Friday, November 24, 2017

For those finding their voice: La La La: A Story of Hope [Review and Giveaway - USA/CANADA]

For those finding their voice: La La La: A Story of Hope



My thoughts: My personal opinion is that books are sources of information and their purpose is to promote knowledge and literacy.  A "wordless" book or one with extremely limited wordage does nothing to promote literacy. Knowledge can be imparted in various ways. So in essence a wordless book's pictures are the platform on which the impartation of knowledge is transmitted.

In the case of La La La the pictures are charming and so is the little girl. The colors are strong yet somewhat neutral and definitely beyond the primary range. The little girl's facial expressions depict a variety of emotions, especially frustration and/or anger. It is obvious at the beginning that she is singing and getting no response to her performance.

So on the story goes until she elicits a response from the Moon to her little song.

Frankly, while I found it a nice book, well done, well drawn, and certainly lengthy enough (a bit longer than usual picture books), I feel it will leave much to be desired as a book for small children. Parents will definitely have to interpret the book for them. The pursuit for someone to respond to her singing and pay some attention to her on the part of the child is typical of the lonely child. I would think the moon represents the audience of the child's parent who finally gives the needed response interacting with the child.

My rating for the book? Probably a 5-star for the art (love the little girl and also the way it depicts day and night); and I would also say it rates a 5-star for the idea of "hope," though transferring the author's idea to the pages of the book was weak resulting in a 2-star for the "story".  A bit more wordage in the storyline would have been beneficial. While the author is one with a tremendously good reputation for storytelling, it is my opinion that this little book leaves a bit to be desired.

About the book: This nearly wordless graphic story follows a little girl in search of a friend.
"La la la . . . la." A little girl stands alone and sings, but hears no response. Gathering her courage and her curiosity, she skips farther out into the world, singing away to the trees and the pond and the reeds -- but no song comes back to her. Day passes into night, and the girl dares to venture into the darkness toward the light of the moon, becoming more insistent in her singing, climbing as high as she can, but still there is silence in return. Dejected, she falls asleep on the ground, only to be awakened by an amazing sound. . . . She has been heard. At last.


GIVEAWAY
2 Winners
Begins November 24
ENDS December 9 @ 12:01 a.m. EST
Open to USA and CANADA addresses.
NO P.O. Boxes, please!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and other opinions may certainly differ. I was not compensated for this review.

11 comments:

  1. "Share about the feeling of hope that having a song in your own heart brings to you." I'm always singing--I guess it helps! (And, of course, my voice is wonderful!)

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  2. When you have a song in your heart, every day seems brighter!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  3. I love to sing. Singing makes me feel happy and hope for the future.
    Marilyn

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  4. I like to listen to uplifting music on the radio to have a song in my heart.

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  5. I love music. I grew up with it. When I need a pick me up.... music and songs always cheer me up.

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  6. Reggae makes me so happy and gives me hope!! Its so carefree and amazing!! Especially Bob Marley!!

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  7. I find that really good choral music makes my heart lighter.

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  8. I appreciate that you distinguished what worked as well as what did not work in this book. I find some books with little or no text make excellent channels through which I child can reveal their own experiences and can be very helpful for unmasking things that might otherwise be hard to talk about.

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  9. Singing and music cures what ails you.

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  10. Having a song in my heart makes me happy. Things seem brighter & better.

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  11. Enjoyed your perspectives on the art and wordless story. I saw this book and Christmas in the Barn on display at a bookstore last week.

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