Review by jeanmtdb -- A Long Ago place by Donna Betten
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jeanmtdb
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Review by jeanmtdb -- A Long Ago place by Donna Betten
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Long Ago place" by Donna Betten.]
A Long-Ago Place by Donna Betten is a wistful story of a woman who reminisces about a time long ago. A grown woman is sitting under the mulberry tree when perfect conditions guide her to a simpler time. She is flooded with memories of how she pretended to be a working mother taking care of her babies when she was young. The memories are sweet and happy. The girl pretends her dolls and stuffed animals are her babies and her home is under a mulberry tree. A large rock is the stove and then the bathtub. She works as a secretary and comes home to take care of her children. When her real-life ends playtime for her young self, she comes back to the present. How do these memories make her feel as an adult?
The illustrator, Julie Westmaas, captures the spirit of the book and enhances the emotional effect of the prose. The illustrations add to the reflective mood of the story and the colors match the tone of the story perfectly. The cover art is very nostalgic and captivates the reader’s interest. The author paints a memory with words. The writing style is both poetic and peaceful. The reader slips into the girl’s wistful memories easily. The book is long enough to develop the story and short enough to hold a child’s interest. There is nothing I didn’t like about this book.
I have a paperback edition of the book as well as the Kindle version. I prefer the paperback book. The Kindle version of the book has a very limited display of each page. The font is small and hard to read. Also, the Kindle displays only one page at a time and the reader loses the impact of seeing two pages at the same time as the book is meant to be viewed. As an adult reading to a child, I feel that touching the pages and turning the pages is more personal and intimate. The paperback version provides a better experience.
I gladly rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. While there are a few very minor errors, they are unnoticeable when the reader is immersed in the wonderful wording of a memory.
I would recommend this book to readers from 5 years through adulthood. I believe it will appeal to girls more than boys, but all children and adults can enjoy this book. A 5-year-old child will understand most of the book and can relate to pretend-play. Donna Betten reminds us of the importance of pretend-play as a child and the emotions that memories can evoke. Several pages at the end of the book encourage a child to record their future memories. A Long-Ago Place creates the opportunity for a conversation between parent and child that can build lasting bonds.
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A Long Ago place
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A Long-Ago Place by Donna Betten is a wistful story of a woman who reminisces about a time long ago. A grown woman is sitting under the mulberry tree when perfect conditions guide her to a simpler time. She is flooded with memories of how she pretended to be a working mother taking care of her babies when she was young. The memories are sweet and happy. The girl pretends her dolls and stuffed animals are her babies and her home is under a mulberry tree. A large rock is the stove and then the bathtub. She works as a secretary and comes home to take care of her children. When her real-life ends playtime for her young self, she comes back to the present. How do these memories make her feel as an adult?
The illustrator, Julie Westmaas, captures the spirit of the book and enhances the emotional effect of the prose. The illustrations add to the reflective mood of the story and the colors match the tone of the story perfectly. The cover art is very nostalgic and captivates the reader’s interest. The author paints a memory with words. The writing style is both poetic and peaceful. The reader slips into the girl’s wistful memories easily. The book is long enough to develop the story and short enough to hold a child’s interest. There is nothing I didn’t like about this book.
I have a paperback edition of the book as well as the Kindle version. I prefer the paperback book. The Kindle version of the book has a very limited display of each page. The font is small and hard to read. Also, the Kindle displays only one page at a time and the reader loses the impact of seeing two pages at the same time as the book is meant to be viewed. As an adult reading to a child, I feel that touching the pages and turning the pages is more personal and intimate. The paperback version provides a better experience.
I gladly rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. While there are a few very minor errors, they are unnoticeable when the reader is immersed in the wonderful wording of a memory.
I would recommend this book to readers from 5 years through adulthood. I believe it will appeal to girls more than boys, but all children and adults can enjoy this book. A 5-year-old child will understand most of the book and can relate to pretend-play. Donna Betten reminds us of the importance of pretend-play as a child and the emotions that memories can evoke. Several pages at the end of the book encourage a child to record their future memories. A Long-Ago Place creates the opportunity for a conversation between parent and child that can build lasting bonds.
******
A Long Ago place
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Did you know by Ashok Bhaskaran
