedition? I have to officially gush over them – their international books are just a revelation to me. All the sweetness and poignancy that a picture book can possess…but without the cloying sentimentality that can be prevalent in American children’s books. I became familiar with minedition after reading Five Nice Mice by Chisato Toshiro and J.A. Teddy by John Rowe – both wonderful books. But I got a hold of Cherry Time by Daniela Bunge, and I’m officially in love. It’s a picture book about two shy children who find one another and become friends. Though one of them has to move away in the end, they still promise to “be brave even without each other.” The illustrations remind me a little of Giselle Potter – whose work I don’t care for – but Bunge’s art is more accessible and charming. And the text just rolls off the tongue: “Ruby showed me how to bake a cherry cake, and sometimes we got vanilla ice cream with warm cherry sauce. The whole summer tasted red and sweet.” I’m swooning. I found a new favorite picture book. Granted, I’ll have a new favorite two weeks from now, but still…

3 comments:

Delete said...

I am curious, what for age you would recommend this picture book?

Thanks-
Jenny

Unknown said...

K-2nd grade. There are some bits in the book about mean kids at school so older children will get the most out of it.

Anonymous said...

Laura, Cherry Time looks adorable. Will you bring it to the next CBSC meeting?

By the way, the pic of you on the slide is friggin adorable! :)