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Smelling Sunshine
All around the world in cities, towns and villages—large and small—clothes are washed. They are hung to dry in the breeze and sunshine.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2013
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 17, 2021
A great multi-cultural book centering around the topic of doing laundry. It's filled with amazing art and a great look at how the simple act of cleaning and drying your clothes is so varied through out our world. No one way of doing the laundry is better than another.
February 27, 2014
I am mesmerized by the creativity and poetic voice of this talented author from the colorful cover to the iconic end page illustration of a laundry line that encircles the world. I can't wait to read it with my grandchildren! Through the merge of text and image I am carried back to the days of helping my great grandmother, grandmother, and my own mother outdoors with the laundry as a child. The line "We play and hide in the wet folds of laundry, lost, then found, and lost again" takes me back to a Proustian reminiscence where I experience the sensory joys of those days and can actually smell the sunshine again.
The multicultural aspect of the story renders a cozy sense of ecological connection with all who still hang the laundry on a line. Constance Anderson's inspirational book takes the art of collage to a new level. Every page is a work of art. I recommend it to all readers who appreciate art, poetry, and culture.
The multicultural aspect of the story renders a cozy sense of ecological connection with all who still hang the laundry on a line. Constance Anderson's inspirational book takes the art of collage to a new level. Every page is a work of art. I recommend it to all readers who appreciate art, poetry, and culture.
February 16, 2018
Time to put up a clothesline!
Anderson makes the simple act of hanging clothes to dry on a line universal and mystical. This story invites its readers to smell the sunshine - you'll be happy you did!
Anderson makes the simple act of hanging clothes to dry on a line universal and mystical. This story invites its readers to smell the sunshine - you'll be happy you did!
February 6, 2014
A simple poem about doing laundry with families from around the world, illustrated with paint and collage.
March 17, 2018
Inclusive book showing children/families doing laundry around the world.
August 14, 2024
Beautiful illustrations and well done book.
October 17, 2024
Book is about doing laundry! Taps into lots of sensory aspects, especially smell. Pretty unique!
August 20, 2014
Constance Anderson is both writer and illustrator of this book for children ages 8 to10. Smelling Sunshine is 32 pages of colorful, multi-cultural beauty. Full-page illustrations of people all around the world performing the same task, doing wash and drying it on a line, creates a unifying feeling.
Why did I request a review copy of this book for my blog, Italophile Book Reviews? Because I am always amazed when I see people photographing drying laundry in Italy, strung over streets, or hanging from racks off balconies sometime even covered by pieces of plastic to protect it from the rain. Hundreds, actually, probably thousands of photographs of Italian families' private apparel can be found in tourists' albums after they return home!
Why do people love to photograph Italian laundry lines? I can only imagine it has to do with what this author touches on, the emotive memories we have of:
•seeing our laundry hung out to dry in the sun and wind,
•the rush to bring the laundry in when raindrops start to fall,
•the folding of pieces too large for one person to handle alone,
•the smell of bedding that has dried outside on a line.
Read the full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
Why did I request a review copy of this book for my blog, Italophile Book Reviews? Because I am always amazed when I see people photographing drying laundry in Italy, strung over streets, or hanging from racks off balconies sometime even covered by pieces of plastic to protect it from the rain. Hundreds, actually, probably thousands of photographs of Italian families' private apparel can be found in tourists' albums after they return home!
Why do people love to photograph Italian laundry lines? I can only imagine it has to do with what this author touches on, the emotive memories we have of:
•seeing our laundry hung out to dry in the sun and wind,
•the rush to bring the laundry in when raindrops start to fall,
•the folding of pieces too large for one person to handle alone,
•the smell of bedding that has dried outside on a line.
Read the full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
December 14, 2013
Smelling Sunshine by Constance Anderson is a picturebook that focuses on the simple joys of doing laundry together. Children and their parents, in a few different locations, are handling the normal laundry day tasks and enjoying the time outside, and the time together.
Smelling Sunshine has one highpoint, the illustrations. Anderson uses a combination of collage and paint to make images that are simply wonderful. The sky and sea particularly seem to come alive, and you could almost feel the breeze in the air. The idea of showing children the joys of taking part in a regular chore, and that it is something universal, is well chosen and important. However, I felt that the choice of cultures to depict was fairly narrow, and that the prose was not half as interesting as the images.
I would recommend Smelling Sunshine for families that are trying to get their children to lend a hand on laundry day, or to show that everyone shares this basic task. However, it is not a book that I would search for or widely recommend.
Smelling Sunshine has one highpoint, the illustrations. Anderson uses a combination of collage and paint to make images that are simply wonderful. The sky and sea particularly seem to come alive, and you could almost feel the breeze in the air. The idea of showing children the joys of taking part in a regular chore, and that it is something universal, is well chosen and important. However, I felt that the choice of cultures to depict was fairly narrow, and that the prose was not half as interesting as the images.
I would recommend Smelling Sunshine for families that are trying to get their children to lend a hand on laundry day, or to show that everyone shares this basic task. However, it is not a book that I would search for or widely recommend.
November 16, 2015
I like books about daily routines and tasks that everyone can relate to. Smelling sunshine talks about laundry. The kind of laundry routine we don’t usually see in urban homes in North America. I think kids in privileged areas would be surprised to see how laundry was done in the past or still is done in many other parts of the world. Hand washing in rivers, hanging clothes on lines in the backyard or between narrow building walls.
The illustrations are rich and multicultural, showing people all over the world doing the simple chore of washing and drying their clothes in the air. The language is poetic.
I got a digital copy of this book through NetGalley. The formatting sometimes is odd for these copies. I wish I could see the hard copy to see how the illustrations and text were laid out.
The illustrations are rich and multicultural, showing people all over the world doing the simple chore of washing and drying their clothes in the air. The language is poetic.
I got a digital copy of this book through NetGalley. The formatting sometimes is odd for these copies. I wish I could see the hard copy to see how the illustrations and text were laid out.
November 11, 2013
Full review is available at my blog:
http://destinydawnlong.wordpress.com/...
Excerpt:
I liked the concept behind the book. Hanging up laundry to dry on the line can be an enjoyable experience. It gives you a chance to be outside, connecting with the world. Anderson touched on these feelings in her book. Unfortunately the prose fell flat for me. To start with, the first 13 pages are just one clumsy, run-on sentence. By the time I reached the end of the sentence, I couldn’t remember how it had begun. After that, there are a series of awkward sentences–including one that wasn’t even grammatically correct. The only section that actually worked for me in terms of the writing was the very end.
http://destinydawnlong.wordpress.com/...
Excerpt:
I liked the concept behind the book. Hanging up laundry to dry on the line can be an enjoyable experience. It gives you a chance to be outside, connecting with the world. Anderson touched on these feelings in her book. Unfortunately the prose fell flat for me. To start with, the first 13 pages are just one clumsy, run-on sentence. By the time I reached the end of the sentence, I couldn’t remember how it had begun. After that, there are a series of awkward sentences–including one that wasn’t even grammatically correct. The only section that actually worked for me in terms of the writing was the very end.
December 7, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by this simple picture book. The illustrations are vivid and show children and parents in a variety of locations and cultures, all washing and hanging laundry together. Although each have their own methods for washing and drying— from washing in rivers to drying on clotheslines in fields, apartment buildings, and small backyards— the book makes the point that the world is connected by this one simple act.
I remember hanging clothes on the line with my mom when I was a kid, and this book makes me hope that children still experience that and can connect to its loveliness in both prose and artwork. I hope all children can relate to “smelling the sunshine” in their blankets at night, as Anderson chose that moment to end the book on a comforting note.
I remember hanging clothes on the line with my mom when I was a kid, and this book makes me hope that children still experience that and can connect to its loveliness in both prose and artwork. I hope all children can relate to “smelling the sunshine” in their blankets at night, as Anderson chose that moment to end the book on a comforting note.
January 24, 2014
A book that makes me want to go do laundry - who'd have thought?
This is a sweet picture book with interesting, high color collage-type illustrations that gently shows children and mamas doing laundry around the world. Sadly, I do my laundry in a washer and dryer, so this doesn't really apply to my kids, but I like it just the same. I really like the ending when the children are scared and smell their sheets to "smell the sunshine" - sweet image.
This is a sweet picture book with interesting, high color collage-type illustrations that gently shows children and mamas doing laundry around the world. Sadly, I do my laundry in a washer and dryer, so this doesn't really apply to my kids, but I like it just the same. I really like the ending when the children are scared and smell their sheets to "smell the sunshine" - sweet image.
September 2, 2016
I like the mixed media illustrations; I don't see many picture books lately with collage or mixed media artwork. For kids in America, this book is a nice reminder that not everyone has a washer and/or dryer in their house -- and that's not necessarily a bad thing! The fun sentiments in this book made me almost wish I could line-dry my laundry, so mine could "smell of sunshine" too!
Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.
Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.
April 9, 2014
I wonder how many children still know what sunshine smells like. Yet my own family does so it's very easy to relate to this book. What's really neat is how this book ties that experience to children and adults all over the world. Beautiful pictures and the perfect story about something we all understand. One to add to my favorites. :)
May 8, 2014
Minimal text and colorful illustrations combine to share the magic and comfort of hanging laundry outside to dry in the beautiful sunshine. It is a family event, bringing mother and child close together. When the child is scared at night they just have to "smell the sunshine" in the blanket covering them to make them feel better.
March 11, 2016
Smelling Sunshine by Constance Anderson
The story is age appropriate, and children involving. The story is also a good night story. The story helps the children to understand the importance of a family working together outside.
On a laundry day, clean clothes hang outside. The children play hide and seek under the wet clothes. When going to bed they smell the sunshine on their bed sheets.
The story is age appropriate, and children involving. The story is also a good night story. The story helps the children to understand the importance of a family working together outside.
On a laundry day, clean clothes hang outside. The children play hide and seek under the wet clothes. When going to bed they smell the sunshine on their bed sheets.
April 7, 2016
This book takes you on a journey around the world through the lens doing laundry. Anderson's bold, richly-composed collages bring a unique vision to this book, revealing subtle aspects of different cultures. Smelling Sunshine is a joyous celebration of a ritual that we all share; it will definitely transport children and their parents on an inviting tour of the world "according to laundry."
March 26, 2016
Smelling Sunshine
by Constance Anderson
On a laundry day ,the family cleaned the clothes outside. The children played hide and seek under the wet clothes. when going to bed they smell the fresh sunshine on their bed sheets. The book is involving and teaches the children that you can use sunshine to dry your clothes.
by Constance Anderson
On a laundry day ,the family cleaned the clothes outside. The children played hide and seek under the wet clothes. when going to bed they smell the fresh sunshine on their bed sheets. The book is involving and teaches the children that you can use sunshine to dry your clothes.
January 21, 2014
I love the simplicity of this book and the collage artwork. Great book to encourage kids to hang their clothes out to dry. Includes pictures of multicultural people without being cheesy. Bright colors. A few words rhyme.
September 2, 2016
This is a cute multicultural book about doing laundry. It would make a good companion to Bread, Bread, Bread and Shoes, Shoes, Shoes as they all show the similarities in children's lives around the world. The pictures were pretty, but the text left a little to be desired.
March 18, 2016
when it comes to domestic chores, hanging laundry is about as universal as it gets, and the activity is presented here as an intimate, positive experience for parent and child to share.
I will used this book when is time to learn and discuss about different country cultures.
I will used this book when is time to learn and discuss about different country cultures.
March 11, 2016
A helpful book for parents to read to their child so they can begin doing chores. It shows verbal imagery, and lyrical text. Vibrant and mixed-cultural illustrations. Includes a varieties of patterns on the fabrics. Great book for preschoolers.
March 13, 2016
This is a good mutli-cultural book for when teaching diffrent cultures around the world. All pages are full of colorfull drawings and illustrations of diffrent types of enviornments. In my opinion this book helps children to imagine scents.
April 6, 2016
This is a very cute multicultural book to have in the reading center of the classroom. The illustrations are very bright and eye catching, great for teaching children about different culture and task around the world.
August 19, 2016
I loved this book. Does it take me back to my childhood-Yes!
Perfectly chosen colors for the illustrations are beautiful.
There is a lot to share here in this book about the world, the lost art of hanging clothes out to dry and the opportunity to be outside while doing a chore.
Perfectly chosen colors for the illustrations are beautiful.
There is a lot to share here in this book about the world, the lost art of hanging clothes out to dry and the opportunity to be outside while doing a chore.
November 13, 2013
ARC supplied by publisher via NetGalley
August 12, 2016
The pictures are beautiful. The wording, unfortunately, is choppy and doesn't convey the floating-on-the-breeze images in the artwork.
May 2, 2014
Families all over the world are portrayed doing laundry and hanging it out into the sunshine to dry.
March 5, 2016
This book has wonderful multicultural illustrations and it is very colorful. I was kind of lost on where the story was going. I would use this book to show children the different cultures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews