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If You Listen. Illustrations by Marc Simont
This loving tale about loss from two-time Caldecott Honor winner Charlotte Zolotow is a gentle, reassuring approach to a subject that's always challenging for parents to discuss with children. In it, a mother comforts her daughter about the absence of the child's father by explaining that if she listens hard, she'll feel him far away sending love to her. Our new edition of this timeless story is accompanied by stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Stefano Vitale.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
54 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Zolotow
98 books78 followersCharlotte Zolotow was a distinguished American writer, editor, and publisher who made a lasting mark on children's literature. Over her career, she authored around 70 picture book texts and edited works by prominent writers including Paul Zindel, Robert Lipsyte, and Francesca Lia Block. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she studied writing at the University of Wisconsin Madison and later joined Harper & Bros in New York, where she worked her way up from secretary to publisher. Her own books were published by over 20 houses, and she became known for her poetic and emotionally insightful texts. Zolotow’s most celebrated works include When the Wind Stops, William’s Doll, and River Winding. Her story "Enemies" was featured in The Big Book for Peace alongside other notable authors. She lived for many years in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Her legacy endures not only through her own writing but also through the Charlotte Zolotow Award, established in 1998 to honor outstanding picture book texts. Her contributions helped shape modern children's literature with sensitivity, elegance, and enduring relevance.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 2, 2012
Award winning author Charlotte Zolotow has written over 70 children’s books in her career, and If You Listen is another fantastic one. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, Zolotow tells the story of a young girl missing her father.
The book begins with a little girl asking her mother how a person can tell if someone still loves them if they aren’t around. The story goes on to tell us that her father isn’t around, and she doesn’t know if he still loves her if she can’t hear, touch, or see him. The little girl’s mother tells her that if she really listens to herself, she can feel her father’s love even though he isn’t around.
This is an excellent book to help children who have lost a loved one understand that their love is still around, even though the physical person isn’t anymore. This is a beautiful, honest, and thoughtful piece by Zolotow.
The book begins with a little girl asking her mother how a person can tell if someone still loves them if they aren’t around. The story goes on to tell us that her father isn’t around, and she doesn’t know if he still loves her if she can’t hear, touch, or see him. The little girl’s mother tells her that if she really listens to herself, she can feel her father’s love even though he isn’t around.
This is an excellent book to help children who have lost a loved one understand that their love is still around, even though the physical person isn’t anymore. This is a beautiful, honest, and thoughtful piece by Zolotow.
December 24, 2013
GENTLE MATERNAL ADVICE FOR COPING WITH LOSS
A litte girl yearns for her long-absent father to reutrn homne. We are not told where he is or why he has been separated from his family for so long, but her young heart aches for the lost paternal relationship.
In this gentle, compassionate book without a plot a wise mother tries to comfort her wistful daughter by teaching her secrets of the heart. Touching illustrations by Stefano Vitale focus on the child's desolate environment and how her view of nature is shaped--even inspired--by visions of her father as she rememebrs him. For children 4-8.
A litte girl yearns for her long-absent father to reutrn homne. We are not told where he is or why he has been separated from his family for so long, but her young heart aches for the lost paternal relationship.
In this gentle, compassionate book without a plot a wise mother tries to comfort her wistful daughter by teaching her secrets of the heart. Touching illustrations by Stefano Vitale focus on the child's desolate environment and how her view of nature is shaped--even inspired--by visions of her father as she rememebrs him. For children 4-8.
May 24, 2014
This lyrical, evocative text stands open its own and even serves as mentor text for young writers working on symbolism, figurative language. It also serves very concretely for .supporting the emotional concerns of children yearning for a missing parent or other important person in their lives. This could be due to death, illness, imprisonment, divorce, military or career absence, or even abandonment. The specific strategy for self-comforting .is very realistic and healthy and the resolution kids also realistic... "But I wish he'd come home."
April 12, 2015
This loving tale about loss from two-time Caldecott Honor winner Charlotte Zolotow is a gentle, reassuring approach to a subject that's always challenging for parents to discuss with children. In it, a mother comforts her daughter about the absence of the child's father by explaining that if she listens hard, she'll feel him far away sending love to her. Our new edition of this timeless story is accompanied by stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Stefano Vitale.
April 18, 2016
I love the illustrations in this book! I also like the ideas it presents.. they are deep and make you think, which I like in a book. Though it is a little above the heads of kids, I think it is still a neat book for them to look at and read through... it is the kind they can grow up with and fully understand when they are older.
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June 24, 2019It is a good story, with a wonderful message: a parent's love never goes away, even if they aren't nearby. The illustrations, while beautiful, seem dark for the message.
November 3, 2014
Lilting, comforting Zolotow style with an old-fashioned Southwest sort of setting for the mother and daughter interactions. "If you listen hard you'll feek someone far away sending love to you." That sums up the story and the sentiment. Description of a little girl's longing for her dad.
January 4, 2010
A little preachy, but we like it anyway.
March 11, 2011
The illustrations are beautiful. It's a good story for kids and helping them deal with loss.
January 25, 2012
Beautiful celebration of life and finding the peace to listen to loved ones even if they're far away.
December 20, 2012
Wow. Poignant read, following recent events that have touched us all.
May 19, 2017
Lovely book, a little sad, about a girl missing her father and listening for his love for her.
September 26, 2022
This isn't a child-friendly book, I'm afraid, and while the new illustrations from a newer edition are certainly interesting I'm not sure they help the child reader to deal with separation from a parent. The theme of the book is how to feel loved when the person is not around. It is a very hard subject to explain, but I don't think it is done well in this book.
The text goes over the children's heads with its symbolism. It basically tells the child to listen and it gives sometimes comparisons, like listening to the rose petal falling or compares it to a night outside a bedroom window. I feel like more useful would be to suggest the child tries to remember the happy times, look at photos, try to remember the happy outings and hugs etc If the child felt loved already, it's enough to go back to memories, you don't need to listen for thunder, dog barking or falling petals or apples. The book also tells the child to listen inside herself/himself, more suitable for a book about meditation.
It ends with "If you listen hard you'll feel someone far away sending love to you." It sounds nice in a poetic way, and it would be a nice ending if the book gave concrete examples earlier, but as it is, the ending doesn't save this book in my eyes, the whole thing is too metaphysical and vague.
The book is more like a poem, not a useful tool for children missing their parent.
The text goes over the children's heads with its symbolism. It basically tells the child to listen and it gives sometimes comparisons, like listening to the rose petal falling or compares it to a night outside a bedroom window. I feel like more useful would be to suggest the child tries to remember the happy times, look at photos, try to remember the happy outings and hugs etc If the child felt loved already, it's enough to go back to memories, you don't need to listen for thunder, dog barking or falling petals or apples. The book also tells the child to listen inside herself/himself, more suitable for a book about meditation.
It ends with "If you listen hard you'll feel someone far away sending love to you." It sounds nice in a poetic way, and it would be a nice ending if the book gave concrete examples earlier, but as it is, the ending doesn't save this book in my eyes, the whole thing is too metaphysical and vague.
The book is more like a poem, not a useful tool for children missing their parent.
August 29, 2021
A wonderful children's book with a powerful message for any age.
A little girl longs for her father to return home. We are not told why he has been separated from his family for so long, but her young heart aches for the loss of relationship.
It could be a loss due to death, illness, imprisonment, divorce, military or career absence, or even abandonment. The specific strategy for self-comforting is very realistic and healthy - stop and listen very hard, listen inside yourself (this oversimplifies the message but gives the main idea). Beautiful and touching.
A little girl longs for her father to return home. We are not told why he has been separated from his family for so long, but her young heart aches for the loss of relationship.
It could be a loss due to death, illness, imprisonment, divorce, military or career absence, or even abandonment. The specific strategy for self-comforting is very realistic and healthy - stop and listen very hard, listen inside yourself (this oversimplifies the message but gives the main idea). Beautiful and touching.
February 2, 2023
I thought this book was so special. The simplicity of this story was beautiful and kind at the same time and really tugged at my heartstrings. The message of this story was very heart felt and speaks to people who are longing for a loved one.
"...or the rustle of birds in the leaves of the trees, or the church bells from a church you can't see, or a board whistle in the fog. If you listen hard you'll feel someone far away sending love to you."
How sweet! I loved this book!
"...or the rustle of birds in the leaves of the trees, or the church bells from a church you can't see, or a board whistle in the fog. If you listen hard you'll feel someone far away sending love to you."
How sweet! I loved this book!
April 20, 2022
A mother tries to comfort her daughter with gentle lies about feeling love from an absent father. I don’t know where he is, but it’s not the child’s responsibility to find the parent’s love. Gorgeous illustrations where Modigliani meets de Chirico.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews