Lucy's Picture...A Priceless Story....A Collage of Beautiful Pictures!
Written: May 27 '09 (Updated May 27 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A beautiful teaching tool for children
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: I bought this used book in a heartbeat and have since purchased new ones in paperback for several children.
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| Lark729_89's Full Review: Lucy's Picture |
Lucy's Picture is a book I lucked out on. Five years ago The Columbus Metropolitan Library was having a book sale when I went in to return a DVD and I had promised my grandson a new book to read to him when he came over later in the day. I had only fifteen minutes to browse the tons of books they had before I left for my doctor appointment on the far west side of the city.
I skimmed through several children's hardcover books and found two that were appealing to me by cover only. It was the third book, a large 15 inch by 12 inch hardcover that I picked up and skimmed through and even started reading, that won me over. It was a very touching gentle story. I was deeply impressed. In fact I went back the next day trying to look for another one.
Written by Nicola Moon of England and illustrated in vibrant collage artwork by Alex Ayliffe "Lucy's Picture" is a very special story and picture book.
As I read the story I smiled at the pictures. Vivacious Lucy's entering school skipping through the school room, announcing her Grandpa's coming to visit. Her teacher, Mrs. Kelley, tells her it's time to paint. However, the colored paints that the other children are using will not do for Lucy. Instead she tells Mrs. Kelley she wants to make a collage. Mrs. Kelley then seats Lucy at a table by herself and she has so much fun going through the box of scraps Mrs. Kelley presented on the table for Lucy when she told her teacher she needed to paste items on her picture.
In fact, it was even better when Lucy closed her eyes to feel the different textures. You see, Lucy's grandfather is blind. Lucy's making a collage out of fabric, paper, twigs, leaves, feathers, sand and even a piece of her own hair.
During recess she collected the twigs, sand, leaves, feathers in a cup and made trees and a path of glue with sand spread over it. She wrinkled fabric for flowers from a piece of paper and made a dog and used a piece of her hair for the fur representing her Grandpa's dog. She used the feathers for bird wings
When school ended there was Lucy's Mom and Grandpa with his seeing eye dog,Honey waiting outside for her. Lucy gives Grandpa her picture. Lucy explains some of the subjects in her picture "these are hills and here's the road" she says as she is guiding Grandpa's hand. Grandpa is delighted with the picture. Grandpa touched the picture carefully"a tree, a bird and what's this?" It feels like your hair Lucy." "That's Honey" says Lucy smiling. "How clever! and what a wonderful surprise!" "It's the best picture I've ever seen" said Grandpa.
Lucy's Picture is a treasure book. The one I purchased is a big book and the pictures are big and bright, very pleasing to the eye for both adults and children. The story and gorgeous brightly colored illiustrations are priceless and will charm the reader. There is even an entire page showing Lucy's picture signed by Lucy herself.
This charming book captures the spirit of a little girl who meets her grandfather's special need. At the time I got this book my grandson was only almost three years old and it was when when I first wrote this review. There was no listing for this book at all on epinions at the time.
I wrote about "when he is a bit older he'd understand this story more" and he did. However, at almost three years old he even loved the story and pictures. At that age we even went outdoors and collected sand from his sandbox and made a walkway on large paper by placing a trail of paste and then the sand on top.
We crinkled crepe paper and made flowers. Mathew was very excited when he closed his eyes and touched the finished product. At that time of course, he didn't understand the whole concept of not being able to see. When he was about almost 4 we both saw a person wearing sunglasses and being led by a dog. When we got home we read the book again. As Mathew got older he understood so much better. I give Nicola Moon's "Lucy's Picture" credit for that. Had I not got the book he would not have learned so soon.
"Lucy's Picture" is a teaching tool for children to help them understand about blindness. The story highlights how the sense of feel is emphasized in a blind person. "It's the best picture I've ever seen" said Grandpa.
I recommend this book for children starting at age 3 1/2 and up and I highly recommend it for adults also. Mathew is eight now and still asks for the book. His little sister will come to understand and love the book in another year just as he has.
The book is very hard to find in hardcover. Paperbacks are sold in all book stores now.
I want to thank Stefanie Crane (Dramastef) for placing this book on epinions for me so I could finally present my review. Also MaryTara for help in contacting the correct person to do this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Stef and MaryTara.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Lark729_89
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Location: Massachusetts
Reviews written: 315
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About Me:
Life's not about waiting for storms to pass...it's about dancing in the rain.
Vivian Greene
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