The Wedding

by Angela Johnson, David Soman (Illustrator)

A heartwarming story has a little girl observing the preparations for her older sister's wedding and wondering what will happen and is accompanied by beautiful cut-paper art.

Genres: Picture Books, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Angela Johnson is the author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book When I Am Old with You; as well as A Sweet Smell of Roses, illustrated by Eric Velasquez; Just Like Josh Gibson, illustrated by Beth Peck; and I Dream of Trains, which was also illustrated by Loren Long. She has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels Heaven, Toning the Sweep, and The First Part Last. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio.

Reviews

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wedding by Angela Johnson is about a girl who's sister is getting married. She is told in the spring, and the wedding is in the fall. The story describes her emotions of missing her sister, and being happy for her sister, and how she was involved in the preparation for the wedding. She is the flower girl, and she and her relatives cry when her sister walks down the aisle. She is worried about her sister leaver her, and her family. In the end, they have the memories, and they all come together to think about the wedding.

I give this book 4/5 stars. It is good for younger readers, because on each page there is very few words. The story is more dependent on the illustrations. The illustrations are cute and detailed. The story also has a good message, that even when change is hard, it is not as bad as you think in the end. Great story for young readers, especially for a little girl who may be a flower girl in a wedding coming up.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/20/2018 ~~ This is a lovely story about the anticipation of an older sister's upcoming wedding, the boredom a younger sibling might feel during the preparations, and the bittersweet feelings about the changes that come after the day of the wedding.

I found this gem at a library book sale, weeded possibly because it's 20 years old. I found, though, that the story and illustrations held up very well. The book is also a perfect example of characters of color doing "everyday things," without being an "issues" book. Be sure to find the homage to Peter of The Snowy Day on the second full spread (at the back of the line of people entering the wedding venue.)

[Tessa Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story tells about the stresses of weddings from the younger sister's point of view. The younger sister is excited for the wedding, but she is also a bit nervous. When her sister gets married she will leave behind her family. The younger sister expresses the emotions of weddings from an outsiders view.

[Angie Munoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows how a young girl feels about her sister getting married. It would be a good book for a child who has a family member getting married to read. The illustrations do a great job of showing what a wedding is.

[miloowyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit bittersweet, a bit regular sweet. If the goal was to showcase all the detailed shenanigans that is prepared for a wedding then they definitely succeeded, I do feel like it fell a tad bit short on the melancholic aspect of it.

[Renae Williams]

This book would be good to read to a child whose older sibling or parent is getting married. The tension leading up to a wedding can often make a child feel left out or ignored, and there is also the fear of being abandoned. This book will show a child that there is life after a wedding and there is nothing to worry about.

[Season Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story tells the story of a young girl whose older sister is getting married in the fall. The little girl is saddened by the thought of her sister moving away, but by the end of the story realizes your family is family; however far apart you are. This book could be used to tell the importance of family in a child's life.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl and how she feels about her older sister getting married. She is happy that her sister is getting married and that someone new will be joning the family. She also likes all the events leading up to the wedding. However she is sad that her sister will not be living at home anymore and that she will not be able to see her everyday. A good read for 3rd to 4th grade.

[Devin L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice story of a young girl dealing with her older sister getting married and leaving to start a new family. The groom is bald, so the book is okay with me. Appropriate for all ages.

[Cara Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be good for kids who have been in weddings or for kids seperated from family for some reason. Nice book to read to add diversity.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simple story about a young girls sister getting married and his she feels about the preparation and her sister "leaving" her

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read that addresses a common theme and tradition for many people. Good word choice and emotions represented.

[Written Melodies · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple story about an older sibling's wedding and the events leading up to the event. I found some of the writing awkward. David Soman provided great illustrations.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be neat to give to your flower girl if you were a bride.