Gerda MullerRezensionen

Alba y Tomás están entusiasmados: ¡se mudan a una casa nueva! Tienen muchas ganas de jugar en su nuevo jardín, pero primero deben limpiarlo, decidir qué plantarán y aprender a cuidarlo.

En este precioso cuento, acompañaremos a Alba y a Tomás a lo largo de un año y observaremos cómo cambia su jardín en cada estación. Y también descubriremos, por supuesto, las divertidas actividades que pueden hacer en cada momento: desde refrescarse en verano hasta jugar con la nieve en invierno, pasando por asar castañas al fuego en otoño u organizar pícnics con los amigos en primavera.

Sea cuando sea, el jardín les regala infinitas oportunidades para divertirse mientras cuidan la naturaleza.

¡Con un anexo de conocimientos!

Junto a la cautivadora narración, Un año en nuestro jardín también ofrece consejos de jardinería, actividades con elementos de la naturaleza y curiosidades sobre los animales y las plantas.

Una combinación inspiradora que despertará en los lectores las ganas de descubrir la naturaleza, de cuidarla y de jugar al aire libre.

Acclaimed Dutch children's author and artist Gerda Muller retells the famous German story of The Sorcerer's Apprentice in this lovely picture-book. Running away from his cruel and miserly master, Oliver the goatherd finds his way to a nearby town, where a kindly sorcerer named Alfred takes him in, and agrees to make him his apprentice. Oliver takes to his new position well, and performs all of the menial tasks asked of him satisfactorily, but he longs to learn about magic. When Alfred must go away for the day, Oliver uses the three magic words that his master had taught him, even though he had promised not to do so, without supervision. The resulting chaos almost causes Oliver to lose his position, but wise Alfred gives him a chance to set things right...

Originally published in France as L'apprenti sorcier, and translated into English for the Edinburgh-based Floris Books, The Sorcerer's Apprentice is based upon Goethe's classic poem, Der Zauberlehrling, and relates a story that many Anglophone children will find familiar, whether from the Disney film Fantasia, or from the popular modern picture-book Strega Nona, which utilizes the same tale type. I found Muller's telling (and Polly Lawson's translation) entertaining, and her accompanying artwork charming. I particularly enjoyed all of the magical little details in the artwork, from the decorative endpapers to the many magical accoutrements - a sorcerer's hat, a fish with wings attached to the wall - seen in Alfred's house. I also appreciated the fact that it is Alfred's two cats, charmingly depicted, who lead Oliver to his new home. All in all, a lovely retelling, one that I would recommend to young folk and fairy-tale lovers.

A delightful story of a baby hedgehog exploring the world (the yard and garden where they live in a burrow), alone and with his family.
Excellent for beginning students of German, and can be translated "on the fly" for English-speaking children.

(Dates for most recent reading.)

Sofía vive en la ciudad, pero pasa las vacaciones en casa de sus abuelos, en el campo. Tienen un magnífico huerto con verduras. Por primera vez podrá plantar lo que más le guste y cuidarlo. Sembrar, plantar, recoger..., los abuelos le enseñarán todo lo necesario para ser una buena jardinera. Así, Sofía descubrirá los misterios de las plantas y los secretos que se esconden debajo de la tierra.

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Goldilocks lives in a caravan, and her parents work in a circus. One day, Goldilocks ventures off into the woods and sees a little home in the clearing in the forest. The home was empty but featured furniture and food of varying sizes. Goldilocks makes herself at home and eventually falls asleep. We find out that the home belongs to a family of bears. Goldilocks wakes up due to the noise and runs away. She learns not to go into someone's home without knocking.

I gave this story four stars because I liked the twist of her being part of a circus family. Instead of victimizing the little girl like a lot of people would do, this story teaches proper etiquette and manners. Another thing I liked was the generosity of baby bear. Instead of being mad and mean to the girl, he asks if she would like some more porridge, even though she broke into his home. That is another good lesson to teach children--always be generous and think of others, even when it may be hard to do so.

Sophie est une petite fille de la ville, mais elle passe toutes ses vacances à la campagne, chez ses grands-parents. Ils ont un magnifique potager, où poussent toutes sortes de légumes. Cette année Sophie a la chance d'avoir des outils juste à sa taille, et va pour la première fois faire ses propres plantations. Ses grands-parents lui apprennent les gestes précis et les soins attentifs du bon jardinier. Il faut penser à tout, à désherber et aérer la terre, à protéger les petites bêtes utiles et à se méfier de la piéride du chou et des doryphores ! Au fil des saisons, Sophie découvre les mystères des plantes et les insoupçonnables secrets de la vie sous terre.

I liked this retelling of the Goldilocks & the Three Bears story. The illustrations were nice, and there was a backstory to Goldlocks that was pretty cool. The various details were rendered sensibly (e.g., porridge was hot, still too hot, and just right; as opposed to, "too hot", "too cold", and "just right", which never made sense), and I liked how the bears were friendly at the end.

One of the most memorable books from childhood was this one. I loved then and now the details about trying the big, medium, and small repetition language until it was just right. This could help emergent readers with predictive language. As a kid, I never knew there were many versions of the stories I always assumed it was written only one way. Therefore, when I began reading I was very much confused from the caravan circus traveling I did not remember this detail even through reading this book many times, this is when I realized this change in style of writing, it becomes a more modernized story. The illustrations are much different as well with the bears having more realistic features. The girl seemed smaller in contrast in these images as well. This books lesson of knocking when entering and being polite is important for children. The style of setting applies in this book through the foreshadowing of the mother saying "stay on the path" and the creepy wonderous woods.

This picture book features more text than many do but would be a good book for early readers, although some vocabulary terms may be a little advanced. The illustrations are nicely done. An interactive activity in the front and back of the book encourages readers to match the numbered fruit to its numbered flower. This book would work well with a unit on edible plants. I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Two red-headed siblings enjoy the beauties and pleasures of winter in this delightful wordless board-book from Gerda Muller, a prolific Dutch picture-book creator. Snowball fights, making a snowman, ice-skating, decorating a Christmas tree - these are just some of the delights of the season...

One of a collection of four seasonal board books from Muller, Winter was published separately, in this wordless format, by Edinburgh-based Floris Books, and was also combined with its three companions (Spring, Summer, Autumn) and published by New York-based Dutton Children's Books, as Circle of the Seasons. The latter, which I have not read, has text added by Lucia Monfried. Leaving that history of publication aside, this is just a charming little board book celebration of winter. I think it is best appreciated in conjunction with its companions, which I picked up at the same time. Muller's artwork is beautiful - a real pleasure to peruse! I will definitely be looking for more of her work.

A group of rural children enjoy the beauty of autumn in this charming wordless board book from Dutch picture-book creator Gerda Muller. Walking in the rain, playing in the leaves, flying a kite - there are many pleasures to be had in the fall...

Originally published in the Netherlands as Herfst, this is one of a collection of four board books from Muller, each devoted to a different season. Each title - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter - was published separately in this wordless edition by Edinburgh-based Floris Books, while all four were combined by New York-based Dutton Children's Books as Circle of the Seasons, with text added by Lucia Monfried. I have not read the Monfried title, but given my enjoyment of these individual board books, am becoming quite curious about it. Autumn is a lovely book, although American readers should note that given the Dutch cultural context of the book, some of the festivals we associate with this time of year - Halloween and Thanksgiving in particular - are not depicted. Leaving that aside (and it is not a criticism, just an observation), Muller's artwork here captures all the joy of this particular season. Recommended, together with its companions, to anyone looking for board books about the seasons, as well as to those who enjoy wordless picture-books.

A little boy and girl enjoy the wonders of summer in this lovely wordless board book from Dutch picture-book creator Gerda Muller. From playing at the pond to going to the beach, enjoying a family picnic to working in the garden, they participate in many of the classic countryside pursuits...

One of four interrelated board books, each one devoted to a different season, Summer (much like its companions) depicts an idyllic rural life, one in which the children on a farm get to enjoy the beauty and excitement of the natural world around them. The artwork is beautiful, and ably captures the delight of each scene. Muller's four seasonal board books - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter - were published individually in this wordless edition by Edinburgh-based Floris Books, although they have also been combined into one book (Circle of Seasons) by New York-based Dutton Children's Books, with text added by Lucia Monfried. I have not seen the Monfried title, and cannot comment upon it, but these individual board books are just charming! I recommend them to anyone looking for board books about the four seasons, as well as to anyone who enjoys wordless picture-books.

One of a set of four board books from Dutch picture-book artist Gerda Muller, each one depicting a different season of the year, this charming wordless tale is devoted (as the title suggests) to Spring. The artwork follows a young child through various activities on her (or his?) farm, from feeding the animals to painting Easter Eggs. On one particularly lovely two-page spread, father and child walk through a green meadow, a rainbow in the sky above them...

The four books in this collection have all been presented to an English-speaking audience (I won't say they've been translated, since they are wordless) as individual board books by the Edinburgh-based publisher, Floris Books. It's interesting to note that they were also combined in 1995 into one book by the New York-based Dutton Children's Books, as Circle of Seasons, with text added Lucia Monfried. Having not read the Monfried picture-book, I cannot comment upon it. As for Spring, it is a sweet, lovely little book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for board books about the season, as well as to those who enjoy wordless picture-books

This classic story is retold by Gerda Muller. In this version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Muller shares the same storyline as the original, but it is more modern for children to comprehend. As the original version of this story, Goldilocks enters a family's home uninvited. The only difference this story has from the original is that Goldilocks travels with her family who work in a circus and she lives in a caravan. The theme of this book is to always be cautious of your actions, because sometime your actions may hurt others. In the story, Goldilocks is too concerned about her needs that she did not realize that her actions are disrespectful towards the bears. She welcomed herself into their home without permission, messed up the house, ate their food, and slept in their beds. Overall, I love the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and this version was enjoyable to read. The illustrations were very well detailed and fit the text perfectly.

Charming nature story with beautiful wildlife illustrations.

When Benjamin and Anna visit their cousin Robin, who lives with his family on the edge of the forest, they are quickly introduced to the three-hundred-year-old oak tree that grows nearby. The children build a den near the tree, and enjoy the beauty of the autumn foliage as they witness how the great oak provides shelter for many animals. They visit again in the winter and spring, observing the ancient tree through the seasons, as it continues to provide shelter to the residents of the forest. Benjamin himself is in need of that shelter when he wanders out one night, and encounters some wild boars. When the year comes full circle, and summer is ending, the children throw the great old oak a birthday party, in thanksgiving for the blessings it brings to them, and to the world.

Originally published in German as Unser Baum (literally, "Our Tree"), this engaging picture-book from Gerda Muller is a celebration of the role of one tree in a wider ecosystem, but also of the bond between humans and the natural world around them. As someone who had a favourite tree myself as a girl - I have treasured memories of swinging upside down from the Japanese Maple in my front yard, growing up - I identified with Robin's love for this one special tree, and also appreciated the feeling of enchantment that a visit to the country would have provided Benjamin and Anna. I liked the lessons about respecting wildlife that were worked into the larger story - the children, together with Robin's forester father, are careful to keep their distance while observing the badgers and other animals coming for an evening drink at the pond - and also found the artwork appealing. I particularly liked the scene with the owls in the nighttime, and the decorative endpapers. All in all, A Year Around the Great Oak is an appealing picture-book, one I would recommend to young nature and tree-lovers.

Same basic story. The only stray detail i noticed is that this Goldilocks traveled with a circus. I dont even know why the author offered this detail, it didnt change anything from the most popular version of this tale. Strange.

published in Germany