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ویرجینیا گرگ میشود
ویرجینیا، خواهر ونسا، گرگ شده است. او میغرد و زوزه میکشد و کارهای عجیب و غریب میکند. همهی خانواده از دست رفتارهای ویرجینیا بههم ریختهاند و ونسا برای خوشحالی خواهرش، دست به هر کاری میزند، اما هیچچیز حال ویرجینیا را خوب نمیکند. ویرجینیا میخواهد پرواز کند و در تخیلش ،دنبال سرزمین چیزهای خوب میگردد. با این فکر، ونسا سرزمین چیزهای خوب را به شکل باغی بسیار زیبا، همراه با تاب و نردبان، روی دیوار اتاقخواب میکشد. «اینطوری همهی چیزهایی که پایین بودند، میتوانستند بالا بروند.» چیزی نمیگذرد که ویرجینیا بهطرز شگفتانگیزی متحول میشود و خود را به دست نقاشی خیالی خواهرش میسپارد...
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
9 people are currently reading
2385 people want to read
About the author
Kyo Maclear
32 books501 followersKyo Maclear is an essayist, novelist and children’s author. She was born in London, England and moved to Toronto at the age of four with her British father (a foreign correspondent and documentary filmmaker) and Japanese mother (a painter and art dealer).
Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, published in over twenty-five countries, and garnered nominations from the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, the National Magazine Awards, among other honours.
Unearthing: a Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023) was a national bestseller and awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017) was a #1 National Bestseller and winner of the Trillium Book Award and the Nautilus Book Award for Lyrical Prose. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by The Globe and Mail, CBC, Now Magazine, the National Post, Forbes, the Chicago Review of Books, and Book Riot.
Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere. She has been a national arts reviewer for Canadian Art and a monthly arts columnist for Toronto Life.
Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities teaches creative writing with The Humber School for Writers and the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA.
She lives in Tkaronto/Toronto, on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Huron-Wendat.
Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, published in over twenty-five countries, and garnered nominations from the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, the National Magazine Awards, among other honours.
Unearthing: a Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023) was a national bestseller and awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017) was a #1 National Bestseller and winner of the Trillium Book Award and the Nautilus Book Award for Lyrical Prose. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by The Globe and Mail, CBC, Now Magazine, the National Post, Forbes, the Chicago Review of Books, and Book Riot.
Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere. She has been a national arts reviewer for Canadian Art and a monthly arts columnist for Toronto Life.
Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities teaches creative writing with The Humber School for Writers and the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA.
She lives in Tkaronto/Toronto, on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Huron-Wendat.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 396 reviews
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May 28, 2023
Virginia Woolf is one of my absolute favorite authors. I even have her tattooed on my left arm. So when I ran across Kyo Maclear’s Virginia Wolf with the stunning artwork from Isabelle Arsenault I knew this was one I had to have. As much for me as for reading to my kid, for whom it became a favorite to have in our bedtime stories collection for a while and inspired a lot of creative art nights together. It is a really cute story with a lot of heart and doesn’t shy away from addressing issues of depression. The story is told from Vanessa Bell as a child discussing when her sister Virginia gets into a sad mood. Virginia once wrote of her relationship with her sister as a companionship like a ‘close conspiracy,’ and I really love the way this story puts the lesser know Vanessa at the center and focuses on her as an artist. The visuals in this are gorgeous and I really like the way Virginia Woolf is depicted as a little wolf in a dress, but what really stands out for me is how it is a great way to discuss issues of depression with young kids in a productive way.
Look at that cute little wolf.
In the story, when Virginia has her “wolf” mood, she yells at Vanessa, doesn’t like her usual fun games and wants to be left alone. Vanessa tries to cheer her up but nothing works, and when Virginia tells her she’d like to go to a place called “Bloomsberry” Vanessa is distressed she cannot find it on a map. So she leaves Virgina alone and begins to paint a magical land, eventually inspiring Virginia to come over and join in creating together. By the time they finish, the wolf has transformed back to a little girl. It’s really cute and I enjoy that it shows you can’t just suddenly “fix” someone in a depressive mood but that giving them time and perhaps space to be themselves and be creative can be helpful.
This is a fun story and while you don’t have to have any knowledge of Virginia and Vanessa, those who do will pick up some cute little biographical nods (Thoby gets a brief nod too). I really love the art and my oldest and I have definitely painted murals on walls together inspired by this book. It’s a cute favorite and I’m pleased to see my youngest now enjoys having it read to her as well.
Look at that cute little wolf.
In the story, when Virginia has her “wolf” mood, she yells at Vanessa, doesn’t like her usual fun games and wants to be left alone. Vanessa tries to cheer her up but nothing works, and when Virginia tells her she’d like to go to a place called “Bloomsberry” Vanessa is distressed she cannot find it on a map. So she leaves Virgina alone and begins to paint a magical land, eventually inspiring Virginia to come over and join in creating together. By the time they finish, the wolf has transformed back to a little girl. It’s really cute and I enjoy that it shows you can’t just suddenly “fix” someone in a depressive mood but that giving them time and perhaps space to be themselves and be creative can be helpful.
This is a fun story and while you don’t have to have any knowledge of Virginia and Vanessa, those who do will pick up some cute little biographical nods (Thoby gets a brief nod too). I really love the art and my oldest and I have definitely painted murals on walls together inspired by this book. It’s a cute favorite and I’m pleased to see my youngest now enjoys having it read to her as well.
May 21, 2023
Vanessa's sister, Virginia wakes up feeling wolfish and the day goes badly which days can when a sibling is feeling that way. Vanessa coaxes Virginia from her bad mood by painting a world called Bloomsbury and by giving her sister a creative outlet, brings peace and happiness, allowing them to be happy girls and go outside to play. Beautiful illustrations from a very talented artist whom I hope never suffers from feeling wolfish !
December 24, 2017
I read this chiefly because I have begun to follow the illustrator Isabelle Arsenault and have read a few of her picture books (Jane, The Fox & Me; Emily Dickinson: My Letter to the World; Collette's Lost Pet; Louis Undercover) and I am kind of crazy for her artwork. You see a pattern here, too, of her working with writers who like to (sometimes very loosely) base their books on writers/artists.
Virginia Wolf is a story about a little girl named Virginia who wakes up feeling "wolfish," but whose mood is sufficiently lifted by her artistic sister Vanessa who creates a world of color and light and form she calls Bloomsberry for them in which to play together. Sort of loosely based on the moody author Virginia Woolf, her sister Vanessa Bell, and Bloomsbury.
Fun chiefly for the very different illustrations on almost every page, the color, and the endorsement of the imaginations Woolf and Bell actually came to embody, of course. Takes an "adult" story of two artists kids might know nothing about, really, and makes it relatable to children, in a way. All ages book, really. I like it.
Virginia Wolf is a story about a little girl named Virginia who wakes up feeling "wolfish," but whose mood is sufficiently lifted by her artistic sister Vanessa who creates a world of color and light and form she calls Bloomsberry for them in which to play together. Sort of loosely based on the moody author Virginia Woolf, her sister Vanessa Bell, and Bloomsbury.
Fun chiefly for the very different illustrations on almost every page, the color, and the endorsement of the imaginations Woolf and Bell actually came to embody, of course. Takes an "adult" story of two artists kids might know nothing about, really, and makes it relatable to children, in a way. All ages book, really. I like it.
July 26, 2016
This is a gorgeous book! The illustrations are to die for! What I especially love about Maclear is that she takes subjects that are of interest to adults, and makes them so kid friendly. She makes me want to write a children's book! This particular book alludes to the relationship between Virginia Woolf and her sister, Vanessa Bell, and their imaginary travels to "Bloomsberry." Sounds A LOT like Bloomsbury, and I love it!
I don't usually buy picture books, but I need this one in my life. I can't wait for her next book, Julia, Child, to come out this summer. I'm actually preordering it!
I don't usually buy picture books, but I need this one in my life. I can't wait for her next book, Julia, Child, to come out this summer. I'm actually preordering it!
July 5, 2020
Read for the Reading Women Challenge 2020: a book under 100 pages
August 2, 2020
Loosely based on British author Virginia Woolf's relationship with her older sister, modernest painter Vanessa Bell, what I appreciate and love first and foremost about Virginia Wolf is how author Kyo Maclear depicts and describes both a lovely and tender picture of sisterly love and affection (even when one of the sisters, when Virginia, is acting grumpy and even totally in a stand-offish and wolfish manner) and furthermore that she (that Kyo Maclear) also gently but not ever didactically introduces the concept and consideration that Virginia's behaviours might well not be simply a case of a bad mood but the onset of mental health challenges (which in Virginia Wolf her sister both seems to understand and try to mitigate, to assuage with treats, close physical contact, music and finally by using the one and only method that seems to work with regard to raising Virginia's mood and turning her back into a little girl, with joyful art and imaginative colour, but also and importantly with much patience and intense love). And no, indeed, Virginia Wolf does not in ANY WAY portray a nasty little girl who uses her bad mood to deliberately make her sister miserable (as I have unfortunately read in some online reviews of Virginia Wolf), it simply shows in Virginia a little girl who is obviously suffering from a serious bout of juvenile depression and how her sister Vanessa tries to and finally succeeds in helping to break Virginia's wolfishness, her depression and make her sister happy and smiling again.
An absolutely lovely, quirky and yes, emotionally engaging little gem is Virginia Wolf, with Isabelle Arsenault's accompanying illustrations providing an equally wonderful and delightful mirror of and for Kyo Maclear's written words (and while I am not always a huge fan of Isabelle Arsenault's artwork, in Virginia Wolf, her drawings have certainly been absolutely exquisite, in my opinion even presenting the main storyline as imaginatively and as sweetly as the author's presented narrative). Five stars for the to and for me totally delightful, engaging and emotionally tender combination of Kyo Maclear's text and Isabelle Arsenault's images, but unfortunately, I am still going to lower my final ranking of Virginia Wolf to four stars, as I do think that Kyo Maclear definitely should have included a supplemental author's note on Virginia Woolf's life and times and yes, that she did indeed suffer from serious mental health issues for most of her life (challenges which are now thought to have likely been bi-polar disorder).
An absolutely lovely, quirky and yes, emotionally engaging little gem is Virginia Wolf, with Isabelle Arsenault's accompanying illustrations providing an equally wonderful and delightful mirror of and for Kyo Maclear's written words (and while I am not always a huge fan of Isabelle Arsenault's artwork, in Virginia Wolf, her drawings have certainly been absolutely exquisite, in my opinion even presenting the main storyline as imaginatively and as sweetly as the author's presented narrative). Five stars for the to and for me totally delightful, engaging and emotionally tender combination of Kyo Maclear's text and Isabelle Arsenault's images, but unfortunately, I am still going to lower my final ranking of Virginia Wolf to four stars, as I do think that Kyo Maclear definitely should have included a supplemental author's note on Virginia Woolf's life and times and yes, that she did indeed suffer from serious mental health issues for most of her life (challenges which are now thought to have likely been bi-polar disorder).
February 21, 2020
عنوان اصلی کتاب ویرجینیا ولف است و شاید نویسنده اشارهای داشته به سرگذشت ویرجینیا وولف که لابد وقتی مثل ویرجینیای این کتاب، گرگ شد و دلش فقط هوای مهآلود خواست و حاضر نبود با کسی حرف بزند و حوصلهی هیچکس را نداشت، خواهرش ازش نپرسید چی حالت را خوب میکند تا بگوید رفتن به سرزمین چیزهای خوب. و نویسنده میخواهد بگوید که همهچیز همینجاست و سرزمین چیزهای خوب هم میتواند توی اتاقت باشد. که جهان را میشود بازتعریف کرد و چیزهای زیادی هستند که خوبند.
September 9, 2016
I'm not sure how much of this book kids would get/like, but it is awesome.
July 6, 2019
"One day my sister Virginia woke up feeling wolfish," the young narrator of this creative picture-book exploration of childhood emotion begins, going on to describe her sister's terrible mood, and her own efforts to do something to cheer her up. Eventually, it is the narrator's beautiful painting that leads Virginia to a better state of mind...
Apparently inspired by celebrated author Virginia Wolff and her painter-sister, Vanessa Bell, Kyo Maclear's narrative in Virginia Wolf offers a sensitive examination of the state of depression, as witnessed by a loved one. The mixed media illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault, who also collaborated with Maclear on Spork , make excellent use of black silhouettes and more colorful elements to capture the changing emotional register of the story. Vivid colors enter the picture through the narrator's painting, and reflect Virginia's slowly changing state of mind. Recommended to fans of Arsenault (in whose number I count myself), as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about depression.
Apparently inspired by celebrated author Virginia Wolff and her painter-sister, Vanessa Bell, Kyo Maclear's narrative in Virginia Wolf offers a sensitive examination of the state of depression, as witnessed by a loved one. The mixed media illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault, who also collaborated with Maclear on Spork , make excellent use of black silhouettes and more colorful elements to capture the changing emotional register of the story. Vivid colors enter the picture through the narrator's painting, and reflect Virginia's slowly changing state of mind. Recommended to fans of Arsenault (in whose number I count myself), as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about depression.
September 4, 2017
Vanessa's sister Virginia acts like a wolf. I have no idea if kids would like this, but as someone who admires/sorrows for Woolf, I think the extended metaphor really works. Poor woman.
Ahwoooo!
Library copy.
Ahwoooo!
Library copy.
August 14, 2017
Quest'anno, col mio nuovo lavoro, ho scoperto (fra le tante cose) il meraviglioso e vastissimo mondo degli albi illustrati per bambini: cercando materiale da poter leggere ad una seconda elementare, mi è capitato fra le mani questo piccolo gioiello, e ne sono rimasta terribilmente affascinata. Disegni delicatissimi e tocchi di colore appena accennati vanno a comporre una storia bellissima, appezzabile in egual misura sia dai piccoli lettoi cui è destinata, che dagli adulti, che Virginia Woolf l'hanno conosciuta più come la donna con la letteratura dentro.
La piccola Virginia di questo racconto è una bimba che un giorno si sveglia con un lupo dentro, con un terribile malessere che le rende impossibile stare vicino a qualcuno, la rende triste, annoiata, arrabbiata. Un lupo dentro può essere un macigno difficilissimo da sopportare, può condurre all'isolamento, alla paura, alla perdita del senso della realtà. Ma avere un lupo dentro può anche significare avere una forza creativa incredibile, avere energie difficili da controllare, ma così ricche di emozioni da rendere reali anche le visioni più fantasiose.
Le figure di Vanessa e Virginia sono rese in maniera impeccabile, fra questi disegni m'è parso di vedere davvero la Virginia Woolf che ho imparato a conoscere e amare leggendo le pagine dei suoi libri. Eppure non c'è nulla di eccessivo, nulla di troppo calcato, non ci sono segnali nascosti: i bimbi possono apprezzare ogni parte di questo libro, imparando a non temere troppo quel lupo che ogni tanto sembra volerci buttare proprio giù, imparando a non scappare davanti a chi sembra avere un lupo dentro, ma a stargli vicino, a dare libero sfogo alla creatività buona, quella piena di luce, quella che può ammansire anche il lupo più feroce.
È un bellissimo modo per far conoscere anche ai più piccini due donne straordinarie, ed è una delle metafore più delicate e piene di rispetto della depressione che io abbia mai incontrato fra le pagine di un libro.
La piccola Virginia di questo racconto è una bimba che un giorno si sveglia con un lupo dentro, con un terribile malessere che le rende impossibile stare vicino a qualcuno, la rende triste, annoiata, arrabbiata. Un lupo dentro può essere un macigno difficilissimo da sopportare, può condurre all'isolamento, alla paura, alla perdita del senso della realtà. Ma avere un lupo dentro può anche significare avere una forza creativa incredibile, avere energie difficili da controllare, ma così ricche di emozioni da rendere reali anche le visioni più fantasiose.
Le figure di Vanessa e Virginia sono rese in maniera impeccabile, fra questi disegni m'è parso di vedere davvero la Virginia Woolf che ho imparato a conoscere e amare leggendo le pagine dei suoi libri. Eppure non c'è nulla di eccessivo, nulla di troppo calcato, non ci sono segnali nascosti: i bimbi possono apprezzare ogni parte di questo libro, imparando a non temere troppo quel lupo che ogni tanto sembra volerci buttare proprio giù, imparando a non scappare davanti a chi sembra avere un lupo dentro, ma a stargli vicino, a dare libero sfogo alla creatività buona, quella piena di luce, quella che può ammansire anche il lupo più feroce.
È un bellissimo modo per far conoscere anche ai più piccini due donne straordinarie, ed è una delle metafore più delicate e piene di rispetto della depressione che io abbia mai incontrato fra le pagine di un libro.
April 9, 2012
As an adult, it is difficult to separate the inspiration for this book--based on the lives of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell-- from the picture book text. I doubt many (OK, any) young readers would recognize the references to Virginia's depression and her sister's painting.
Judging the picture book on its own, the story is average. Beautiful illustrations, though.
Judging the picture book on its own, the story is average. Beautiful illustrations, though.
July 17, 2017
Virginia awakens one morning feeling not quite . . . herself.
Can her sister, Vanessa, pull her out of her blue funk?
This is a lovely book that makes me want to paint flowers on my walls.
Can her sister, Vanessa, pull her out of her blue funk?
This is a lovely book that makes me want to paint flowers on my walls.
April 3, 2012
I have been looking forward to the release of this book and it most certainly lived up to my expectations.
Vanessa is a young, cheerful girl with a sister, Virginia. Virginia hasn't been herself lately...she feels "wolfish" instead. When Virginia is "wolfish", she makes strange sounds, stays in bed, scares away her friends, doesn't enjoy the things that usually make her feel happy, is bothered by the slightest bit of noise, and just wants to be left alone. Vanessa is very supportive of her sister and uses her artistic talent to pull Virginia out of her gloomy disposition.
Kyo Maclear's story is loosely based on the famous writer, Virginia Woolf, who struggled with depression and her sister, Vanessa Bell, who was a painter. Maclear adequately captures the bond between sisters and the emotions that are felt both as a person experiencing depression and as a person watching your loved one struggle with depression. My only criticism is that readers should be aware that they may not always be able to pull a loved one out of their depression and it may take a long time. Arsenault's illustrations assist the story in capturing the emotions of feeling "wolfish" while at the same time expressing peacefulness and beauty that inspires hope. Additionally, the handwritten text by Arsenault makes the story more personal and again expresses the "wolfish" feelings with darker, bolder, exaggerated writing in some places.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone because we all experience depression either personally or through a friend, loved one, etc.
Vanessa is a young, cheerful girl with a sister, Virginia. Virginia hasn't been herself lately...she feels "wolfish" instead. When Virginia is "wolfish", she makes strange sounds, stays in bed, scares away her friends, doesn't enjoy the things that usually make her feel happy, is bothered by the slightest bit of noise, and just wants to be left alone. Vanessa is very supportive of her sister and uses her artistic talent to pull Virginia out of her gloomy disposition.
Kyo Maclear's story is loosely based on the famous writer, Virginia Woolf, who struggled with depression and her sister, Vanessa Bell, who was a painter. Maclear adequately captures the bond between sisters and the emotions that are felt both as a person experiencing depression and as a person watching your loved one struggle with depression. My only criticism is that readers should be aware that they may not always be able to pull a loved one out of their depression and it may take a long time. Arsenault's illustrations assist the story in capturing the emotions of feeling "wolfish" while at the same time expressing peacefulness and beauty that inspires hope. Additionally, the handwritten text by Arsenault makes the story more personal and again expresses the "wolfish" feelings with darker, bolder, exaggerated writing in some places.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone because we all experience depression either personally or through a friend, loved one, etc.
March 6, 2012
When her sister Virginia falls into a very bad mood, Vanessa tries to cheer her up. After Virginia indicates that perhaps traveling to Bloomsberry might cheer her up, her sister uses her artistic talent to create that perfect place that Virginia has imagined. Virginia is intrigued by the beautiful world her sister has created, but in the light of day, she realizes that it is not as perfect as she had first thought. The mixed media illustrations, using ink, pencil, watercolor, and gouache, are beautiful, but I'm not sure about the book's audience. The side notes from the author indicate that it's a story of sisterhood and inspired by the relationship between author Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell, and of course, young readers will have no idea who those women were. I'm troubled too by the fact that Virginia's depression is depicted as a bad mood that could be cured by her sister's artwork. Although well-intended, on some levels, the title seems to make light of a very real problem. Then again, maybe I'm reading it too literally.
August 6, 2012
If I were able to give this book separate ratings for the story and the illustrations I would give a solid 3 stars and 5 stars respectively.
I had concerns similar to those stated by some of the other reviewers. My primary concern being that the reference to Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell will go over the heads of most children. Secondly, but possibly more alarmingly, the author describes Virgina's experience as a bad mood. Obviously, what plagued the real Virginia Woolf was a much darker and more tragic condition than a bad mood. These two concerns pair up to make me question the intended audience for this book.
If you take away the reference to Virginia Woolf, I love the idea of art as a healing tool and imagination as a vehicle to other worlds. The message about love and sisterhood is also sweet.
The illustrations are gorgeous!
I had concerns similar to those stated by some of the other reviewers. My primary concern being that the reference to Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell will go over the heads of most children. Secondly, but possibly more alarmingly, the author describes Virgina's experience as a bad mood. Obviously, what plagued the real Virginia Woolf was a much darker and more tragic condition than a bad mood. These two concerns pair up to make me question the intended audience for this book.
If you take away the reference to Virginia Woolf, I love the idea of art as a healing tool and imagination as a vehicle to other worlds. The message about love and sisterhood is also sweet.
The illustrations are gorgeous!
March 24, 2018
Beautifully illustrated story of Vanessa Bell and her sister Virginia Woolf as two young girls. Virginia wakes up feeling wolfish, and her sister paints a beautiful garden for Virginia to help Virginia feel better. "Wolfish" felt like a way to talk about depression.
March 8, 2012
What an odd but awesome little book. Loosely based on the life of Virginia Woolf, this book has a little something for adults and children. Fans of the real-life author will enjoy the references to her life, and children can enjoy this story about sisterhood, overcoming sadness and constructing your own reality - one that will make you happy. The illustrations are unusual and yet remind you of childhood in an intangible sort of way.
I've seen other picture books loosely based on the lives of adult authors. Some of them work and some of them don't. Virginia Woolf had a very difficult life, which included numerous bouts of severe depression and mania. I think this book is accurate in conveying the fact that her friends and family did her help through a lot of it even if she did eventually commit suicide at age 59 (something this book appropriately does not mention).
Perhaps I just love Virginia Woolf that much, but I think this book is good. While the author had a difficult life, this little picture book does justice to her and conveys the joy present in much of her work.
I've seen other picture books loosely based on the lives of adult authors. Some of them work and some of them don't. Virginia Woolf had a very difficult life, which included numerous bouts of severe depression and mania. I think this book is accurate in conveying the fact that her friends and family did her help through a lot of it even if she did eventually commit suicide at age 59 (something this book appropriately does not mention).
Perhaps I just love Virginia Woolf that much, but I think this book is good. While the author had a difficult life, this little picture book does justice to her and conveys the joy present in much of her work.
June 7, 2017
Bellissimo albo illustrato per bambini che mi ha lasciato addosso emozioni che poche altre cose sono in grado di fare.
Virginia è una bambina che,per motivi a noi oscuri,si sta trasformando in un lupo:non si alza dal letto,non vuole fare niente,ulula e piange. La sua sorellina però,estremamente intristita dalla condizione della sorella,decide di trovare un modo per aiutarla e ,attraverso la sua fantasia e il suo amore per lei,riesce a riscuoterla dal torpore che la incatenava nella sua condizione di lupacchiotta.
Metafora della depressione di Virginia Woolf e delle psicosi mentali in generale,con dolcezza e raffinatezza questo bellissimo tomo è riuscito a spiegare anche ai più piccoli cosa voglia dire davvero malattia mentale e come essa,grazie all'amore e all'intervento dei propri cari ,possa essere sconfitta.
Virginia è una bambina che,per motivi a noi oscuri,si sta trasformando in un lupo:non si alza dal letto,non vuole fare niente,ulula e piange. La sua sorellina però,estremamente intristita dalla condizione della sorella,decide di trovare un modo per aiutarla e ,attraverso la sua fantasia e il suo amore per lei,riesce a riscuoterla dal torpore che la incatenava nella sua condizione di lupacchiotta.
Metafora della depressione di Virginia Woolf e delle psicosi mentali in generale,con dolcezza e raffinatezza questo bellissimo tomo è riuscito a spiegare anche ai più piccoli cosa voglia dire davvero malattia mentale e come essa,grazie all'amore e all'intervento dei propri cari ,possa essere sconfitta.
May 10, 2018
Virginia is having a sad day, her sister tried to change that. Richly illustrated from gray tones to gorgeous florals, it changes the mood of the reader, as well. Being a big fan of Virginia Woolf, I loved this children's version of the heavy sadness Mz Woolf lived with and how her sister, Vanessa so often tried to alleviate that. It's a good story/moral for kids to see how they can help a friend who is feeling down by bringing happiness to them, listening to nuances and acting on them. Sharing love, even when 1/2 of the equation is not so in to it. Just a lovely read with lovely illustrations.
December 28, 2017
با آن اسم بامزه اش!
:)
:)
January 14, 2020
Beautifully ilustrated and a lovely story!
August 5, 2024
Wat een prachtig boek! Ik houd van de tekeningen, van de diepte in de eenvoud. Ik houd van het geduld, de compassie, van de liefde en de fantasie. En uiteraard van de link met Virginia Woolf ❤️
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Citaten:
Ze was een erg bazige wolf.
Het hele huis zonk weg.
Boven werd onder.
Klaar werd vaag.
Fleurig werd treurig.
———
Mijn zus werd wakker.
Eerst zag ze niet wat ik aan het doen was.
Ze was nog te druk met huilen naar de maan.
Ik schilderde een schommel en een ladder die
tot het raam reikte, zodat wat onder was,
naar boven kon.
—————————
Citaten:
Ze was een erg bazige wolf.
Het hele huis zonk weg.
Boven werd onder.
Klaar werd vaag.
Fleurig werd treurig.
———
Mijn zus werd wakker.
Eerst zag ze niet wat ik aan het doen was.
Ze was nog te druk met huilen naar de maan.
Ik schilderde een schommel en een ladder die
tot het raam reikte, zodat wat onder was,
naar boven kon.
April 20, 2012
I admit I was intrigued by both the title and cover on this one. My curiosity about how this related to Virginia Woolf had to be satisfied!
Virginia Wolf is an inventive, beautiful book. The cover provides a peak at the exceptional, lovely illustrations throughout the book. The story follows sisters Virginia (Woolf) and Vanessa (Bell) as Virginia begins her day by acting very "wolfish." In fact, she's grumpy and surly and clearly suffering from a serious case of the doldrums. Vanessa uses her creativity and artistic talents to create a perfect, glorious world (Bloomsberry) to cheer up Virginia.
I love the portrayal of a patient, kind sister helping her sibling to feel better when she’s down. I liked the imagining of the bad feelings as a wolf that takes over, and it works well. However, since this is using real people as characters, and a famous, gifted writer who killed herself at that, it felt a little odd to me. Now to a child reading this, that information won’t even come into play and my daughter enjoyed the book a lot.
Virginia Wolf is an inventive, beautiful book. The cover provides a peak at the exceptional, lovely illustrations throughout the book. The story follows sisters Virginia (Woolf) and Vanessa (Bell) as Virginia begins her day by acting very "wolfish." In fact, she's grumpy and surly and clearly suffering from a serious case of the doldrums. Vanessa uses her creativity and artistic talents to create a perfect, glorious world (Bloomsberry) to cheer up Virginia.
I love the portrayal of a patient, kind sister helping her sibling to feel better when she’s down. I liked the imagining of the bad feelings as a wolf that takes over, and it works well. However, since this is using real people as characters, and a famous, gifted writer who killed herself at that, it felt a little odd to me. Now to a child reading this, that information won’t even come into play and my daughter enjoyed the book a lot.
February 7, 2017
Un libro maravilloso. Es literatura infantil, pero no excluye a nadie. El texto de Kyo Maclear y las ilustraciones de Isabelle Arsenault no necesitan caer por la madriguera del conejo. Desde la primera página estamos del otro lado, pero no en peligro sino completamente a salvo. De hecho, muy a gusto. No está Alicia, ni el sombrerero loco, ni la reina de corazones. Los personajes de este libro, en cambio, tienen un parecido lúdico, algún aire de familia, con Virginia Woolf y su hermana, Vanessa Bell. La proliferación estética se desata cuando Virginia se despierta lobuna. Arisca, gruñona, hambrienta. Su hermana amplifica el juego, más real que la realidad, hasta crear un mundo llamado Bloomsberry, un paraíso de formas y colores hecho a medida para hermanas que se despiertan lobunas. En cualquier caso, creo que no conviene leer este libro por sus intertextos. No se necesita fugar a Bloomsbury porque Bloomsberry es muy divertido. Una última nota al pasar: hay páginas de ilustraciones geniales que no tienen texto. Literatura sin palabras. Un extraordinario paseo.
May 9, 2025
کتابی ویرجینیا ولف داستانی کودکانه اما ملموس درمورد افسردگی، روابط بین سیبلینگها، عشق و هنره.
یک روز صبح خواهر ونسا با احساسات گرگ گونه از خواب بیدار میشه و همه چیز دور و اطرافش سیاه میشه. ویرجینیا نمیتونه زیبایی گلها یا پرترههایی که ونسا ازش میکشه رو تحمل کنه و زوزههای گرگی سر میده. اون دوستهاش رو از خودش دور میکنه و از همه میخواد که تنهاش بذارن. و تحمل دیدن خیلی چیزها و شنیدن کوچیکترین صداهای معمولی رو هم نداره.
ونسا حس بدی درمورد خواهرش داره و دوست داره که حال اون رو بهتر کنه چون وقتی ویرجینیا خوب نیست انگار هیچ چیزی خوب نیست. اون همه تلاشش رو میکنه اما در نهایت ویرجینیا داد میزنه و از ونسا میخواد که تنها بذارتش.
ونسا بی صدا کنار خواهرش دراز میکشه و کمی بعد ویرجینیا از آرزویی صحبت میکنه. "اگه می تونستم پرواز کنم و به جایی برم که کیکهای خوشمزه و گلهای زیبا و درختهای بلند برای بالا رفتن داره و هیچ ملالی اونجا نیست حالم بهتر میشد." ونسا میخواد بدونه که اونجایی که ویرجینیا ازش حرف میزنه کجاست و وقتی که اسم بلومزبری به فکر فرو میره. این اسم رو روی هیچ نقشهای ندیده اما اگه این چیزیه که حال ویرجینیا رو بهتر میکنه ونسا حاضره که با کمال میل اون رو با جادوی رنگ و قلم به خونهشون بیاره.
نویسنده برای نوشتن کتاب از ویرجینیا وولف و خواهرش ونسا الهام گرفته و بلومزبری در واقع جنبشی بود که ویرجینیا و ونسا در اون فعالیت داشتن، توی کتاب بلومزبری به شکل یک مکان خیالی و زیبا به تصویر کشیده میشه که حال ویرجینیا رو بهتر میکنه و در واقعیت هم این جنبش جایی بود که افراد مهمی دور هم جنع میشدن و ویرجینیا میتونست اونجا خود واقعیش باشه و افکارش رو به زبون بیاره.
به نظرم این کتاب با زبون ساده به بقیه نشون میده که افسردگی چهطور میتواند دنیای یک نفر رو تیره و تار کنه و حتی روی زندگی اطرافیانش هم تاثیر بذاره و چطور عشق، همدلی و خلاقیت میتونه درد درونی رو آرومتر کنه.
یک روز صبح خواهر ونسا با احساسات گرگ گونه از خواب بیدار میشه و همه چیز دور و اطرافش سیاه میشه. ویرجینیا نمیتونه زیبایی گلها یا پرترههایی که ونسا ازش میکشه رو تحمل کنه و زوزههای گرگی سر میده. اون دوستهاش رو از خودش دور میکنه و از همه میخواد که تنهاش بذارن. و تحمل دیدن خیلی چیزها و شنیدن کوچیکترین صداهای معمولی رو هم نداره.
ونسا حس بدی درمورد خواهرش داره و دوست داره که حال اون رو بهتر کنه چون وقتی ویرجینیا خوب نیست انگار هیچ چیزی خوب نیست. اون همه تلاشش رو میکنه اما در نهایت ویرجینیا داد میزنه و از ونسا میخواد که تنها بذارتش.
ونسا بی صدا کنار خواهرش دراز میکشه و کمی بعد ویرجینیا از آرزویی صحبت میکنه. "اگه می تونستم پرواز کنم و به جایی برم که کیکهای خوشمزه و گلهای زیبا و درختهای بلند برای بالا رفتن داره و هیچ ملالی اونجا نیست حالم بهتر میشد." ونسا میخواد بدونه که اونجایی که ویرجینیا ازش حرف میزنه کجاست و وقتی که اسم بلومزبری به فکر فرو میره. این اسم رو روی هیچ نقشهای ندیده اما اگه این چیزیه که حال ویرجینیا رو بهتر میکنه ونسا حاضره که با کمال میل اون رو با جادوی رنگ و قلم به خونهشون بیاره.
نویسنده برای نوشتن کتاب از ویرجینیا وولف و خواهرش ونسا الهام گرفته و بلومزبری در واقع جنبشی بود که ویرجینیا و ونسا در اون فعالیت داشتن، توی کتاب بلومزبری به شکل یک مکان خیالی و زیبا به تصویر کشیده میشه که حال ویرجینیا رو بهتر میکنه و در واقعیت هم این جنبش جایی بود که افراد مهمی دور هم جنع میشدن و ویرجینیا میتونست اونجا خود واقعیش باشه و افکارش رو به زبون بیاره.
به نظرم این کتاب با زبون ساده به بقیه نشون میده که افسردگی چهطور میتواند دنیای یک نفر رو تیره و تار کنه و حتی روی زندگی اطرافیانش هم تاثیر بذاره و چطور عشق، همدلی و خلاقیت میتونه درد درونی رو آرومتر کنه.
October 26, 2020
A great book that tackles the topic of depression in an effective, sensitive and child-friendly way. The use of the wolf to represent the sisters feelings would help children understand how somebody can seem ‘not themselves’ when they are unwell. There were lovely themes of family and love through the younger sister persisting to help her sister feel better even when this wasn’t encouraged. The comparison in the colours on the pages shows the development of their relationship and their feelings as the older sister gets better. There is also a nice comparison between two of the pages, one with a yellow background and one with a grey but with similar images, this shows the leap forwards the children have made as they begin to feel happy again. A good book to use to support PSHE when looking at feelings and wellbeing. The book could be used in KS2.
December 25, 2020
I have been bingeing on the books illustrted by Isabelle Arsenault, and this is not my favorite. Just not impressed by the story or the illustrations. Not sure this would appeal to a child.
March 9, 2012
Children have bad moods, they have emotions that swing on a large pendulum, and anyone who has ever encountered a two-year old tantrum thrower will understand that it is part of them. Few will grow up to have the mental issues that Virginia Wolf faces, but these strong emotions are pretty universal.
How do we treat the kids around us who do have these strong emotions? In this picture book Vanessa has a number of suggestions for ameliorating her sister's ill temper, from music to food. What works is giving her a gift of a world borne of her imagination, Bloomsberry. Arsenault's illustrations come alive here in a tribute to the famous 20th century painter, Vanessa Bell.
The writing is superb, just like in the duo's 2010 book Spork. The cadence mimics the changes in mood as Virginia goes from grim to glad.
My kids enjoyed this book and have asked for it many times since we got it. My daughter loves Bloomsberry with its cupcakes and adorable animals. My son seems to have adopted Maclear's writing into his vocabulary and cheerfully announces that his sister is feeling wolfish when she wakes up grumpy.
I enjoyed the references to Virginia Woolf's real life writing and have been inspired to revisit Kew Gardens. It's not often that you find a book equally beloved by parents and children and this is what will make this is classic.
How do we treat the kids around us who do have these strong emotions? In this picture book Vanessa has a number of suggestions for ameliorating her sister's ill temper, from music to food. What works is giving her a gift of a world borne of her imagination, Bloomsberry. Arsenault's illustrations come alive here in a tribute to the famous 20th century painter, Vanessa Bell.
The writing is superb, just like in the duo's 2010 book Spork. The cadence mimics the changes in mood as Virginia goes from grim to glad.
My kids enjoyed this book and have asked for it many times since we got it. My daughter loves Bloomsberry with its cupcakes and adorable animals. My son seems to have adopted Maclear's writing into his vocabulary and cheerfully announces that his sister is feeling wolfish when she wakes up grumpy.
I enjoyed the references to Virginia Woolf's real life writing and have been inspired to revisit Kew Gardens. It's not often that you find a book equally beloved by parents and children and this is what will make this is classic.
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