Swan in Love

by Eve Bunting, JoEllen McAllist Stammen (Illustrator)

Offers a touching story about the power of love as a young swan refuses to give up on something she can never truly have despite the criticism she receives from those around her.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swan in Love by Eve Bunting, Illustrator -Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen (Illustrator), Joellen McAllister Stammen (Illustrator) Dora is a boat which is in the shape of a swan. A swan falls in love with the boat because the swan realizes that they are similar. The swan continues to love her against all odds. The season changes from spring to winter. The paint of the boat Dora peels off. Swan knows, but he knows that differences mean nothing to love. The frogs croak their disapproval and the fishes whisper it from below. Swan listens politely, but he knows love is never wrong. Even as the winters get longer and Dora's once sparkling paint begins to crack and peel, faithful Swan stays with her, certain that they must always be together. The ending of the story leaves much up for speculation, it is left very open. The book narrates a classic tale for readers of all ages.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story of love. I'm embarrassed to admit, I can't read this one without blinking back tears. One of Eve Bunting's very best.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book, story was good I just am not sure a young child reading this alone would understand the meaning.

[Alisha Saucedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most beautiful messages I have read in a picture book. The beautiful colors of blues and white communicate a soft tone. The book reminds us of how we often treat outsiders as teh swan is ridiculed and looked down upon. My favorite quote from the book is “difference makes no difference to love” my heart sunk as I heard these words and filled with love. This is such a beautiful story. It’s not often in children’s literature that we see depictions of death and afterlife. However, children have questions about these things, so it’s so important. This book touches upon two important themes, death and afterlife and the grounding nature of love. The omniscience present in this book makes the reader draw the connection between love and its higher order. While this book does not touch on controversy in the world of love, it very much lies the ground work into the love is love theory. I love how its doesn’t not have to say anything about marriage equality or gay rights, but we talk about this big issues of injustice and belonging through a beautify tale. I 100% recommend this book for all.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading and listening to this book because of the story and lesson we are given throughout the story. The Swan falls in love with a boat shaped as a Swan named "Dora." Defining the odds through hardships of what is right of who to fall in love with the Swan whats to take the chances to stay with the one they love.
Besides the story I love the illustrations throughout the book. The illustrations really helps with the Dora and the development of how the ship changes throughout the season. All of the colors that is being used are beautiful as if they are water color.
It is an easy read and a cute story so I would recommend this for kids and parents or teachers to read to their students/ kids.

[Amelia]

I loved this book! I thought this was a fun read for Valentine's Day. This book is about a swan who loves a boat. The other animals think that it's weird...doesn't Swan know that's a boat that is not alive? I thought that this was a good story that depicted the idea that love is love in a gentle way. Swan loves the boat and love is never wrong. This story showcases the idea that we have different kinds of love in our lives, too. I think many kids can identify with the idea of loving an inanimate object...like stuffed animals! I love this book and think it's a fun, beautiful story to read about love and all the ways we can love things while sharing the overall message that love is love and there is not wrong way to love!

[Makayla Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this storybook right in time for Valentine's day was adorable and perfectly timed. This book does an excellent job of displaying the love an animal can feel. It also does an amazing job at teaching readers that just because someone is different doesn't mean you can't feel love for them. In the storybook, many characters say that the swan cant love Dora because she's different, she's not a real swan. The swan doesn't listen and continues to display their love for Dora. I think this can be a great lesson on diversity, that just because someone is different - it doesn't mean you cant love them as you would someone who resembles you.

[Madison Wyeth]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book due to the story it tells. Letting kids know they are free to love who they want should be a reoccuing topic in this day and age, as well as the lesson of accepting others for who they are. While the illustrations captivated both me and my son, it was in the words spoken that truly touched me.

[Kelsey Bielec]

This book is heartbreakingly sad but shows the lengths that someone might go to for a loved one. This would be a good book for older students to analyze using the pictures along with the story, finding the ending and connecting it to our own lives.

[Amber Orvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was cute to read and I highly recommend all ages to read it and a good message in it about love❗️❤️😊

[Sophie Klockow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Use in Classroom: It doesn't matter what others say, do or think. Be true to yourself
Importance: loving who you want to

[Phil Ninh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about loving someone despite their differences and disapproval from others.

[Claudia Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A swan falls in love with a boat shaped like a swam. The swan looks forward to seeing the boat and even though the other swans make fun of him and tell him it's ridiculous, he insists on staying with the boat, even in the winter.

The book tells a story of love that is unconditional and different. Yet, still, it's LOVE. Because Love is Love.

[Courtney Poulin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations of Swan in Love are vivid in color and are full of texture. The illustrator uses pastels to achieve these elements. The end-pages are a deep blue, reminiscent of the aquatic environment in which the story is set, a lake. The cover features the main character, a swan who is referred to as Swan throughout the story. The story is about Swan’s persistent love for a swan boat called Dora and how he continues to love her against all odds. The text is simple, there is never more than a few sentences per page. The ending of the story leaves much up for speculation, it is left very open.

[Megan Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this one! The theme is that love can avail despite differences or if others tell you it is wrong. “He knew that difference makes no difference to love.” This is a very touching story and I almost cried at the end. The illustrations are beautiful as they tell the love story about swan and the boat named Dora.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial reaction: A beautifully written and illustrated story. I initially thought that this book begs to be read to older students about appreciating the differences in people and (not to sound cliche, but...) accepting others for who they are on inside and not the outside. And how we are drawn to certain people based on commanilities

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming story.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the ridicule of the other animals, Swan persists in his adoration for a swan-shaped boat named Dora.