Blu e Berta

by Kristyna Litten

A girafa Berta leva uma vida muito monótona. Todo dia é igual ao outro... Apesar disso, ela gosta das coisas assim. Até o dia em que ela conhece um novo amigo, chamado Blu. Depois desse encontro, nada será como antes! Descubra o que aconteceu com Blu e Berta! Uma história leve sobre o encontro com as diferenças, inclusão e amizade.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction

Paperback

First published December 31, 2015

About the author

Kristyna Litten has written and illustrated several books for children, as well as creating artwork for book covers and magazines. This is her first book with Candlewick Press. She lives in Yorkshire, England.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bertie is a giraffe, which is why I got the book in the first place. I have a love of giraffes. I did scan it once I got it and it’s too simple for my nephew, so I didn’t read it to him. It’s only my opinion today.

The artwork is unique. It’s odd and I haven’t see anything quite like it. The colors were pretty but I do wish the giraffe’s looked more liked giraffes. There are a heard of them. One day Bertie can’t find them and he meets a blue giraffe and they become friends, best friends and Blue shows Bertie things he’s never seen before. Then Bertie invites Blue to join the herd.

It’s a simple story about friendship. Yet, there is a part of me that interprets this as Blue and Bertie are more than just friends. There seems to be a deeper layer to me. Kids wouldn’t pick up on this, but to me and my crass adult brain, this seems like a gay kind of relationship. The end it looks like they are kissing and the Blue one is an outsider. Anyway. Like I said, that is only my interpretation. But it came through for me. Maybe I should read this to the kids and see if they pick up on it.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for my toddler during her Chick fil A dinner. This book is an Excellent kids toy! Story is similar to ugly duckling. My toddler and I loved the story.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. As adult, I have to wonder why Bertie wanted to hang out with his herd if they forget to wake him up. Of course, I am the person who wonders where the bathrooms are on the Falcon and Enterprise.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kooky birds in this book earned a star all by themselves.



I mean, look at them!

This is a sweet little book, about differences and looking at things from a different perspective, seeing new things and finding acceptance where you least expect it.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite titles of 2016. The story revolves around a lost giraffe who loses his herd but meets up with a strange new friend who helps him on his way home. What makes this book so engaging is not only the illustrations which have a beauty reminiscent of Scandinavian art but also the underlying theme that if we can look past our differences we'd see that we are all the same beneath them. This book celebrates differences and encourages children to look past what they know and are comfortable with in a very simple story line that they can understand and you can read over and over again. Besides, what story isn't complete without a blue giraffe? A definite recommend.

[Ingrid Sawubona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bertie the yellow giraffe leads a monotonous life with his peeps until he wakes up all alone one day … because he had overslept a bit! And he has never been on his own before!

Soon Blue, a blue giraffe, finds him (or maybe he finds Blue) and Bertie discovers an amazing new world full of adventures that he had never known of before.

But Bertie still wants to go home, and that’s when his friendship with Blue is tested. Will Bertie take Blue with him, and will the yellow giraffes accept Blue?

This gentle story about breaking out of your comfort zone wonderfully illustrates how looking at things from a different perspective and accepting it, can make you see and enjoy life to its fullest.

I’ve seen many books with this theme lately, but what I like about this one is that it doesn’t hit you over the head with it! And how can it? The illustrations are simply divine; Blue and Bertie are adorable, and my family loved it!

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beginning introduction to acceptance of those who look different and making friends that could lead to deeper conversation and understandings.
""I'm a little bit afraid of you, though," said the creature, stepping forward shyly." Why would a character who is afraid show himself? Then this creature takes the lead. That scene does not make sense to me.
The page where Blue & Bertie are galloping with the zebras is the most dynamic illustration in the book, but the text again leaves me baffled. ""You are free, my friend"" How would young readers interpret that?
Repetition of phrases: "trit-trot" "gallopy gallopy, gallopy - whoosh" will be fun to read aloud with youngsters joining in.]

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in Great Britain, and now here in the U.S., a great book about friendship and learning that someone who looks a little different can bring new things to your life that you never knew existed! Bertie lived a life of the same thing, eating, drinking, snoozing. But one day he woke late, and everyone was gone. He didn't know what to do until he looked around and there was Blue! Blue showed Bertie a whole new world, and you'll need to find this book to see the enticing illustrations of this forest world where they lived. It's a bright and beautiful world that Blue knows, parts of which Bertie had never noticed. Great ending!

[Juliana Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bertie was used to doing things with his herd. They always did everything exactly the same. But when Bertie oversleeps he wakes up alone and lost. Then he meets Blue, a blue giraffe, who shows him the world in a different way. Bertie and Blue become best friends. Now Blue finds out if the herd will accept him for who he is, even if he is different from them.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars (bumping it up a star just for the BRILLIANT illustrations)

Not everyone or everything has to be the same. Friends come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Different can be good. Trying out new things can be scary at first but amazing in the end.

Books with blue giraffes can have great messages for all to appreciate!

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely cute book about giraffes, and about colours, and about friendship! The art was really lovely (as expected, since I just love Kristyna Litten's art).
If you are looking for a cute book, try this one out!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations have very whimsical flair, with a lot for listener/lookers to see.

There is subtle message of diversity, but more of friendship and looking at the world in a new way.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm REALLY curious where that blue giraffe came from and where the rest of his peeps are, but aside from that, this is a really lovely story about friendship and acceptance. Really imaginative backgrounds, too.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable book about taking time to enjoy your surroundings and accepting those who may be different for you.

[Fitria Mayrani · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter how old you are, reading children's book is always fun! Simple story but deep meaning.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story about friendship and acceptance.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book. It is about accepting people the way that they are.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable tale of friendship and belonging. Wonderful illustrations!

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day when Bertie the giraffe oversleeps, his herd leaves without him. On awaking, he doesn't know what to do, but a friendly Blue giraffe shows him the world as he's never seen it.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think there are better stories about making friends or accepting differences, but I still liked this one. I LOVED the illustrations and want to go live there with Blue and Bertie!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet friendship story, being lost & then found, friends of all kinds, trying new things, differences accepted. LOVE the illustrations!

[Heydi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A giraffe book about embracing the differences in others and the world around us. It was simple and cute.

[AnnieM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good bedtime book. Soft illustrations, and a good lesson.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable Bertie gets separated from his herd and makes a new friend named Blue who shows him a whole new world around him.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a story of friendship between two giraffes...one who belongs, and one who doesn't. And it's a good story...about acceptance.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about friendship and accepting difference. I look forward to sharing this with my Pre-K Group and having them participate with the slurps and snoozes.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute illustrations in this book, about a little giraffe, Bertie, who does the same thing everyday with his herd until he meets a blue giraffe named Blue. Kids enjoyed it.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptively primitive art style - the giraffes themselves are almost ugly but the birds, flowers, dark forest, bright oasis, etc. are all enchanting.

Those giraffes need Blue to shake them up. I wish people were smart enough to take joy in diversity rather than just 'accept' or, even worse, 'tolerate' the Other.

As I finished reading the book I thought it not worth more than two stars because it's such a simple message that's been done to death in many other earnest books, but thinking further I realize that this is a fresh take, emphasizing the benefit to the mainstream instead of focusing on the outsider. 3.5 stars rounded down because I still want it to be more and I only recommend that you borrow it if convenient.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waaaaooooo!!!!

Este libro es precioso, las ilustraciones son simples pero cuidadas, llenas de color, llenas de imaginación.

La historia en si es tierna, nos muestra a una Bertie acostumbrada a la rutina, acostumbrada a su manada pero por cosas de la vida esto cambia de repente y a pesar de que Bertie se asusta, muy valiente y con la compañía de Azul su nuevo amigo decide avanzar y buscar su manada.

Una historia que no solo nos enseña el valor de la amistad, nos enseña la valentía, pero muy importante nos enseña que aunque seamos diferentes todos tenemos alto valor, sentimos alegría, tristeza como todos los demás y nos enseña sobre la aceptación y el amor a todos aunque seamos diferentes.

Adoro las jirafas, son mi animal preferido y esta historia me enamoro, super recomendada.

[Khloe Howie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations that take the reader to bright and flourishing areas. The two main characters meet during the beginning of a crisis. Bertie did not know what he should do next. Bertie needed help. All of a sudden a new animal walked into his changing world. Bertie’s next step would prove to be his most important of all.
A great tale for young children facing changes in their lives.