Surprise

by Mies van Hout

The anticipation, joy, challenges and rewards of parenthood, captured by Happy artist Mies van Hout.

From longing and expecting, via marvelling and nursing, to listening and eventually letting go – Mies van Hout has created a picture book that will conjure a lasting smile on the face of every parent and parent-to-be.

Just as fish expressed the emotions of Happy and monsters big and small portrayed the stages of Friends, Mies van Hout's birds of wonder convey the journey of parenthood with colorful exuberance. 

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Art, Family, Animals, Childrens, International

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I grew up in a village in the south of Holland called Hapert. My father allways told us stories. When he was telling we were all sitting around him. I also liked reading, but most of the time I was drawing.
When I was very young I knew that I wanted to become a drawer. And I didn't know what to do otherwise.

http://www.miesvanhout.nl/engelsoverm...

Reviews

[Eva Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was O.K. It was about birds and words. The pictures looked like they were made on a chalkboard. Mama liked it more than me, so I'll say it was a good one because of her. But I thought it was just too scratchy and random.

[Rossella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desiderare.
Sperare.
Attendere.
Stupirsi.
Nutrire.
Confortare.
Accudire.
Pazientare.
Divertirsi.
Ascoltare.
Incoraggiare.
Lasciar andare.

In stupendi disegni e poche perfette parole, una tenerissima verità d'amore per tutte le mamme verso i loro piccoli.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously love this guy's books. If I had a kid I would make his illustrations the center of my nursery.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birds wait in anticipation until the little eggs can hatch. Then the parent birds care for their little ones and comfort them and encourage them. They listen and tease and enjoy their time together cherishing one another. Eventually the little birds learn to fly away on their own, and the parents must let them go.

I loved the artwork in this book! The art really says it all. The text is limited to one word per page, the word describing the emotion of the bird. The expressive lines and colors in the art say everything that needs to be said.

This is such a great way to teach children to recognize different emotions. I really like that many of the emotions are similar. Longing and Hoping are similar, but have a slightly different connotation from Expecting. At each step of the way, the parent bird is more and more certain that their little bird-child is coming. And then they show their care and love for their child until that little bird is ready to leave the nest and fly on their own.

I am delighted with this book! It's so beautiful and meaningful!

This book was marked as "Nothing Found" on the Screen It First website, indicating that there is no sensitive content in the book. https://screenitfirst.com/book/surpri...

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of few words, but gorgeous, eye-popping illustrations, and FEELINGS. The beautiful artwork (oil pastels? chalk?), is the real star here, but the emotions conjured by the single words - caring, comforting, cherishing - are enough to bring tears to any parent's eye.

I'm honestly not sure how children will respond to this book, but I would use it as an inspiration for art projects. Have your little ones try using crayons on dark construction paper, then marvel at the results.

And don't forget to hug them for their efforts. They'll be gone before you know it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pajama Press for sharing.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had a nest of baby birds in our backyard, so this was the perfect story to read to the kids. They could relate the different stages in this book to what we've seen with the baby birds in the nest.

It is about parenthood, from yearning for babies to letting them fly free.

The artwork is very different and interesting.

I wasn't really sure who the intended audience was. Since it is only one word per page, it is very quick to read - could even be read to babies. It has good vocabulary too, with words like yearning and cherishing, comforting, marveling. It could also be read to older children, especially if you are discussing baby birds in a nest, like we were. But with a parenting point of view I almost feel like it may resonate the most with parents or expectant parents.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected find for me. Using a vibrant chalk style on top of a black background the author/illustrator uses simple art to show us the meanings of the one word text on each corresponding page. The story follows a mommy bird raising her young and the many emotions and thoughts that go with raising our children. I shared this with my 4 year old and 18 months old and they love it. The simplicity appeals to them and they love pointing out the details in the pictures and the feelings that they may be feeling. This is a book we will read over and over again. I received this as an ebook ARC but have to add it to my home collection because we loved it so much. Great gift book for all families.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing about this book is the beautiful images, bright bold colors against a black background. There is not really a story, but yet there is a story of parenting and watching our baby birds leave the nest. Not sure that this is enough for young children. It wouldn't be great for early readers as there aren't many words in the book, a quick read unless you want to discuss the story more in depth. The images are super eye catching, but probably not one that I would purchase as it lacks much content for children to listen or read. Thanks Netgalley and Pajama Press for the opportunity to read, or to just look at this beautiful book.

[Ande Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise is a book about a mother bird watching her babies grow. The illustrations were very unique and eye-catching. This was a picture book that seemed more geared towards parents than children, although both would enjoy. The prose in the book was sparse, but the illustrations made up for it in my opinion.

Thanks to Net Galley, Mies van Hout, and Pajama Press for the chance to review this advanced copy!

[Erika Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures beautifully capture emotions between mama and baby from expecting a baby bird til it grows up. There is no sadness in this book. One word on a page; words, like, marveling, caring, cherishing. I like that the words are action words. These words could not have been captured so well without the beautiful, chalk artwork. I give this book 10 stars.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful book on mother/parenthood told in single word concepts and messily gorgeous illustrations. I do not know how Mies does it but these pictures perfectly and colorfully capture emotion. Amazing!!! Plus a child can learn a bit about the lifecycle of birds - art plus science!

[Natalya Botero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an OIB and is about expecting parents and they emotions they may feel. I am unsure how this book would fit in my future classroom, as I feel an adult is needed for full understanding of context of the book. Although it does include amazing illustrations

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative, telling the whole story of motherhood through single verbs and illustrated vignettes. I appreciated the illustrated details within the words that reinforced the idea, but overall the illustrations were not to my taste.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little bird of a book. I imagine it prompts much art from children who love it.

[Sharni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple but with startlingly colourful, evocative drawings

[Heydi Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could be a simple introduction to the reproductive process but other than that it’s just an interesting book with great illustrations.

[Y.Poston]

a beautiful exploration of motherhood
fun illustrations

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely chalk drawings of birds—mommies with their chicks. This is mainly a picture book—bright and vivid pictures on black backgrounds. Great pictures that celebrate birds and family.

[Maaike Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoe je een heel verhaal met zo weinig worden kan maken, super tof en mooie illustraties.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous, stunning book is a visual feast. Each bird is portrayed as an adjective. The cover/title shows a baby bird saying "Surprise." This book is a beautiful surprise!

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps it is because I am not a parent and never plan to be one I couldn't fully apprecaite this book. It is a book about the stages of motherhood from yearning all the way through to the cildren growing and letting them go. I will say, however, the illustrations were superb! It looks to me like Mie van Hout used chalk and oil pastels. What a great combination!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty amazing how a bird can express so many human emotions so vividly. The author/illustrator takes an adult bird through all the stages of life, beginning with yearning all the way through the letting go part when the little bird is sent off on its own. I loved the illustration of the mother bird as she listens to her offspring. I was moved by the sentiments and the illustrations in this lovely book. Something tells me that many parents will be able to relate to this bird's experiences.

Having reread this picture book now this it's being reissued after the original 2013 publishing date, I'm still just as enamored with the artwork, chalk and pastel on black paper, as I was upon first reading it. How in the world this talented visual artist captured the essence of parenting so beautifully is beyond me. Parents will love it and want it to share it with their offspring. As a side note, this version begins with longing instead of yearning.

[Maureen Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verbs hand lettered in white oil crayon on richly colored paper detail the life cycle beginning with a parent “yearning” for a chick. Different birds, rendered in bright oil pastel on black paper, are “caring,” “cherishing,” “teasing,” and “listening,” and, at the end, eventually, “letting go.” Details decorating the letters of each gerund emphasize meaning; for instance, there are expectant eyes in the “o” and “p” and a yellow yolk at the center of the “g” in “hoping.” Exuberant magenta endpapers invert interior color motif with orange, yellow & scant black highlights. Overall, the reader’s senses are saturated with color, emotion, and the opportunity to expand on the surprises inspired by minimal text and effusive images.

[Amy Seto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using just one word per page, this striking book looks at the many emotions of bird parenting from yearning for a baby bird, marveling at a newborn, comforting a crying little one, to finally letting that baby go. Originally published in The Netherlands, the illustrations, featuring vibrant colors and textured lines against black backgrounds, are the highlight of this gorgeous book. The concepts in this book are at times abstract, making it a great book for one-on-one discussions about emotions between caregiver and child.

Full Review at http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Venus · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this one-word-per-page picture book, Mies Van Hout creates a world of color of beauty. The simple idea of a bird dreaming of becoming a parent and the fruition of that dream is mesmerizingly simple and yet contrasts against the complex subjects of dreams, love, listening, and letting go. The oil pastels on the black canvas are striking and held the interest of my 2 year old nephew very well.

Review original posted here at Children's Atheneum.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vibrantly colored bird on the black cover caught my eye. The story of a bird mother is simply told, one descriptive word and one picture on each spread that tugged at my mama heartstrings. From yearning to letting go, all I kept thinking as I read was that I would love to give this to a new parent.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, why do books like this choke me up unexpectedly? Yikes, must be the mommy in me...definitely would recommend this to all the mommies out there (but oh that last page--it's what our goal is and how we rear up our children to succeed and stand on their own as God wills them, but to let go of Madam will be so difficult).

[Char Hight · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, the illustrations are beautiful. Each picture could be its own artwork. This very simple picture book is very rich in vocabulary, more specifically verbs. For older children, this could be use to them how they can use one word to describe a picture. Words like yearning,comforting, cherishing, and more would be great to begin a unit on verbs. Grades K-2

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has excellent pictures and is a touching story about children and the natural cycle of life with parents leading to independence. There are very few words, which makes it a good book to use to work on narrative skills and dialogic reading.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet. For parents...expecting through empty nesters.
Van Hout always delivers with her delightful illustrations.
Happy is still a favorite.