What do you think?
Rate this book
Ode à un oignon: Pabo Neruda et sa muse
A poetic, beautifully illustrated picture book inspired by Ode to the Onion by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (1904–1973). Pablo has a lunch date with his friend Matilde, who shows the moody poet her garden. Where Pablo sees conflict and sadness, Matilde sees love and hope. The story is less a biography of Neruda and his muse, Matilde Urrutia (1912–1985), and more a simple ode to a vegetable that is humble and luminous, dark and light, gloomy and glad, full of grief and full of joy—just like life.
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Junior Library Guild Selection
48 pages, Hardcover
Published May 22, 2019
3 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 25, 2019
What a wondeful story! This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of how Chilean poet Neruda Pablo goes to see his friend Matilde. Pablo is thinking of the world's injustices and feeling low, Matilde helps him to see that amidst the sorrow there is so much wonder and happiness. Matilde gathers vegetables to make their lunch and Pablo is struck by beauty of an onion, how it contains sweetness and bitterness and starts to write poetry about everyday objects. His Ode to an Onion is included in English and Spanish at the back, along with some information about Pablo and Matilde.
The illustrations are amazing, wonderful use of colour, some really are luminous. The message of the story is simple but profound, although life can be sad, simple pleasures of sharing a meal with a friend and the act of appreciating nature, growing your own vegetables and finding your own creative outlet can bring happiness.
The illustrations are amazing, wonderful use of colour, some really are luminous. The message of the story is simple but profound, although life can be sad, simple pleasures of sharing a meal with a friend and the act of appreciating nature, growing your own vegetables and finding your own creative outlet can bring happiness.
May 15, 2019
A beautiful first book that introduces small children to this giant of poetry - art is fantastic!
December 8, 2021
Sigh... only flaw? Well, none really, but I wish it were longer. But then it wouldn't be as pungent.
Several years ago I enjoyed Odes to Common Things and thought that I could read this to tide me over until I have a chance at that again. But all this did, actually, was make me want to reread that all the sooner.
Several years ago I enjoyed Odes to Common Things and thought that I could read this to tide me over until I have a chance at that again. But all this did, actually, was make me want to reread that all the sooner.
October 20, 2019
This is a lovely, special book. I loved everything about it.
The illustrations are wonderful! I loved the artistic style for the depiction of people and other living things and inanimate objects and decorative touches. Spectacular use of color too! The pictures are gorgeous and their details are fun to view.
I loved how the end papers front and back were textured to be like onion skin. Brilliant detail!
I love Pablo Neruda’s poems and really like his Ode to the Onion poem. The poem is included at the end, first translated to English and then in the original Spanish.
I liked reading about Pablo and Matilde at the end as well as within the story’s pages. The information at the end is not much more than a blurb with a photograph but it described so much about his life and their partnership. I like them as people.
I appreciated the story for encouraging looking more deeply at everyday things and for pointing out that where there is sadness there is also happiness.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading about poets, Pablo Neruda, Matilde Urrutia, like reading poetry, and have an appreciation for art in picture books. It’s also a perfect book for using its contents to discuss emotions & feelings.
The illustrations are wonderful! I loved the artistic style for the depiction of people and other living things and inanimate objects and decorative touches. Spectacular use of color too! The pictures are gorgeous and their details are fun to view.
I loved how the end papers front and back were textured to be like onion skin. Brilliant detail!
I love Pablo Neruda’s poems and really like his Ode to the Onion poem. The poem is included at the end, first translated to English and then in the original Spanish.
I liked reading about Pablo and Matilde at the end as well as within the story’s pages. The information at the end is not much more than a blurb with a photograph but it described so much about his life and their partnership. I like them as people.
I appreciated the story for encouraging looking more deeply at everyday things and for pointing out that where there is sadness there is also happiness.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading about poets, Pablo Neruda, Matilde Urrutia, like reading poetry, and have an appreciation for art in picture books. It’s also a perfect book for using its contents to discuss emotions & feelings.
March 4, 2019
Beautiful illustrations--I predict next Caldecott winner!
Poetry, sadness, hope
Poetry, sadness, hope
October 13, 2018
Ah, ultimately, it's all about perspective, after all. Chilean poet Pablo Neruda often wrote about romance, love, and social issues. It can be hard to see much good in the world when preoccupied with the weighty concerns of injustice. In this picture book, readers learn about the inspiration behind his "Ode to an Onion" as he and his friend Matilde gather fruits and vegetables for a simple lunch. As they choose the makings for their meal, Pablo focuses on the negatives and hopelessness while Matilde sees their delights and hope. Eventually, he comes around to her way of thinking. I always enjoy slice of life stories like these about creative inspirations, and this one made me smile and think of my own inclination to get caught up in what's not working or life's challenges and not embrace what is working. The story itself is appealing and told with an immediacy that makes readers think they are walking in Matilde's garden with Pablo. The text is supported by sumptuous artwork that captures perfectly the characters' demeanors and the worthiness of the produce they are gleaning, part of Earth's bounties. Clearly, even social activists and writers must pause for a moment or two to savor a meal and good friendship. Readers will be pleased to find the poem that Neruda wrote in the back matter.
October 28, 2018
This book is genius and beautifully poetic, the words and the illustrations, how they combine. I may be a biographer of Neruda but forget about Neruda's ode itself, forget about Neruda himself, this book is about what happens in the interaction between the characters, it's about the elements that inspire creativity and thoughtful expression, the elements that create the poetry in poems and the poetry of our lives. I hope this book brings a lot of joy and inspiration to many children.
October 21, 2018
Beautiful language and illustrations. It’s not as flashy well known as many other picture books this year but there’s something incredibly special about this story about the famous poet Pablo Neruda.
April 17, 2019
One of the most visually stunning books of the year!
November 13, 2018
Wonderful illustrations on heavy matte paper make this picture book feel like an art journal. Mathilde is a vibrant red-headed mother earth juxtaposed with Pablo the brooding poet. All through the garden she sees joy and purpose where he sees only loss and sorrow until he sees the luminosity of the peeled onion. Includes the full text of Neruda's poem, Ode to an Onion, in both English and Spanish. A beautiful book to pair with Neruda, Poet of the People.
October 13, 2018
A beautifully illustrated and designed picture book imagining the creative process that leads Neruda to write one of his famous odes. The onion skin endpapers are a lovely touch.
November 21, 2018
Beautiful. Loved the gentle rapport between the two characters. Recommended for Neruda fans and old souls ages 5-8.
December 15, 2018
LOVELY!
December 21, 2018
A sweet "back" story of Pablo Neruda's "Ode To An Onion" poem.
April 28, 2019
I love the back & forth
of sadness & happiness
between Pablo and Matilde.
Gorgeous artwork all the way
through!
of sadness & happiness
between Pablo and Matilde.
Gorgeous artwork all the way
through!
May 25, 2021
Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda and His Muse is a children's picture book written by Alexandria Giardino and illustrated by Felicita Sala. The author imagines the day when the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was inspired to write an ode to an onion.
Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Neruda became known as a poet when he was 13 years old, and wrote in a variety of styles, including surrealist poems, historical epics, overtly political manifestos, a prose autobiography, and passionate love poems.
Giardino's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Giardino envisions the inspiration behind one of Pablo Neruda's odes to familiar objects. Backmatter includes an endnote, which shares biographical details about "Pablo and Matilde," and Neruda's "Ode to an Onion," in Spanish and English. Sala's matte artwork features thick lines, playfully skewed angles, and motifs from Neruda's body of work appearing in his cluttered seaside study.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Feeling downtrodden after writing a long, sad poem about the lives of miners, Neruda is uplifted by a visit to his friend Matilde's lush garden home. Matilde, an exuberant redhead (Pablo's future wife), recognizes Pablo's sadness and takes him on a walk through the garden, where her passion and optimism contrast with Pablo's bleak perspective. However, after picking an onion and slicing it for lunch, Pablo recognizes its beauty and complexity, something so much more than a lowly vegetable.
All in all, Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda and His Muse is a sweet story about the creative process, but sadly, not for information about Neruda.
Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Neruda became known as a poet when he was 13 years old, and wrote in a variety of styles, including surrealist poems, historical epics, overtly political manifestos, a prose autobiography, and passionate love poems.
Giardino's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Giardino envisions the inspiration behind one of Pablo Neruda's odes to familiar objects. Backmatter includes an endnote, which shares biographical details about "Pablo and Matilde," and Neruda's "Ode to an Onion," in Spanish and English. Sala's matte artwork features thick lines, playfully skewed angles, and motifs from Neruda's body of work appearing in his cluttered seaside study.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Feeling downtrodden after writing a long, sad poem about the lives of miners, Neruda is uplifted by a visit to his friend Matilde's lush garden home. Matilde, an exuberant redhead (Pablo's future wife), recognizes Pablo's sadness and takes him on a walk through the garden, where her passion and optimism contrast with Pablo's bleak perspective. However, after picking an onion and slicing it for lunch, Pablo recognizes its beauty and complexity, something so much more than a lowly vegetable.
All in all, Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda and His Muse is a sweet story about the creative process, but sadly, not for information about Neruda.
October 23, 2019
I picked up Ode to an Onion because I saw it was illustrated by Felicita Sala and I recently fell in love with her illustrations in She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein.
This was a very pleasant read, and I've continued to enjoy it two or three times over the last few weeks. Extra-nice touches include the "about" Pablo and Matilde section at the end, the inclusion of Neruda's poem in both Spanish and English, and lovely endpapers that look like thin layers of onion.
I was surprised that this was Alexandria Giardino's first picture book! I read Ode to an Onion by myself and I genuinely enjoyed it as an adult reader. The message to look for the small good things around us even as we are also aware of the terrible things going on is a timeless one and it really touched me. It was also nice to see a small glimpse into Neruda's life, since I had only vaguely heard of him before reading this book. (Sorry! My poetry exposure is limited.) And, of course, I enjoyed the illustrations.
This was a very pleasant read, and I've continued to enjoy it two or three times over the last few weeks. Extra-nice touches include the "about" Pablo and Matilde section at the end, the inclusion of Neruda's poem in both Spanish and English, and lovely endpapers that look like thin layers of onion.
I was surprised that this was Alexandria Giardino's first picture book! I read Ode to an Onion by myself and I genuinely enjoyed it as an adult reader. The message to look for the small good things around us even as we are also aware of the terrible things going on is a timeless one and it really touched me. It was also nice to see a small glimpse into Neruda's life, since I had only vaguely heard of him before reading this book. (Sorry! My poetry exposure is limited.) And, of course, I enjoyed the illustrations.
June 30, 2019
This is a delightful picture book telling the story (a story?) of how the poet Pablo Neruda came to write "Ode to an Onion." He got the idea while visiting "his friend Matilde" (later his wife) and picking vegetables to make a salad. It captures the joy Neruda took in his life and his work and the common things that inspired his odes. The author based the story on the ode itself and on Matilde Urrutia's memoirs.
October 18, 2019
Lyrical language pairs with stunning art to tell the story of poet Pablo Neruda, gloomy and pessimistic from writing about poor laborers, and his cheerful companion who looks on the bright side and shows him the wonders of her garden. Onions are a terrific metaphor for life and contentment and Neruda writes his famous ode to celebrate this layered vegetable. Backmatter includes Neruda's Ode to an Onion, translated into English by the author, as well as the original Spanish.
January 3, 2020
Quel livre !!! De la poésie , de la tendresse , les illustrations sont des merveilles . Premier livre de l’année et un coup de ❤️
May 1, 2019
This is a beautiful and beautifully illustrated picture book. I enjoyed looking at the detail in the illustrations. A sweet story about someone who is feeling sorrowful and a friend who is sunny, this may be an entry into discussing with children how to look at their own feelings in a positive, creative way.
April 24, 2019
Loved it! I learned a lot about Pable Neruda. I love learning about history through picture book biographies.
April 15, 2019
Based on the life and work of poet Pablo Neruda, this story demonstrates how optimism can change a person’s perspective...and even lead to a simple poem about the humble onion! 26 pages.
January 15, 2019
The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda is having a bad day. Then he meets up with his friend, the lovely Matilde. Matilde has the soul of a poet—she sees an unexpected beauty in everything. With simple, yet colorful pictures, the writer and illustrator coax us through an afternoon spent gathering the ingredients and preparing a simple yet delightful meal.
Mr. Neruda had a startling gift for metaphor and simile. The pictures make the words come alive and you see how a smile can be as wide as a guitar or an onion can glow like the sun or be pale and luminous as the moon. The book does what all our favorite books do—it reorders your thinking so that you see the world through the sparkling prism of its creator’s words and images.
Mr. Neruda had a startling gift for metaphor and simile. The pictures make the words come alive and you see how a smile can be as wide as a guitar or an onion can glow like the sun or be pale and luminous as the moon. The book does what all our favorite books do—it reorders your thinking so that you see the world through the sparkling prism of its creator’s words and images.
November 14, 2018
A beautifully written book that imagines the creative process behind the poem, Ode to the Onion by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Pablo is feeling gloomy about everything during the writing of a long, sad poem. Then he realizes it’s time for his lunch date with his lively friend Matilde. With a big bunch of poppies in hand he arrives at her home. They stroll through the garden and with Matilde as his guide, his sadness lifts as he discovers a happier way to look at life even at a simple onion. The pictures are warm and gorgeous. Lovely details, endnotes with the poem in its original Spanish and also translated into English, and onionskin endpapers add much to this tale!
December 31, 2018
The artwork in this book is stunning! This true-story follows singer Matilde Urrutia and poet Pablo Neruda. In this snapshot of a moment in their lives, we get a touching yet down-to earth tale of ho Urrutia helped Neruda appreciate life and inspired his art.
December 1, 2018
4 1/2 stars. Spectacular illustrations and an interesting conversation between a poet who is taking life too seriously and a woman who revels in the intertwined joys and sadness the world offers.
March 4, 2019
Beautiful illustrations--I predict next Caldecott winner!
Poetry, sadness, hope
Poetry, sadness, hope
July 3, 2023
I would give this book six stars if I could! This is one of my favorite picture books! It is about a man named Pablo Neruda and how he came up with a poem. One day, he went over to his friend Matilde's house for lunch, where they picked ingredients for their meal. When they went into Matilde's home to make lunch, Pablo was tasked with cutting the onion. He started to tear up, as you normally do when chopping onions, and realized the beauty your eyes see when they are teary, and how the luminous vessel known as an onion can make you look at the world with an entirely different perspective. Pablo Neruda and Matilde were real people and Pablo's actual poem about the onion is written in the back of the book in both English and Spanish. I love that there is a small section about Pablo and Matilde, and even a picture of the two of them! Pablo's poem is amazing. You would have never guessed that such a beautiful piece of writing could be made by just looking at an onion. These illustrations are BEAUTIFUL! Felicita Sala is an amazing illustrator! I hope you like this book as much as I do! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!
August 10, 2023
Una poesia in immagini e prosa.
Le illustrazioni sono immense, ricche di dettagli, precise, calde, colorate e luminose.
E' la storia di come una cipolla possa tramutarsi nel simbolo stesso della vita: dolce e amara allo stesso tempo.
Una storia che è un inno ad apprezzare le piccole cose, alla ricerca della bellezza non sono nelle grandi imprese o nei gradi concetti ma anche in ciò che di piccolo e di apparentemente insignificante, ci circonda.
Il mondo, agli occhi di Pablo, appare come pieno di ingiustizie, di storture e di dolore e sembra non esserci motivo per il quale rallegrarsi.
La soluzione arriva proprio da uno dei luoghi più bui e impensabili: dalla pancia nera della terra. Proprio lì si cela un piccolo tesoro dorato. Un tesoro rotondo e luminoso, croccante e fragrante. Un tesoro dal sapore ricco, pungente.
Le illustrazioni sono immense, ricche di dettagli, precise, calde, colorate e luminose.
E' la storia di come una cipolla possa tramutarsi nel simbolo stesso della vita: dolce e amara allo stesso tempo.
Una storia che è un inno ad apprezzare le piccole cose, alla ricerca della bellezza non sono nelle grandi imprese o nei gradi concetti ma anche in ciò che di piccolo e di apparentemente insignificante, ci circonda.
Il mondo, agli occhi di Pablo, appare come pieno di ingiustizie, di storture e di dolore e sembra non esserci motivo per il quale rallegrarsi.
La soluzione arriva proprio da uno dei luoghi più bui e impensabili: dalla pancia nera della terra. Proprio lì si cela un piccolo tesoro dorato. Un tesoro rotondo e luminoso, croccante e fragrante. Un tesoro dal sapore ricco, pungente.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews