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Why Blue?
When a little girl wonders that age old question, “Why is the sky blue?” her imagination takes her on a beautiful journey of color, science and friendship. This gorgeously illustrated picture book works equally well in the classroom or at bedtime.
42 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Josh Tuininga
6 books18 followersJosh Tuininga is an author, artist, and graphic designer based in North Bend, WA. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Tuininga's artistic career has explored a variety of mediums including sequential art, animation, painting and design. In 2003, he founded an Art + Design Agency, The Medium where he continues to work as Creative Director.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 26, 2017
4★
The illustrations are lovely, the question is reasonable: Why is the sky blue? Why not paisley? And although there’s no real answer, it’s an attractive book to read.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Her older brother tries to answer her in language that swirls above his head and is probably too complicated for her or the target audience to understand.
She asks a woman fishing, who says, “Who knows, kid? Maybe it’s a big ocean up there.’” And we see a sky full of sea creatures.
Illustration of ocean-blue sky (screenshot)
On the way home, she notices it isn’t blue anymore! It’s sunset.
Illustration of sunset (screenshot)
She has some other ideas, goes home, and has wonderful dreams. A very pretty book that might be fun to start little children asking questions about the world around them . . . if they aren’t already!
Thanks to NetGalley and Xist Publishing for a copy for review.
The illustrations are lovely, the question is reasonable: Why is the sky blue? Why not paisley? And although there’s no real answer, it’s an attractive book to read.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Her older brother tries to answer her in language that swirls above his head and is probably too complicated for her or the target audience to understand.
She asks a woman fishing, who says, “Who knows, kid? Maybe it’s a big ocean up there.’” And we see a sky full of sea creatures.
Illustration of ocean-blue sky (screenshot)
On the way home, she notices it isn’t blue anymore! It’s sunset.
Illustration of sunset (screenshot)
She has some other ideas, goes home, and has wonderful dreams. A very pretty book that might be fun to start little children asking questions about the world around them . . . if they aren’t already!
Thanks to NetGalley and Xist Publishing for a copy for review.
April 18, 2017
This deceptively simple picture book deals with those inevitable and difficult to answer questions that young children seem to constantly ask. Here, a young girl wonders why the sky is blue instead of the many other colors she can think of, and some patterns, like paisley or plaid. She asks many people around her, but isn't satisfied with any of the answers she gets. Then her imagination takes flight and allows her more answers than she could have expected. This is a nice book for inquisitive children; they aren't alone in their wondering!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 13, 2017
Anyone who has had children, worked with children or spent any time with children, know they love to ask questions, especially "why" questions. In this story Maya goes for a walk. While sitting on a bench she looks up at the sky and wonders why it is blue and not some other color. She sets out asking everyone she meets "why is the sky blue?" She gets all kinds of answers depending upon who she asks, of course they are not accurate, but make sense to young Maya. When she asks her brother, he tries to explain it scientifically which just floats away over Maya's young head. There are some cute illustrations with blue backgrounds of course. When Maya falls asleep, she has wonderful, imaginative dreams about her idea of what is in the sky. A great story to read at bedtime, to use when learning about inquiry or to teach about why questions. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
April 2, 2014
I loved this book because it is spot on. children are full of "why" questions. In this story Maya goes for a walk. While sitting on a bench she looks up at the sky and wonders why it is blue and not some other color. Read to find out what she learns about why the sky is blue. The author has demonstrated through his writing that a little kid still exists inside of him that continues to make him ask why.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2017
Simple and lovely. Simply lovely. Recommended.
May 9, 2017
Maya, loves to sit quietly and ponder the wonders of life around her. She has a million questions bubbling inside of her and she seeks answers from others to appease that search for knowledge and truth she so desires.
One morning she looks up into the sky and questions why it is blue... why not hot pink or lime green or patterned... why the colour blue? Mmmmmm....interesting!
She goes on a quest and asks those around her if they know the answer. The local baker retorts it's because of the leftover blueberries from this morning pancakes, a random musician declares it's because he's playin' the blues, her brother from high school pontificates a long, complicated scientific answer which she doesn't understand (just to cite a few). She leaves with all their opinions swirling around in her brain and goes off to seek solace so she can mull things over on her own.
As evening approaches she looks up and sees that the sky is changing colours, and at nighttime when she looks out her window sees another colour change. She snuggles down in her bed and drifts off into Dreamland where she dreams in technicolour and sets her imagination free to explore and play in the colours that surround her. Does she find a satisfactory answer to her question? Does she find out why the sky is blue? Maybe when she awakens to another new day she will find out.
The book encourages kids to ask, seek and explore to find out the answers to the tons of questions that perplex them. I enjoyed the calm, lovely illustrations and the fact that Maya was trying to figure out this question all by herself and did not tap into a Google search. The book is perfect for beginning readers and a wonderful bedtime story to enjoy under the covers snuggled up together before it's lights out and the radiant night sky is visible through your bedroom window.
One morning she looks up into the sky and questions why it is blue... why not hot pink or lime green or patterned... why the colour blue? Mmmmmm....interesting!
She goes on a quest and asks those around her if they know the answer. The local baker retorts it's because of the leftover blueberries from this morning pancakes, a random musician declares it's because he's playin' the blues, her brother from high school pontificates a long, complicated scientific answer which she doesn't understand (just to cite a few). She leaves with all their opinions swirling around in her brain and goes off to seek solace so she can mull things over on her own.
As evening approaches she looks up and sees that the sky is changing colours, and at nighttime when she looks out her window sees another colour change. She snuggles down in her bed and drifts off into Dreamland where she dreams in technicolour and sets her imagination free to explore and play in the colours that surround her. Does she find a satisfactory answer to her question? Does she find out why the sky is blue? Maybe when she awakens to another new day she will find out.
The book encourages kids to ask, seek and explore to find out the answers to the tons of questions that perplex them. I enjoyed the calm, lovely illustrations and the fact that Maya was trying to figure out this question all by herself and did not tap into a Google search. The book is perfect for beginning readers and a wonderful bedtime story to enjoy under the covers snuggled up together before it's lights out and the radiant night sky is visible through your bedroom window.
February 20, 2021
Maya wonders why the sky is blue and not a different color. She asks, but everyone has a different perspective. This is a cute little story that captures the question almost every child asks in their "question" phase: "Why is the sky blue?"
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
June 10, 2017
Beautiful artwork.
I just love the artwork in this children's book and the idea of using it to answer one of the many questions that young children ask on a day-to-day basis - why is the sky blue?
I remember being told when my children first started school that we should make every effort to get the facts correct when our children asked us questions. Probably the only thing that I remember from that meeting, around twenty-five years ago.
So that could be the reason why I have problems with the answers this little girl receives - " "Because," said the baker, I had leftover blueberries from this morning's pancakes!" " or the musician, who replies - " "Cause I'm playin' the BLUES, little gal!" "
The correct answer is given by her brother but belittled by turning it into a ramble that goes over her head.
Towards the end she sees that the sky has turned red and purple and orange - another fabulous illustration. And by bedtime it was black, with stars.
So I'm left with a very mixed response to this book - illustrations 5*, content 2*.
I just love the artwork in this children's book and the idea of using it to answer one of the many questions that young children ask on a day-to-day basis - why is the sky blue?
I remember being told when my children first started school that we should make every effort to get the facts correct when our children asked us questions. Probably the only thing that I remember from that meeting, around twenty-five years ago.
So that could be the reason why I have problems with the answers this little girl receives - " "Because," said the baker, I had leftover blueberries from this morning's pancakes!" " or the musician, who replies - " "Cause I'm playin' the BLUES, little gal!" "
The correct answer is given by her brother but belittled by turning it into a ramble that goes over her head.
Towards the end she sees that the sky has turned red and purple and orange - another fabulous illustration. And by bedtime it was black, with stars.
So I'm left with a very mixed response to this book - illustrations 5*, content 2*.
March 26, 2014
Why Blue? is the eloquent and colorful story of an inquisitive little girl who has just one simple question, "Why is the sky blue?"
As Maya gazes at the sky she begins to wonder why it's blue and not hot pink, lime green or even paisley or plaid? She decides to ask others for their opinion on the matter, but with their varying answers Maya isn't sure who to believe. Will Maya ever get the answer to her question?
Why Blue? is a gentle story with beautiful and peaceful illustrations that pique the imagination of young readers. It creatively gets them thinking and they too will want to discover "why the sky is blue?"
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Why Blue?
As Maya gazes at the sky she begins to wonder why it's blue and not hot pink, lime green or even paisley or plaid? She decides to ask others for their opinion on the matter, but with their varying answers Maya isn't sure who to believe. Will Maya ever get the answer to her question?
Why Blue? is a gentle story with beautiful and peaceful illustrations that pique the imagination of young readers. It creatively gets them thinking and they too will want to discover "why the sky is blue?"
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Why Blue?
September 18, 2014
Hott Synopsis:
Why is the sky blue? May can’t help but to wonder.
Why blue?
Why not white?
Why not pink?
Why not purple?
Who will give her the answer?
Hott Review of Why Blue?:
I LOVED the illustrations! The book was cute but the illustrations are beautiful. They look just like an imagination to me. Can you imagine why blue?
More…
Author: Josh Tuininga
Source: Josh Tuininga
Grade: A
Ages: 2-8
Why is the sky blue? May can’t help but to wonder.
Why blue?
Why not white?
Why not pink?
Why not purple?
Who will give her the answer?
Hott Review of Why Blue?:
I LOVED the illustrations! The book was cute but the illustrations are beautiful. They look just like an imagination to me. Can you imagine why blue?
More…
Author: Josh Tuininga
Source: Josh Tuininga
Grade: A
Ages: 2-8
February 12, 2014
A must-have for the illustrations alone. Maya asks this question of various people and gets a variety of responses. What she finds in her own immagination is a whole other story. A very lovely book from a young, small publisher. Ask for it and help get Xist in your local store. We can always use more books like these.
June 21, 2014
Kids ask a million questions a day or so it feels like it. This story gets at the age old question of why the sky is blue and illustrates both through amazing pictures and story a child's unending curiosity! 4 stars
November 4, 2014
It's a nice story with GORGEOUS illustrations.
May 1, 2017
This book asks a what sounds like a simple question: Why is the sky blue? Maya asks lots of different people and gets lots of different answers. She determines that she has to think of it and find her own answers. Not bad and it has interesting graphics as well.
April 28, 2017
I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
I though for sure this would be a book about a little girl who is "blue" or feeling sad. Instead it was about the sky being blue. The girl wants to know why the sky is blue and not plaid or orange. I really loved the illustrations.
I though for sure this would be a book about a little girl who is "blue" or feeling sad. Instead it was about the sky being blue. The girl wants to know why the sky is blue and not plaid or orange. I really loved the illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews