I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
all things bright and beautiful
by
Ashley Bryan
picture book in Hardcover edition that was published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers on January 5, 2010 and has 40 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Illustrator: Ashley Bryan
A standalone picture book for young children — and any artists who appreciate beautiful work.
My Take
If you need a book to keep your kids busy with exploring the graphics…this is the one for you!
The inside covers are amazing with the different shapes Bryan has cut out. The immediate inside showcases on the scissors in the center…a precursor to the reader discovering that Bryan uses paper and scissors to create his art.
The actual text is the lyrics to Cecil F. Alexander’s hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and provides Bryan the excuse to create the mostly amazingly detailed and colorful graphics that cover the spread of each set of pages.
The first page spread is a busy, busy undersea of a whale, dolphin, sea lion, octopus, jellyfish, crab, starfishes, and lots and lots of fish. The next page opens up to a beach scene with more birds, palm tree, sunset, birds, and an open book that pulls you into yet another world you’ll want to explore.
The verse, “The Lord God made them all”, is an opportunity for Bryan to depict two couples and children from different ethnicities. The next page is an outburst of flowers and birds with two exhilarated people in their windows. It’s followed by a rainbow, a landscape flowing with rivers…oh, wait until you get to the “cold wind in the winter”… Oh, lord, it’s simply glorious. I’d love to cut it out and frame it!
Each page is a verse that Bryan explodes to the full with beauty and color.
Each page will make you smile and sink into its warmth.
The Cover and Title
The cover is glorious! A gorgeous rainbow of colors with papercut landscaping and a menagerie of critters. The author/illustrator’s name is in white at the top while the title is smaller, between land and sea in a deep blue.
The title is the hymn written by Cecil F. Alexander, all things bright and beautiful, with Bryan “illustrating” each one.
