Blue on Blue
Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster) | ISBN 9781442412675
December 2014 | Grades K – 3
Join a farming family as they experience the full range of a thrilling seaside thunderstorm—from the wild wind and the very first drops; to the pouring, pouring rain; to the wonderful messy mud after the sun returns!
With gentle, rhyming text and vivid artwork from Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator, Beth Krommes, this sublime depiction of nature’s patterns turns a storm into a celebration.
Centered on a white-washed New England farmhouse and the fields and ocean that surround it, Krommes’s nostalgic scratchboard and watercolor spreads bring newcomer White’s clipped verse to life. … White’s graceful pacing spreads the energy of the storm across the arc of the story, while Krommes’s primitive folk art gives a sense of the rhythms of life and nature that recur from season to season, year to year.
Publishers Weekly, starred review
Succinct rhymes, measured and musical, trace the arc of the day, from morning to moontime, with astonishing restraint, grace and fluidity. Words land on readers’ ears with the pleasing, plodding patter of raindrops. Unexpected word choices endow simple poetry with remarkable inflections…”
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
The lines of text are evocative and brief, giving children the opportunity to savor the words. The scratchboard-and-watercolor pictures expand the text… offering more to see on each reading. A joyous, pelting, dripping celebration.
Booklist, starred review
A first-time author and a Caldecott Medalist convey the transformative experience of a rainstorm.
Shelf Awareness, starred review
Rhyming, spare text augments the striking scratchboard and watercolor illustrations. Round shapes and subtle warm colors create a sense of love and safety despite the storm… a strong choice for storytimes and one-on-one sharing.
School Library Journal
“I wish everyone could have a day just like the one portrayed in this wonderful picture book. Just the right amount of text walks the reader through the engaging, richly detailed artwork. It is a day of weather, rollicking, exploring, sunshine, mud, and, of course, the gentle wind down to sleepy time.” —Margaret Brennan Neville, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
Autumn 2014 Kids’ Indie Next List
Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2015
National Council for the Social Studies/ Children’s Book Council
Best Picture Books of 2014 – Boston Globe
Best Books of the Year 2014 (Ages 3-5) – Amazon
December’s Best Books for Young Readers – Washington Post
Republic Recommends: December 2014 Book Pick – Arizona Republic
Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2014 – Booklist
The Original Art 2014 Exhibition of the Society of Illustrators
Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List 2016 (Preschool Books)
2016 North Carolina Children’s (Picture Book) Award Nominee
Kansas State Reading Circle List Primary Title
Premio Gianni Rodari 2016 – for BLUE on BLUE in Italian, Ciao Cielo, with poetic translation by Bruno Tognolini – Best Picture Book 2016
Take a closer look!
Teacher’s Guide
Right-click on link to save the file to your computer.
About the Illustrations
Directed Drawing Activity
“A Rainy Day,” by K.W., age 5
Read-Aloud:
- BLUE on BLUE – (Read & Learn with Simon Kids)
Book Trailer
Out and About:
On ReaderKidZ:
On Cynsations:
- Guest Post: “Doing the Work”
In the Arizona Republic:
- Interview (Republic Reads – December 2014 “Pick of the Month”)
- Rhythm and ‘Blue’: Writer uses poetry to teach kids(“Best Life” feature, 2.16.15)
In the Washington Post:
Companion Books
- GREEN on GREEN, illustrated by Felicita Sala
- DARK on LIGHT, illustrated by Felicita Sala
