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Is Was
Explore the connections found in nature in this simply stunning picture book that explores the idea of change, both big and small.This sky is the same sky that was blue, and now is spilling down in drips and drops… until rainclouds pass… Over the course of one day, a small child experiences the way the natural world changes from sun to rain and from day to night as things transform from is to was in this breathtaking book.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2021
195 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Freedman
13 books209 followersOnce upon a time, I was an architect. But now I'd much rather build worlds in books. :)
I am the author and illustrator of 12 of them, featuring protagonists that include an earthworm searching for its purpose in life, a house that dreams of its origins, and a character that is almost too shy to appear in its own book.
My stories have been translated into ten different languages, adopted in classrooms across the country, and honored with many starred reviews and awards. I live in a colorful house in Connecticut, where I'm always busy at work on my next books.
I love reading books and telling you about them; I hate rating them! Let's just say that if I didn't like a book, it isn't here at all.
Website: www.deborahfreedman.net
—with tons of free resources for readers, and a sign-up for my eNewsletter
Bluesky: @DeborahFreedman.net
Facebook: Deborah Freedman, Author & Illustrator
Instagram, Threads: @FreedmanIllustrates
—stop by and say hi!
I am the author and illustrator of 12 of them, featuring protagonists that include an earthworm searching for its purpose in life, a house that dreams of its origins, and a character that is almost too shy to appear in its own book.
My stories have been translated into ten different languages, adopted in classrooms across the country, and honored with many starred reviews and awards. I live in a colorful house in Connecticut, where I'm always busy at work on my next books.
I love reading books and telling you about them; I hate rating them! Let's just say that if I didn't like a book, it isn't here at all.
Website: www.deborahfreedman.net
—with tons of free resources for readers, and a sign-up for my eNewsletter
Bluesky: @DeborahFreedman.net
Facebook: Deborah Freedman, Author & Illustrator
Instagram, Threads: @FreedmanIllustrates
—stop by and say hi!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 5, 2021
Observations of nature, what is becomes what was in this story about the natural world around us.
September 21, 2023
I love the delicate colors in this tribute to how, as shown in nature, things change and change again, and change again. While some things stay the same.
June 8, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
A very simple book about the present and the past all resting in those two simple words, "is" and "was". . . .honestly, the synthesis between the words and the art - stunning artwork - turns this piece truly into a kind of poetry rather than a story. It is lyrical, and moves through the read quite like a song.
I loved it. It gave me the opportunity to talk about present and past tenses in English, and how we never really know we are doing tenses in our native tongues. We just learn it, know it deep in our souls and never really understand tenses until we pick up our first experience learning a second language and it is kind of a shock to realize how deeply we already have it embedded in our brains. And here this book has it, simply, and at its most foundational: is & was.
What I will take away is the stop art sketch of a girl on a swing and the is & was noted in her movement path. . . .full of whimsy . . .I close my eyes and can feel the breeze of that sketch. Brilliant.
A very simple book about the present and the past all resting in those two simple words, "is" and "was". . . .honestly, the synthesis between the words and the art - stunning artwork - turns this piece truly into a kind of poetry rather than a story. It is lyrical, and moves through the read quite like a song.
I loved it. It gave me the opportunity to talk about present and past tenses in English, and how we never really know we are doing tenses in our native tongues. We just learn it, know it deep in our souls and never really understand tenses until we pick up our first experience learning a second language and it is kind of a shock to realize how deeply we already have it embedded in our brains. And here this book has it, simply, and at its most foundational: is & was.
What I will take away is the stop art sketch of a girl on a swing and the is & was noted in her movement path. . . .full of whimsy . . .I close my eyes and can feel the breeze of that sketch. Brilliant.
July 7, 2021
I am clearly in the minority here but I found the text SO confusing! The illustrations are gorgeous and I even liked how the text was sometimes incorporated into the illustrations almost like form poetry. But the text was hard to follow. I gave me the feeling of a book that is trying too hard to be poetic and lyrical and I just didn't care for it.
May 15, 2021
On any given day, moment to moment, change is happening all around us. Some of the transformations are so subtle, it is the following day before we recognize them. Other shifts announce themselves in glorious splendor. Mindful observers realize variations, regardless of their size, are extraordinary.
When we are grounded in extraordinary, our sensory awareness expands. Is Was (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, May 4, 2021) written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman explores change in its many forms. Through her spare text and distinctive paintings, she introduces possibilities for rethinking how we perceive change.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
When we are grounded in extraordinary, our sensory awareness expands. Is Was (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, May 4, 2021) written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman explores change in its many forms. Through her spare text and distinctive paintings, she introduces possibilities for rethinking how we perceive change.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
August 17, 2021
5 lovely stars for this beautifully illustrated book about the apparent impermanence of things. "The sky was blue but now is raining...and is the same sky." It is a simple, important (for all of us!) concept: there is constant change, and yet...
The illustrations are watercolor and pencil and capture the feeling of a spring day, with it's changes in weather and light. The words and pictures flow perfectly together to leave the reader with a gentle, peaceful ending.
The illustrations are watercolor and pencil and capture the feeling of a spring day, with it's changes in weather and light. The words and pictures flow perfectly together to leave the reader with a gentle, peaceful ending.
July 9, 2021
Illustrations are beautiful but I just don't get it.
May 10, 2021
The stunningly gorgeous illustrations are the star of this picture book that looks at change, loss, hope, nature, and the things that stay the same and ground us.
May 18, 2021
Beautiful, thought-provoking, and profound. Classic Deborah Freedman!
December 11, 2021
Gorgeous illustrations.
September 10, 2021
Stunning art. Mesmerizing experiences of fleeting moments in time showing how quickly what is transforms into what was. And how the future is not yet spoken for.
Felt a little sorry for the predators even as I cheered the survival of the prey.
Felt a little sorry for the predators even as I cheered the survival of the prey.
September 16, 2021
A thoughtful picture book that connects past and present activities in a meadow. The evocative illustrations of clouds and rain, prey and predators, parent and child, will give attentive readers much to ponder. This is one of those books that will appeal to attentive readers of all ages and will be a useful resource to add to units on nature studies as well as a beautiful prompt for writing exercises.
October 1, 2021
The illustrations in this concept book are absolutely stunning! It is an exploration between the present and the past tense in the words IS and WAS. Young kids may just enjoy looking at the art though
May 1, 2021
I love everything about this beautiful book. It's a read aloud choice that will lead to great conversation with students.
July 15, 2021
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Is Was by Deborah Freedman, a gorgeous meditation on impermanence and the quiet, overwhelming beauty of nature.
The sky that was blue and the sky that now falls with rain are one and the same. Just as that rain created puddles for little animals to sip; just as the soft whispering song of the wind has now become the buzz of a bumblebee in flight. Just as, in the silence of nature, we can hear the earth’s heart beat, in time with a child swinging back and forth on their swing. Just as the day fades to night, skies become orange, then purple-pink, then the deepest blue and filled with stars – the same stars we all see and share.
Absolutely beautiful. Freedman has a wonderful talent for creating sweeping, compelling narratives that center around finding beauty in the world around us (her books This House, Once and Shy are still favorites of ours), and this peaceful, enchanting title is another wonderful example of it. Weaving together simple, rich artwork that practically bursts with sunshine, with sparse yet effective text (which itself combines soft prose and an utterly flawless use of onomatopoeia), the story explores the themes of nature’s quiet beauty, and how the cycles of nature are essential to that beauty, perfectly. On its own, this is a lovely subject for any little bookworm; and yet, with the author’s dedication (“for you/and everyone you’ve loved/who is/or was”) as context, it can also be a beautiful way to explore grief, loss, and renewal in our personal lives as well. The length is perfect for a storytime or bedtime book, and JJ and I both loved it. Stunning, timeless, and Baby Bookworm approved.
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
May 16, 2021
With gorgeous illustrations, the change from 'is' to 'was' is introduced through nature in a way which keeps boredom away.
The difference between is and was is presented in these pages through changes in nature. While it starts out basic enough (blue sky turns to downpour), the illustrations soon glide into various forms of past and present (a chipmunk drinks from the puddles, only to dart away and leave a bird flying to flowers instead). The scenes are lively and yet calming...simple and yet with enough details to awaken curiosity and have the listener wanting to revisit them again. And then, the entire books takes a broader arc as the 'is' of daylight becomes a 'was' and night time settles in.
Firstly, I love the illustrations. These are the kind which demand attention thanks not only to their beauty but due to the familiar scenes and interesting 'unspoken' tales. The text is kept short and sometimes just floats along as a word or two on the page. It adds a calm and artistic atmosphere, while allowing the visual scenes to hit with their full glory. This is the kind of picture book which can be read aloud to a group, but kids will want to get their fingers on it themselves, so they can flip through the illustrations and let them soak in. And they'll discover all sorts of simple adventures, too.
The difference between 'is' and 'was' is subtly brought across in a unique manner, which promises and delivers so much more along the way
I received a complimentary copy and really enjoyed diving into these pages.
The difference between is and was is presented in these pages through changes in nature. While it starts out basic enough (blue sky turns to downpour), the illustrations soon glide into various forms of past and present (a chipmunk drinks from the puddles, only to dart away and leave a bird flying to flowers instead). The scenes are lively and yet calming...simple and yet with enough details to awaken curiosity and have the listener wanting to revisit them again. And then, the entire books takes a broader arc as the 'is' of daylight becomes a 'was' and night time settles in.
Firstly, I love the illustrations. These are the kind which demand attention thanks not only to their beauty but due to the familiar scenes and interesting 'unspoken' tales. The text is kept short and sometimes just floats along as a word or two on the page. It adds a calm and artistic atmosphere, while allowing the visual scenes to hit with their full glory. This is the kind of picture book which can be read aloud to a group, but kids will want to get their fingers on it themselves, so they can flip through the illustrations and let them soak in. And they'll discover all sorts of simple adventures, too.
The difference between 'is' and 'was' is subtly brought across in a unique manner, which promises and delivers so much more along the way
I received a complimentary copy and really enjoyed diving into these pages.
August 10, 2021
A beautiful, lyrical story with spare, poetic language examines present and past (with a nod to life/ death) all through two simple words: is, was. As the young main character moves through a day, the reader experiences the natural rhythm of the world and witnesses the moments of change. Perfect pacing supports this meditative and hopeful book. Gorgeous, soft watercolor art, rich with story detail, pulls the reader into the world of this quiet, but profound day.
November 18, 2021
A beautiful, contemplative tour through the impermanence of life. From rain to survival, the gentle, poetic picturebook is coloured by a repeating refrain of 'is' and 'was' throughout as we flow from now to then and the mystery and beauty that comes with life's transitions. Minimal text set against full-bleeds of soft watercolour and pencil backgrounds.
June 18, 2021
Throughout a day in a meadow, readers will explore what is happening now and then what also was. The sky is blue until the rain comes. The rain was falling and now is puddles for animals to sip from. The fox is stalking the yellow bird who was drinking from the puddle. The buzz from the bees is in the sunshine. The shadow of a hawk is where the chipmunk was. Quiet comes to the meadow as the light changes to evening with its pinks and purples where blue once was. A child swinging in the evening joins their mother on the porch to watch the sky change and enjoy the quiet that is nightfall and the day that was.
Freedman excels at using only the words needed to keep the story flowing. The movement of now to past swirls past the reader again and again as time moves forward and circumstances change slowly and quickly. The wildlife in the meadow is a marvelous look at change as is the weather and the sky itself. It creates a vibrant look at the creatures themselves, their interaction and the sweep of the day as it passes with rain and sun.
The illustrations are full of color and light. From the golden sun of buzzing bees to the blue of rain to the pinks of the sunset arriving. Freedman allows some of the pages to stand with few or no words, showing the meadow grasses, stone wall and flowering trees, allowing the quiet to be still for the reader too.
A lovely look at our world as moments pass. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Freedman excels at using only the words needed to keep the story flowing. The movement of now to past swirls past the reader again and again as time moves forward and circumstances change slowly and quickly. The wildlife in the meadow is a marvelous look at change as is the weather and the sky itself. It creates a vibrant look at the creatures themselves, their interaction and the sweep of the day as it passes with rain and sun.
The illustrations are full of color and light. From the golden sun of buzzing bees to the blue of rain to the pinks of the sunset arriving. Freedman allows some of the pages to stand with few or no words, showing the meadow grasses, stone wall and flowering trees, allowing the quiet to be still for the reader too.
A lovely look at our world as moments pass. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
October 4, 2021
This picture book is now available for loan from the SEC at Harcourt Hill Library
May 12, 2021
It is rare that a completely unique book falls into your lap, but this new one by Deborah Freedman is quite original. The concept is simple - she is introducing readers to the difference between IS and WAS. Present and past. Told with sparse text, dreamy illustrations, and poetic reflections on how nature changes and yet remains the same - this is a fascinating, layered picture book.
October 23, 2021
This is an absolutely perfect picture book, with true all-ages appeal. Ten stars.
Freedman manages to capture a complex, abstract concept with the simplest words and images; constant change. This is Heraclitus for the picture book set. The sky was blue, the sky was cloudy, the sky was sunny, the sky is dark, but it's all the same sky. The child is swinging on the swing and is here ... and here ... and here ...
She uses images of the natural world to add interest, and this isn't that fake, friendly natural world that you see far too often in picture books. The foxes are NOT friends with the songbirds, the hawks are NOT friends with the chipmunks, and the bees are NOT friends with the spider (full disclosure: the bee is eaten by the spider, but the songbird & chipmunk make a safe getaway). The songbird flies through the sunflowers, the chipmunk hides in a pile of rocks. (The songbird is all yellow and looks like a canary, but the landscape looks like North America, where the bird should be a goldfinch. But I'll let that pass.)
I especially appreciated the subtle wordplay: "is" is the sound of rain falling, "was" is the sound of the bee buzzing.
Her artwork is gorgeous - truly a work of art, and I sat and admired each page.
This is the second 5 star picture book I've read from Freedman, so the only question now is: why haven't I read the rest of her books??
Freedman manages to capture a complex, abstract concept with the simplest words and images; constant change. This is Heraclitus for the picture book set. The sky was blue, the sky was cloudy, the sky was sunny, the sky is dark, but it's all the same sky. The child is swinging on the swing and is here ... and here ... and here ...
She uses images of the natural world to add interest, and this isn't that fake, friendly natural world that you see far too often in picture books. The foxes are NOT friends with the songbirds, the hawks are NOT friends with the chipmunks, and the bees are NOT friends with the spider (full disclosure: the bee is eaten by the spider, but the songbird & chipmunk make a safe getaway). The songbird flies through the sunflowers, the chipmunk hides in a pile of rocks. (The songbird is all yellow and looks like a canary, but the landscape looks like North America, where the bird should be a goldfinch. But I'll let that pass.)
I especially appreciated the subtle wordplay: "is" is the sound of rain falling, "was" is the sound of the bee buzzing.
Her artwork is gorgeous - truly a work of art, and I sat and admired each page.
This is the second 5 star picture book I've read from Freedman, so the only question now is: why haven't I read the rest of her books??
November 9, 2021
Deborah Freedman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her illustrations range from adorably cute to stunningly beautiful. Her stories are sweet, quirky, deep, and introspective. I could stare at her artwork for hours, and would love prints from her books to decorate my library.
“Is Was” did not have the lighthearted humor “Blue Chicken” or “By Mouse and Frog” my children so cherished. It did not have the heartwarming friendships “Shy” and “The Story of Fish and Snail” so lovingly brought to life. It did have sight words my boys have been learning, and they treasured every chance to say “Is” and “Was” during each read.
“Is Was” is beautifully illustrated through watercolors with dazzling shades of greens, blues, and pinks. It details the passing of time, the changes in nature, and transitions all around, big and small. Sweet little critters help tell the tale, especially one curious little chipmunk I’ve grown quite fond of after so many reads. The “Is Was” is seen, and even heard through the buzz of a bee or the swoosh of a swing.
“Is was is was is was is was.”
I can hear it in the creak of the swing’s chain.
“This sky is the same sky that was blue…”
Perhaps I’m feeling deeply nostalgic as 2021 comes racing to a close. Maybe it’s my baby’s first birthday creeping up on me faster than I care to admit. Or my boys constant growth that only seems to accelerate. Or maybe it’s the deep, difficult, powerful change that’s taken place the last few years of my life. Perhaps Freedman didn’t intend to leave me puzzled, conflicted, pensive, contemplative.
…yet here we are.
If you’ve not discovered Freedman’s work, do yourself a favor and go buy “Blue Chicken.” You won’t regret it. Then, devour everything else she’s written, slow down and examine each stunning page in each brilliant book, and read them over and over with someone you love. Because this moment is fleeting, and was something to be treasured.
“Is Was” did not have the lighthearted humor “Blue Chicken” or “By Mouse and Frog” my children so cherished. It did not have the heartwarming friendships “Shy” and “The Story of Fish and Snail” so lovingly brought to life. It did have sight words my boys have been learning, and they treasured every chance to say “Is” and “Was” during each read.
“Is Was” is beautifully illustrated through watercolors with dazzling shades of greens, blues, and pinks. It details the passing of time, the changes in nature, and transitions all around, big and small. Sweet little critters help tell the tale, especially one curious little chipmunk I’ve grown quite fond of after so many reads. The “Is Was” is seen, and even heard through the buzz of a bee or the swoosh of a swing.
“Is was is was is was is was.”
I can hear it in the creak of the swing’s chain.
“This sky is the same sky that was blue…”
Perhaps I’m feeling deeply nostalgic as 2021 comes racing to a close. Maybe it’s my baby’s first birthday creeping up on me faster than I care to admit. Or my boys constant growth that only seems to accelerate. Or maybe it’s the deep, difficult, powerful change that’s taken place the last few years of my life. Perhaps Freedman didn’t intend to leave me puzzled, conflicted, pensive, contemplative.
…yet here we are.
If you’ve not discovered Freedman’s work, do yourself a favor and go buy “Blue Chicken.” You won’t regret it. Then, devour everything else she’s written, slow down and examine each stunning page in each brilliant book, and read them over and over with someone you love. Because this moment is fleeting, and was something to be treasured.
August 12, 2021
Readers can capture the beauty of nature’s transformation through is and was. Stunning watercolor art stretches across each page, showing how easy nature changes the colors and sounds of the day. Paired with simple text, teaching past and present tense will have young readers listening, looking, and learning.
September 11, 2021
Beautiful. Lyrical. A gem of a book.
May 24, 2021
Deborah Freedman's illustrations are irresistible to me. (See Blue Chicken.) I had to stop again and again while reading Is Was to savor the pictures. They're exquisite. I'm also glad I read it aloud to myself, otherwise, I might have missed the onomatopoeia of the spread with the swings. I'm excited to share it with kids, to see it through their eyes.
May 4, 2022
Stunning. Written from a child’s point of view, this picture book explores the continual cycle of “was is, is was” that is nature on the earth. I love listening to children’s descriptions of the world they live and explore in, and I loved this book!
May 6, 2021
What a beautiful book! Loved it!
September 27, 2021
A gorgeous picture book and totally hard to describe.
October 25, 2021
Visually beautiful and comforting, this book emphasizes the changes (big and small) that happen all the time. I loved the "Blue is. Blue was." spread and the general message, though this book was a challenge to read to my preschooler (and keep her attention). A 2022 Caldecott contender.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews