Review by Booklist Review
Life is full of mysteries, many of which people have pondered for ages. In this bilingual edition of Book of Questions, we follow 70 of Neruda's original 320 questions, each accompanied by gorgeous art and imagery from Chilean artist Valdivia. Though written in 1973, the questions are timeless and full of childlike wonder. Many feel like riddles, such as "Where is the center of the sea? / Why don't waves break there?" or "What do you call a flower / that flits from bird to bird?," which is paired with an image of a person blowing on a dandelion puff. Multiple gatefolds, dramatic contrasts in color, and lovely print-making techniques combine into an impactful visual presentation of Neruda's curiosity-stoking queries. For those who love contemplative exercises, creative thinking prompts, or opportunities to revel in the universe's surprises, this book will be a delight. A dreamlike, artistic celebration of life and all its unique mysteries, fit for readers of any age.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Intriguing questions with no answers make up this oversize dual-language volume by two Chilean creators, featuring Neruda's sophisticated musings. Paulson's translations of the poet's lines are sometimes playful--"When I look once more at the sea,/ does the sea see me or not see me?"--and often beautiful: "So, how do roots know/ they must rise up to the light// And later greet the air with crowds of colorful flowers?" Employing a black, green, red, and yellow palette, Valdivia's artwork feels as dark and mysterious as Neruda's questions. Elegantly designed with many bonus gatefolds, the pages include humorous inquiries such as, "Why, when expecting snow,/ do trees take off their clothes?" and close with a final provocative one: "Might I ask my book /if I'm the one who really wrote it?" Similar to Jostein Gaarder's Questions Asked, this unusual collection will speak to thoughtful young readers who appreciate enigmas. Ages 7--up. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--Blues and reds and yellows weave in and out of words trailing one after another, poking and prodding the universe for answers to millennia-old questions: "Why do trees hide/ the splendor of their roots?" "Does the earth chirp like a cricket/ in the symphony of the skies?" Sixty of the original 316 questions penned by the inimitable Chilean poet Pablo Neruda perch on vibrant landscapes solo, in pairs, or in trilling triplets. Each rumination is compelling in its whimsy, yet profound in its simplicity. Just as a wish cast onto the heavens returns with a treasure, so too do the thoughts of the poet. "Where does the rainbow end,/ in your soul or on the horizon?" The answers, like the questions, dwell in infinity. Both the original Spanish and Paulson's English translation mirror the poignancy echoing from one tongue to the next. Her translations sustain the lyricism of Neruda's dreamscapes.Valdivia's stylized illustrations are striking and a perfect counterpoint to this wondrous collection of ethereal literary images. Both a translator and illustrator's note are included, but an author's biography is mystifyingly absent. VERDICT A lovely exploration of diversity, language, and culture, and a splendid introduction to Neruda's works for the very young.--Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima Cty. P. L., Tucson, AZ
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Review by Horn Book Review
This lavish volume includes excerpts from Neruda's Libro de las preguntas in the original Spanish alongside new English translations by Paulson. Valdivia's expansive illustrations in a limited, muted palette give readers plenty of space to dwell on each question. The questions themselves, mostly arranged as couplets, have no answers and often imaginative premises: "Who shouted for joy / when the color blue was born?" "Where can you find a bell / that rings inside your dreams?" Frequent gatefolds function as transitions between related illustrations (a peaceful mountain scene becomes a volcanic eruption, with similar changes in the flora and fauna) or as pauses between related questions ("Why do trees hide / the splendor of their roots?" [gatefold] "So, how do roots know / they must rise up to the light?"). Back matter includes notes about the source material and its meaning from the illustrator, editor, and translator. Endlessly perusable -- as long as you have the elbow room -- the book is perfectly pitched to encourage students to write their own question poems; pair with Kooser and Wanek's equally philosophical Marshmallow Clouds (rev. 3/22). Shoshana Flax May/June 2022 p.158(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Selections from Neruda's final work come magically to life with inventive illustrations in this bilingual volume. Completed shortly before his death in 1973, the original collection of 74 poems posing 320 questions has here been whittled down to 70 questions selected from 39 poems appearing both in English and the original Spanish. Readers will be enchanted by their mind-expanding whimsy and creativity. Chilean artist Valdivia's stylized artwork, executed predominantly in blues, reds, and yellows against black or white backgrounds, feels grounded in folk-art traditions. Created with pencil and ink, with photographs in the illustrator's note showing the work in progress, the full-page art is visually captivating and enhanced with texture--lines, splatters, blotting--both complementing and extending the text. "Does the earth chirp like a cricket / in the symphony of the skies? // Who shouted for joy / when the color blue was born?" is accompanied by a charcoal cricket standing against a dizzying swoop of blue expanse and the curve of rising mountains and vegetation. "Where can you find a bell / that rings inside your dreams? // Where does the stuff of dreams go? / Does it pass into the dreams of others?" is juxtaposed with an image of a rider, asleep beneath a blanket, astride a pregnant mare. Exquisite endpapers pay tribute to the universe contained within: "Where did the full moon forget / her flour-dusted nightgown?" A gorgeous work that stretches the imagination and delights the senses. (editor's note, translator's note) (Illustrated poetry. 5-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
