Angels on a Pin

by Barbara Helen Berger

This funfilled book tells of a magical world where entire cities filled with dancing angels happily live on the heads of pins.

Genres: Science Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2000

About the author

Barbara Helen Berger grew up loving to draw and paint. She studied Art at the University of Washington in Seattle, her home town, where she earned a BFA degree in Painting. During her five years of study, she also went to Yale Summer School of Music & Art, and to Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy. In Italy she saw the art she had loved from childhood, seen in her father's art books at home.

For ten years after college, she worked as a painter with gallery shows in Seattle. Then beginning in 1980 she turned her focus to children's books. She says, “All along, I loved writing too. My secret wish was to bring art and words together in my own books.”

Her first was Animalia, inspired by illuminated manuscripts (Celestial Arts, 1982, re-issued by Tricycle Press, 1999). Then she went on to create the picture books she is known for, including Grandfather Twilight, considered a bedtime classic, The Donkey's Dream, and A Lot of Otters, (all from Philomel Books). She also wrote and illustrated Gwinna, a fairytale in chapters (Philomel, 1990). In All the Way to Lhasa: a Tale from Tibet, she blended her style with the influence of Tibetan art (Philomel, 2002). And in Thunder Bunny, her newest book, she blends her style with the medium of collage (Philomel, 2007).

Berger's books have won awards for both the art and writing: the Golden Kite Award for Picture-Illustration, Parents' Choice Foundation Award for Illustration, the Children's Book Award from Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and twice a Washington State Governor's Writers Award. Original paintings from her books have been exhibited around the country. She says, “From beginning to end, the process of creating is still my biggest joy.”

Ms. Berger lives on Bainbridge Island, in the Pacific Northwest. She received the honor of an Island Treasure Award in 2006 from the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council.

Reviews

[Smurf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the color scheme of the pictures (black and a silvery purple/blue in the background) and the pictures were fun to look at. The story was a little strange to me, but still enjoyable.

[Cashie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the artwork of the story—the colors are sort of soft and blurred while still retaining their shape.

[Caroline May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this book was a little too abstract for children to understand the deeper meaning. From a child's point of view, they understand that the angels are finding each other, but in a more realistic sense, the author is maybe trying to push the idea that there are other worlds out there besides our own. I didn't really like the story line, it was kinda boring, and it didn't really make much sense.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story has the same concept of a world thinking they are the only world and thing realizing they are really a very small spec in a larger world. In this Angels on a Pin they find that there is many other civilizations on pins, that they are not alone. I personally didn't love the story but it projects the idea of other universes out there. Questioning if we really are the only planet with life.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do Angels take up matter? Who cares. I hate Sci-Fi usually and this book I can't seem to figure out the purpose of it. It wouldn't be able to relate to any of my activities and doesn't teach anything. This is honestly my least favorite section. I don't like the books or movies. I can't seem to point out on thing from this book that I could like????

[Austin Francis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what the point of the book was. Is it trying to say we're not the only ones in the universe? It's kind of like "Horton Hears a Who". I feel like this book could have been condensed into 2 pages. It was filled with fluff with the angels dancing with each other. Seriously. there's like 3 pages where it describes the angels' dance moves using scat words.

[Halli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book. I felt like there was no point to the book. I was not sure what the moral or message the author was trying to tell the reader. There was a lot going on and it seemed like the book was a little too abstract for children. I did not really enjoy or understand the point of the book.

[Rebecca Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids may not understand the deeper meaning, but this is one of the better picture books of the sci-fi genre. It is a fun way to present the idea that the world is big, and the Universe is huge. There is more than just us and more than we can see it comprehend, but it's a beautiful thing, even if we cannot yet realize it completely.

[Staci Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually liked this book a lot. While this was really the only childrens book we read I thought it was still fun and cooky enough to be enjoyable. I think to introduce what science fiction is and the characteristics of it. I would use this book to read, if not just an option for my students to read.

[Heidi Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is kind of deep somehow for kids. because people can have different feedback and thoughts after reading it. It talks about having different world/ cities when we know we not the only one. I kind of need to read it over again to make sure myself picking up what it wants me to understand about. But so far it is a nice book to make children widen their horizon.

[Ariane Morrissette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't particularly enjoy this book. I think maybe I liked the idea of it more than I actually liked the book itself. It was just kind of odd and I didn't like the cliff hanger aspect of it. Maybe kids would be more fond of this but as an adult I really didn't think that this book had very much going for it.

[April Poulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. It's definitely not my favorite picture book, but as far as science fiction goes, it's pretty good. I actually think that this book makes for a great segway into a science discussion/lesson on space.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was very strange and kind of hard to follow along with. I do not think that children would be interested in this book very much because it was slow and not very exciting, the drawings were not amazing and nothing about this book really stood out to me.

[Ashlyn Phillips · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought it was an okay attempt on science fiction in a picture book. I still love the classic sci-fi novel better because of the detail and story that the novel provides. I thought this book wasn't horrible, just not my favorite.

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved having this book read to me as a young'un! I was excited as soon as I heard about us having it in class today! I think that it has wonderful illustration and a beautiful storyline. I really see this as a must need children's storybook read around the nation and world.

[Emilee Wirth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was okay, but it is not something I would read to my children. I feel that there is too much what if. Such as, what if the future was this way or another. Children sometimes have a hard time with what if either something exists to them or not.

[Kenzie Cornelison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book rather interesting. I thought it was cute at the same time. Is it one that I will read to my future students? Probably not. But I didn't mind the book completely. I think the only thing this book is good for is so there is some picture books in the science fiction catagory.

[Katie Hibbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book, especially for children. It is definitely one that can allow them to think and talk about the universe that we live in. I don't necessarily think it is the best book for children, but it is one that may open their minds a little bit.

[Sapphire Moosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect way to introduce children to science fiction. Make them think slightly out side of the box as well as something that can relate to us. The art work is also fun so it is sure to grab their attention.

Have fun reading.

[Celeste Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get where the author was going with this book & I think it's a good concept. However I don't think I would read this book to my classroom, only because I don't think younger children would be able to grasp it... I don't think some adults could even grasp it.

[Liaken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? If so, take a peek at this book. The art is wonderful.

[Caroline Dougherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a weird story line. I don't know that I would pick to have this on the shelf in my classroom

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't get the point of this story. I didn't think it was that clever or cute. I felt completely unsatisfied after reading it.

[Mackenzie Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are really cute! But that's about all this book really has going for it, aside from the small imagination factor.

[Nicole Packer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't necessarily into this book very much! I didn't quite understand the point of the book. It didn't make any sense to me at all! I don't think I will have this one in the classroom.

[Samantha Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was weird. Why would you want to know if angles live on a pinhead? I think that I would have this book in my classroom only because it will get kids to think.

[Abby Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a different book. It is interesting, but it makes you think. It would be a fun book to read to a younger age group.

[Kaylyn Bud · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird book, not very interesting and doesn't particularly make sense to me. I don't even think little kids would enjoy this book.

[Karen P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had an interesting concept, but I found the delivery lacking. I couldn't understand the point of the story and it had an abrupt ending.

[Amanda Eastmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was an interesting concept because I hadn't ever asked myself if angels take up space or not. I thought children would think it was a fun story though.