The Starry Giraffe - Hardcover

Bergmann, Andy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1481491008 ISBN 13: 9781481491006

Publisher: Aladdin, 2017

Synopsis

In the tradition of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, a generous giraffe gives away all of his apples to his hungry friends in this winning picture book that begs to be read aloud.

Poor starry giraffe: every time he reaches for a yummy red apple from a tall tree, one of his hungry friends comes along and the generous giraffe shares the treat. Just when you think he has nothing left to eat for himself, a turn of the page shows otherwise: the starry giraffe is at an apple orchard and there are apples and trees galore!

A disarmingly delightful debut picture book from Andrew Bergmann, an accomplished New York based artist and storyteller, The Starry Giraffe puts a surprising twist on a classic story.

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Bergmann is an accomplished New York based artist and storyteller. His work has been featured in The Washington Post, USA TODAY, and FastCompany and on CNN and NPR. Andy founded the Armadillo Puppet Theater in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, which has now been entertaining and educating children in Central American orphanages, hospitals, and rural areas for almost two decades.

Reviews

PreS-K—The starry giraffe, a creature with stars whimsically patterned over her body and long neck, is hungry, so she makes her way to an apple tree. Each time she's ready to bite into a juicy piece of fruit, however, she is interrupted by a ravenous animal who's unable to reach the high branches: a family of skunks, a mouse, and an old gray bunny, among others. Soon the generous giraffe has given away all the apples, and she is sad and hungry. Luckily, the tale ends on a happy though slightly abrupt note as the title character at last gives in to her cravings. The mixed-media art is rendered in an elegant collage style with plenty of white space, reminiscent of the work of Eric Carle or Leo Lionni but even softer and gentler. Bergmann's endearing animals have chunky bodies, made of rounded shapes, perched on thin, noodlelike legs. With few sentences per page, the story has a quiet simplicity, and though the conclusion might be less than satisfying, the narrative as a whole may prompt discussions: Is it always better to be selfless? Is it ever OK not to share? VERDICT A solid addition to larger collections, especially where patrons are seeking a more nuanced conversation on sharing.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Edition details

• Publisher: Aladdin
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1481491008
• ISBN 13: 9781481491006
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Bergmann Andy
• Number of pages: 40