Blueberry Girl

This book is actually poem. The title comes from the fact that the mother for whom the poem was originally written called her baby bump a "blueberry girl" (I'm guessing due to one of the size comparisons that happens during the various ultrasounds) and it stuck. Since the poem was was written while the baby was still in utero, it is a great gift to give expecting parents of little girls especially but boys will still enjoy the sentiment too.It not a children's book like Dr. Seuss or Eric Carle, rather this book you both end up memorizing because it very rhythmically states all that mom hopes for her new baby. The good and the not so good. More conservative reviewers quote lines such as "bad husbands at thirty" or "dull days at forty" as grounds that the book is dark, or negative. Au contraire mon fraire! Gaiman is saying none of these possible negatives will bow the blueberry girl because she will have truth, clarity and love to guide and support her. All of this he asks from the powers that be described as ladies of various abstract concepts like "never-ynever-you-mind" or "merciful night".Christians will say it is a Wiccan or other nature based religious prayer, but unless you know Gaiman personally who knows. If the fact that this "prayer for a blueberry girl" does not refer to YOUR god can over shadow the truth and the love in the message then by all means do not buy this book. But, if your hope for your little one is to be strong enough to face any troubles that come her way whether they be "nightmares at 3 or bad husbands at 30" this the book to get.To get the lilt and meter to feel right, I first read this book silently to myself then again quietly out loud before the first read to my daughter. It makes the rhyme come to life for her and she recites the few parts that she knows already by heart. I am not the crying type but this book brings me darn close every time I read it to my 2 year old. She loves the sing song motion of the poem and enjoys pointing out all the animals that she knows. This book is about sharing the love you feel, rather than making the words make perfect sense to a kid under 5. It is not a silly children's book. It is a sentimental book with lots of talking points should you chose to do that. The time you spend just talking about the lines and the pictures will make this one book you may keep until your little blueberry has blueberries of their own.

A beautiful and encouraging book with gorgeous illustrations

Besides how fantastic I happen to believe this book is, it flows nicely for reading and for encouraging children in strengthening their writing formats. I have always felt great sharing this story with our kids, as well as many others (it's been gifted many times). Any harsh feelings someone may have about it would likely need to reflect on themselves first.

Very good book for little girls

Gave this book to my 3.5 year old daughter for Easter. It’s an amazing and empowering book. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful! Such a magical and whimsical book! If you have a daughter, definitely get it for her!

This book was a gift to my granddaughter. She is three years old, and she has the stages of her life to live. This book by Neil Gaiman is a precious gift from me to her.Girls who grow to women, everyone goes through these levels, some levels are from the other place, and some are from Heaven. Each of us remembers our journey, and as mothers, grandmothers and aunts we want the best for our girls. The lovely illustrations by Charles Vess are so necessary to the feeling that the book describes. This is a book for all women from birth to death, there is a lot of wisdom imparted in these lyrical phrases. We want our Ladies to be kind and full of grace and favor. We want our ladies to be full of joy and have little sorrow. Truth she must find in herself. This lyrical lullaby poem fashions a lovely view of the growth of a girl into a woman. For every woman to read and to savor.Highly Recommended. prisrob 08-12-12 American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Novel Neverwhere: A Novel

I have long been a fan of Neil Gaiman. His writing style is engrossing and the worlds he creates rich and full to the point of bursting from the pages, barely contained by the binding of the books in which they live. So when I saw this beautifully illustrated book I bought it for my brand-new niece without a second thought. How happy I was that my blind-faith in Mr. Gaiman's skills was so richly rewarded. I read the book out loud to my niece (who is still just an infant, barely 6 months old), her mother (my dear, older sister), and my so-very-proud mother (the proudest new Mimi ever), the words worked a special magic. My niece watches and listens to everything around, soaking up her new world and this book was a vibrant addition to it. She stared at the pages as I read, and the words are so sweet and filled with love and hope for the Blueberry girl (whomever that Blueberry girl is in your life) all of us were moved to tears. Gaiman is a truly gifted wordsmith and the illustrations by Charles Vess are the only images that could possibly do justice to them. Two incredible talents making literary magic together? Yes, please!

It's tough to put Gaiman in a specific category. He's written children's books, adult fiction, graphic novels, fantasy, horror, comedy, many different genres. Just when you think you have him pinned, along comes something like Blueberry Girl. It's short - perfect to read to my daughter, now 2 years old. Beautifully illustrated by Charles Vess which blends with the text so naturally that the book seems to sing to you as you turn each page. He has written down, in words what I could never hope to articulate on my own, my own hopes and dreams for my daughter. Gaiman has a habit of doing that - writing things from my own heart. Given that I've never met the man, it would be unnerving, were I not so grateful for his talent. If you want to put Gaiman into a genre or category, make it the "must read" category. If you have a daughter, sister, niece or even a family friend who has one, get Blueberry Girl. Please.

So, originally, Neil Gaiman had written this book for his good friend Tori Amos, who was pregnant and expecting a baby girl. It was never meant to be published, but many years later, he found it, read it again, and decided to make it into a cute children's book about a brave, fearless and liberated young girl.I can't say I was a huge fan of the illustrations, but I definitely enjoyed this story, and I read it at a time where I had just given birth to my own baby girl, so it meant more to me because of that.

I so love this book. A whimsical prayer full of hopes and dreams and sunshine for any daughter whatever her age. A perfect gift for a new born baby girl but equally perfect for a young girl reaching her teenage years or as she leaves for university. The illustrations are as equally charming as the words. I think this book will become one of those keepsake books to hand down through the generations from mother to daughter

It was a gift for a two year old girl, her first introduction to Neil Gaiman, what can I say.. parents loved it..

Gorgeous book with equally beautiful words and illustrations. A good gift for a newborn baby as the story is 'a prayer' for her happiness. From 2 weeks, I think my baby loves the sounds of the words in the book.

Brilliant. Read it as a poem at my daughters naming ceremony. Split the crowd as some people get it and some people don't. I saw other internet reviews describing it as weird, pagan and blasphemous. That must be why I love it so much!!! Not so keen on some of the illustrations but the sentiments are great.