The Word Collector

by Sonja Wimmer, Sonja Wimmer (Illustrator), Jon Brokenbrow (Translator)

Overview

Winner at the 2011 Moonbeam Children's Book AwardsThe Word Collector is a magical, heart-warming story about a young girl who shares her love of words to help people feeling lost and blue.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788415241348
Publisher:	Cuento de Luz
Publication date:	04/01/2012
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	631,669
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sonja Wimmer loves painting pictures and telling stories. After studying and working for some years as a graphic designer in her hometown of Munich and Brussels, she decided to pack her suitcase and move to Barcelona to study Illustration at the Llotja Arts and Crafts School. Since then, she lives between brushes and stories, working as an illustrator and freelance for publishers and other customers worldwide. She has received many awards for her work in the United States, most notably Gold Medal for Best Illustrator for The Word Collector.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A title that leaps and spirals with energy, let's hope we're lucky enough to see other books by Ms. Wimmer float across the pond to our side, and soon. Luminous luminous luminous." —www.blog.SchoolLibraryJournal.com

"The book has a positive message and is really quite delightful to read."  —OC Family

"Beautiful, haunting descriptions of words and the power they hold will make this a favorite for linguaphiles, both old and new." —Kirkus Reviews (March 2012)

"Children who like words that sing and hop, words that are long and complicated, will love this very unique picture book. The text is incorporated into the delightful collage artwork so that Luna's story dances across the pages." —www.LookingGlassReview.com

"The text is scattered about the page in a free form pattern, much like concrete poetry, and would provide inspiration for children to start their own collection of words in various languages." —Association for Library Service to Children

"Lovingly illustrated with vivid colors and precious details."  —The Children's Book Review blog

"This book infuses an interestingly unique layout of phrases and words that tango across the page as they tell the positively magical story."  —The Corner on Character blog 

"[The Word Collector] will capture any reader, young and old, who loves language and words. With lyrical text, beautiful language and illustrations, this is a delightful addition to any home or classroom library."—"A Picture Book a Day" blog

Editorial Reviews

A young girl shares her love of words and their power in this fanciful tribute to language. Luna, who lives in the sky, collects words. "Words so beautiful that they make you cry, friendly words that embrace your soul.... / Magic words, delicious words... magnificent words." But one day the words stop coming. Luna learns that the people have become too busy to remember the importance of words. With her collection, she travels across the land. Where Luna finds darkness and despair she plants words of compassion and love. When her words run out, people begin to create--and generously share--new words. Playful type and placement of text personify the words, as they luminously glow in a jar, fly in a cage or float from a page, seamlessly integrated with the images. Wimmer's illustrations, done with a European sensibility, are even and rendered with the same texture throughout, perhaps to allow the words to shine. Unfortunately, while the text appears free-spirited, the painting is labored and overworked. It is a testament to her impeccable design that the spreads are visually interesting, despite the drawings, and manage to create a compelling story. An addendum that reproduces the text in conventional layout is included to give readers clarity, as the spreads are so whimsically designed. Beautiful, haunting descriptions of words and the power they hold will make this a favorite for linguaphiles, both old and new. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

"It is a testament to her impeccable design that the spreads are visually interesting and manage to create a compelling story. Beautiful, haunting descriptions of words and the power they hold will make this a favorite for linguaphiles, both old and new." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher