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Tuesday
A Caldecott classic celebrating twenty years in print.
David Wiesner received the 1991 Caldecott Medal for Tuesday. In the years that followed, he went on to receive two more Caldecotts, and Tuesday went on to sell half a million copies in the United States and to be published in a dozen foreign countries. Now, with remarkable advances in the technology of color reproduction, the original artwork for Tuesday is being reproduced anew, for an edition even more faithful to the palette and texture of David Wiesner’s watercolor paintings. The whimsical account of a Tuesday when frogs were airborne on their lily pads will continue to enchant readers of all ages.
David Wiesner received the 1991 Caldecott Medal for Tuesday. In the years that followed, he went on to receive two more Caldecotts, and Tuesday went on to sell half a million copies in the United States and to be published in a dozen foreign countries. Now, with remarkable advances in the technology of color reproduction, the original artwork for Tuesday is being reproduced anew, for an edition even more faithful to the palette and texture of David Wiesner’s watercolor paintings. The whimsical account of a Tuesday when frogs were airborne on their lily pads will continue to enchant readers of all ages.
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 1991
92 people are currently reading
8238 people want to read
About the author
David Wiesner
102 books625 followersDuring David Wiesner's formative years, the last images he saw before closing his eyes at night were the books, rockets, elephant heads, clocks, and magnifying glasses that decorated the wallpaper of his room. Perhaps it was this decor which awakened his creativity and gave it the dreamlike, imaginative quality so often found in his work.
As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner re-created his world daily in his imagination. His home and his neighborhood became anything from a faraway planet to a prehistoric jungle. When the everyday play stopped, he would follow his imaginary playmates into the pages of books, wandering among dinosaurs in the World Book Encyclopedia. The images before him generated a love of detail, an admiration for the creative process, and a curiosity about the hand behind the drawings.
In time, the young Wiesner began exploring the history of art, delving into the Renaissance at first — Michelangelo, Dürer, and da Vinci — then moving on to such surrealists as Magritte, de Chirico, and Dalí. As he got older, he would sit, inspired by these masters, at the oak drafting table his father had found for him and would construct new worlds on paper and create wordless comic books, such as Slop the Wonder Pig, and silent movies, like his kung fu vampire film The Saga of Butchula.
Wiesner has always been intrigued by and curious about what comes before and after the captured image. His books somehow convey the sequence of thoughts leading up to and following each picture, and that quality explain why they are frequently described as cinematic.
At the Rhode Island School of Design, Wiesner was able to commit himself to the full-time study of art and to explore further his passion for wordless storytelling. There he met two people who would figure prominently in his life: Tom Sgouros, to whom Tuesday is dedicated, and David Macaulay, to whom The Three Pigs is dedicated. These two men not only taught Wiesner the fundamentals of drawing and painting but also fostered his imaginative spirit and helped him comprehend the world around him. Sgouros's and Macaulay's artistic influences were vital to Wiesner's development into the acclaimed picture-book author he is today.
David Wiesner has illustrated more than twenty award-winning books for young readers. Two of the picture books he both wrote and illustrated became instant classics when they won the prestigious Caldecott Medal: Tuesday in 1992 and The Three Pigs in 2002. Two of his other titles, Sector 7 and Free Fall, are Caldecott Honor Books. An exhibit of Wiesner's original artwork, "Seeing the Story," toured the United States in 2000 and 2001. Among his many honors, Wiesner holds the Japan Picture Book Award for Tuesday, the Prix Sorcières (the French equivalent of the Caldecott Medal) for The Three Pigs, and a 2004 IBBY Honour Book nomination for illustration, also for The Three Pigs. Flotsam, his most recent work, was a New York Times bestseller and was recently named winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal, making Wiesner only the second person in the award’s long history to have won three times.
Wiesner lives with his wife and their son and daughter in the Philadelphia area, where he continues to create dreamlike and inventive images for books.
As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner re-created his world daily in his imagination. His home and his neighborhood became anything from a faraway planet to a prehistoric jungle. When the everyday play stopped, he would follow his imaginary playmates into the pages of books, wandering among dinosaurs in the World Book Encyclopedia. The images before him generated a love of detail, an admiration for the creative process, and a curiosity about the hand behind the drawings.
In time, the young Wiesner began exploring the history of art, delving into the Renaissance at first — Michelangelo, Dürer, and da Vinci — then moving on to such surrealists as Magritte, de Chirico, and Dalí. As he got older, he would sit, inspired by these masters, at the oak drafting table his father had found for him and would construct new worlds on paper and create wordless comic books, such as Slop the Wonder Pig, and silent movies, like his kung fu vampire film The Saga of Butchula.
Wiesner has always been intrigued by and curious about what comes before and after the captured image. His books somehow convey the sequence of thoughts leading up to and following each picture, and that quality explain why they are frequently described as cinematic.
At the Rhode Island School of Design, Wiesner was able to commit himself to the full-time study of art and to explore further his passion for wordless storytelling. There he met two people who would figure prominently in his life: Tom Sgouros, to whom Tuesday is dedicated, and David Macaulay, to whom The Three Pigs is dedicated. These two men not only taught Wiesner the fundamentals of drawing and painting but also fostered his imaginative spirit and helped him comprehend the world around him. Sgouros's and Macaulay's artistic influences were vital to Wiesner's development into the acclaimed picture-book author he is today.
David Wiesner has illustrated more than twenty award-winning books for young readers. Two of the picture books he both wrote and illustrated became instant classics when they won the prestigious Caldecott Medal: Tuesday in 1992 and The Three Pigs in 2002. Two of his other titles, Sector 7 and Free Fall, are Caldecott Honor Books. An exhibit of Wiesner's original artwork, "Seeing the Story," toured the United States in 2000 and 2001. Among his many honors, Wiesner holds the Japan Picture Book Award for Tuesday, the Prix Sorcières (the French equivalent of the Caldecott Medal) for The Three Pigs, and a 2004 IBBY Honour Book nomination for illustration, also for The Three Pigs. Flotsam, his most recent work, was a New York Times bestseller and was recently named winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal, making Wiesner only the second person in the award’s long history to have won three times.
Wiesner lives with his wife and their son and daughter in the Philadelphia area, where he continues to create dreamlike and inventive images for books.
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February 14, 2021[Book #15 for my grad school Children's Lit class]
July 19, 2017
To see this week's Wordless Picture Books, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com by clicking HERE
David Wiesner is a favorite as you know from some of my previous reviews. He never ceases to amaze me and this book is such a beautiful and magical addition to our collection.
The story begins in the early evening on a Tuesday and all is quiet at the pond. All of a sudden, the frogs begin to levitate on their lily pads and travel into a nearby town. They visit a woman watching TV, a man having a snack, and a dog running through a yard.
The only text in the book is the indication that it’s Tuesday with the time. Children love the watercolor illustrations and their imaginations can run wild with this story because it’s surreal.
The idea of frogs traveling on lily pads is so magical and mysterious. How did they do it, and will they be back again next Tuesday?
5*****
David Wiesner is a favorite as you know from some of my previous reviews. He never ceases to amaze me and this book is such a beautiful and magical addition to our collection.
The story begins in the early evening on a Tuesday and all is quiet at the pond. All of a sudden, the frogs begin to levitate on their lily pads and travel into a nearby town. They visit a woman watching TV, a man having a snack, and a dog running through a yard.
The only text in the book is the indication that it’s Tuesday with the time. Children love the watercolor illustrations and their imaginations can run wild with this story because it’s surreal.
The idea of frogs traveling on lily pads is so magical and mysterious. How did they do it, and will they be back again next Tuesday?
5*****
May 24, 2017
Such a delightfully enchanting picture book! We read a LOT of picture books when my kids were younger, but this one about frogs magically flying around town on their lily pads one fateful night was a favorite. I'm pretty certain we checked it out of the library multiple times.
Flying frogs FTW! All the stars!!
Flying frogs FTW! All the stars!!
August 4, 2018
Since I was reading David Wiesner and the Art of Wordless Storytelling I read or reread some of his picture books, at least three of which have been awarded Caldecott medals. This is my favorite one, and the one that demonstrates--and sweetly, humorously--his interest in surrealism, as it involves suddenly flying frogs, still on their lily pads. On Tuesday, duh! Around eight.
And then we are inside a house where a guy is having his late night snack and as Grandma has nodded off at her tv show at 11:21 P. M. And again at 4:38 in an encounter with the dog.
And then next Tuesday at 7:58 P. M. something else begins to fly. . . well, okay, I won't say, even though a few thousand people have rated it so far.
I mistakenly ordered the book from the library with a children's math kit which features toy clocks--yes, we can begin to learn to tell time, yay!--and frogs and so on, to the delight of this house. Kids again!
And then we are inside a house where a guy is having his late night snack and as Grandma has nodded off at her tv show at 11:21 P. M. And again at 4:38 in an encounter with the dog.
And then next Tuesday at 7:58 P. M. something else begins to fly. . . well, okay, I won't say, even though a few thousand people have rated it so far.
I mistakenly ordered the book from the library with a children's math kit which features toy clocks--yes, we can begin to learn to tell time, yay!--and frogs and so on, to the delight of this house. Kids again!
November 15, 2018
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I really enjoyed Flotsam by this author. The story shows a Tuesday night when happenings outside don't pass as you would expect. The story was inventive and unusual but not one for me.
June 10, 2018
This delighted and amazed me. The first frames brought bubbles of joy flooding my system. What a joy and delight this was to read. Do you read a wordless picture book, or do you experience it? I didn't know a thing about this. I really didn't know that flying frogs could bring so much joy to me.
I love this man's imagination. How does he take something so simple and ground it enough in reality that I was totally there with him. This book is magical.
The kids loved it. The nephew and I were having such fun that the niece had to come check it out as well. This is a house favorite now.
I love this man's imagination. How does he take something so simple and ground it enough in reality that I was totally there with him. This book is magical.
The kids loved it. The nephew and I were having such fun that the niece had to come check it out as well. This is a house favorite now.
March 23, 2013
“Tuesday” is a Caldecott Award winning book from the creative mind of David Wiesner and is about how some seemingly ordinary frogs from a pond go on a magical adventure throughout the city. David Wiesner’s story of a magic along with his beautiful illustrations makes “Tuesday” a mesmerizing book for children.
David Wiesner has done it again with creating a wordless book that tells its story through his illustrations. David Wiesner’s story is interesting as the only words that he uses in this book are the short sentences that tell the reader what time the magical event is taking place. It is David Wiesner’s illustrations that take center stage here as they are magnificent and creative, especially of the images of the frogs flying through the air on their lily pads. The image that probably stood out the most for me was the image of the dog being chased by a whole horde of frogs riding on lily pads as the left page is flooded by images of frogs riding on their lily pads chasing the dog while the dog runs away in terror.
“Tuesday” is an excellent book about the power of using one’s imagination as magic is the main theme here and this book will surely be an instant treat to children who love books dealing with adventure and imagination. I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since the majority of the book is wordless and young children will easily enjoy the illustrations.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
David Wiesner has done it again with creating a wordless book that tells its story through his illustrations. David Wiesner’s story is interesting as the only words that he uses in this book are the short sentences that tell the reader what time the magical event is taking place. It is David Wiesner’s illustrations that take center stage here as they are magnificent and creative, especially of the images of the frogs flying through the air on their lily pads. The image that probably stood out the most for me was the image of the dog being chased by a whole horde of frogs riding on lily pads as the left page is flooded by images of frogs riding on their lily pads chasing the dog while the dog runs away in terror.
“Tuesday” is an excellent book about the power of using one’s imagination as magic is the main theme here and this book will surely be an instant treat to children who love books dealing with adventure and imagination. I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since the majority of the book is wordless and young children will easily enjoy the illustrations.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
December 18, 2024
This strong juvenile book by David Weisner uses few words and allows the visuals to tell the story. Even though the pictures look complicated, they are well done, and the flow of the story makes it easy to follow. The story of the frogs flying over town one Tuesday evening around some of the clueless humans gives the story a hilarious quality. A story of the unexpected. – Bob H.
December 21, 2020
Wow. This was just like a beautiful nightmare.
A story in art sequence. No dialogues or description. Love it!👍
A story in art sequence. No dialogues or description. Love it!👍
January 8, 2018
Wiesner explores just how powerful storytelling can be without using any words at all. This unique and eccentric story allows for perfect opportunities for prediction and speculation during discussion. The illustrations themselves are extremely entertaining and could fit tremendously well into a classroom environment either to explore as a class or individually. I believe this is a fantastic book to just have around the classroom allowing children to become familiar and engaged with wordless picture books.
August 31, 2008
I guess I’m pretty much alone here: The artwork, as usual, is wonderful, but I found this story slightly creepy. Am I missing something special that I simply didn’t get? I wonder.
I adored Flotsam and I really enjoyed Free Fall, but this one didn’t wow me. However, I’ll happily read all his current and any future books because I do think he’s really talented and I predict that I’ll enjoy most of his books.
I adored Flotsam and I really enjoyed Free Fall, but this one didn’t wow me. However, I’ll happily read all his current and any future books because I do think he’s really talented and I predict that I’ll enjoy most of his books.
October 14, 2013
There are no words in this picture book; only gorgeous whimsical illustrations of ... flying frogs!!
It is no wonder that this book is a Caldecott Medal winner. This is another outstanding children's book by the incredibly talented David Wiesner. I want to read all of his work!!
It is no wonder that this book is a Caldecott Medal winner. This is another outstanding children's book by the incredibly talented David Wiesner. I want to read all of his work!!
February 2, 2022
Tuesday nights are for flying and frolicking toads, a gasping turtle, frightened birds, a stunned man, a sleeping matron, and a frantic dog. Lily pads mystify the police. Won’t they be amazed when pigs fly. Beautiful artwork of a delightful and lively imagination. 4.5 stars.
November 21, 2017
Fun, mysterious, and with lovely expressively gorgeous illustrations presenting a lush greenish/blue colour scheme that is just to die for (and more than well deserving of its Caldecott Medal award), David Wiesner's Tuesday actually has made me laugh out loud more than a few times (I just LOVE the scene with the white laundry sheets and that the rambunctious dog so bent on chasing the poor flying frogs so completely has the tables tuned on it). And although my logical, analytical self would perhaps have appreciated a trifle more additional information or an explanation as to why the frogs (and then next Tuesday, supposedly pigs) are flying, my imaginative self was and remains both happy and satisfied at this remaining an unknown, a complete mystery. Recommended for fans of whimsical, esotheric wordless picture books, both young and old, and considering that I am really not all that much a fan of the former, my praise and my sweet enjoyment of Tuesday does indeed say quite a lot (as those of you who know me, are probably more than well aware of the fact that I generally much more appreciate and enjoy reading written narratives and that wordless picture books often leave me profoundly unsatisfied, something that has and fortunately not been at all the case for me with David Wiesner's Tuesday).
June 17, 2021
2021 June 15
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf. Thanks to the marvelous people @chpublib and @ocplibraries who are keeping me supplied with all the Wiesner books.
More Wiesner!
A thing I learned on this reread: I love Wiesner’s humor. The surrealism is cool but damn, can he convey a surprising amount with the faces of creatures one does not think of being expressive. Surprised frogs, smug frogs, frogs gone wild, frogs sad to return to the everyday. It’s magical.
When the pigs made an appearance I had to go back through the stack to see if there were pigs in Loathsome. Cats aplenty, but sadly, no pigs.
***
2009 May 18
Frogs, then pigs, then? I love Wiesner.
Woofie loved it, not least because he could read it
Library copy
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf. Thanks to the marvelous people @chpublib and @ocplibraries who are keeping me supplied with all the Wiesner books.
More Wiesner!
A thing I learned on this reread: I love Wiesner’s humor. The surrealism is cool but damn, can he convey a surprising amount with the faces of creatures one does not think of being expressive. Surprised frogs, smug frogs, frogs gone wild, frogs sad to return to the everyday. It’s magical.
When the pigs made an appearance I had to go back through the stack to see if there were pigs in Loathsome. Cats aplenty, but sadly, no pigs.
***
2009 May 18
Frogs, then pigs, then? I love Wiesner.
Woofie loved it, not least because he could read it
Library copy
August 6, 2016
A great deal of fun and so creative! I loved the humor and the adventures the frogs got into. The expressions (on frogs and people) are so spot-on and made me giggle. A very fun adventure. Wish there was a sequel giving us the adventure hinted at on the last page! :-)
February 11, 2018
Another brilliant, gorgeous, hilarious wordless picturebook from David Wiesner with a perfect blurb on the front flap of the cover:
And I love the author's self-reference :)
"The events
recorded
here
are verified
by an undisclosed source
to have happened
somewhere, U.S.A.,
on Tuesday.
All those in doubt
are reminded
that there is always
another
TUESDAY."
And I love the author's self-reference :)
November 3, 2018
Wordless illustrative books are always wonderful especially if they get it right. Tell a story without text. This one certainly does.
It's a Tuesday evening in a small town, around 8 PM. Something is definitely happening.
Tuesdays aren't supposed to be like this. Tuesday is a nice, respectable day of the week. Chaos should not envelop such a day's night.
Will this happen every Tuesday evening?
Lovely artwork and lovely idea. I certainly enjoyed it and can only imagine what a child looking at it via nightlight will think.
Book Season = Summer (tealights)
It's a Tuesday evening in a small town, around 8 PM. Something is definitely happening.
Tuesdays aren't supposed to be like this. Tuesday is a nice, respectable day of the week. Chaos should not envelop such a day's night.
Will this happen every Tuesday evening?
Lovely artwork and lovely idea. I certainly enjoyed it and can only imagine what a child looking at it via nightlight will think.
Book Season = Summer (tealights)
November 28, 2016
best kids book ever.
October 21, 2008
Synopsis
: The events recorded here are verified by an undisclosed source to have happened somewhere, U.S.A.. on Tuesday. All those in doubt are reminded that there is always another Tuesday.
Review : This is a book that truly illustrates how a pictures can be worth a thousand words. The beauty of these illustrations, paired with the fun and humor of frogs flying through the night on magical lily pads is just a gift from Mr. Weisner that everyone who is lucky enough to pick up this book will undoubtedly treasure. Wordless, hilarious, fabulous, wondrous, ponderous...every "ous" word there is, applies. A great bedtime story, a great afternoon story, a great picnic story and definitely a story for any frog lovers shelf. To add an interactive lesson, you could have children point out on the clock the time line as you "read" along. Great fun!
Critical Reviews :Publishers Weekly stated, "Wiesner's visuals are stunning: slightly surrealistic, imbued with mood and mystery, and executed with a seemingly flawless command of palette and perspective. But, perhaps because this fantasy never coalesces around a human figure, it is less accessible and less resonant than his tales that center on a child protagonist." I agree wholeheartedly with the first sentance but, don't agree with the second. I think it was very accessible. S.L.J. noted, "It may not be immortal, but kids will love its lighthearted, meticulously imagined, fun-without-a-moral fantasy".
Review : This is a book that truly illustrates how a pictures can be worth a thousand words. The beauty of these illustrations, paired with the fun and humor of frogs flying through the night on magical lily pads is just a gift from Mr. Weisner that everyone who is lucky enough to pick up this book will undoubtedly treasure. Wordless, hilarious, fabulous, wondrous, ponderous...every "ous" word there is, applies. A great bedtime story, a great afternoon story, a great picnic story and definitely a story for any frog lovers shelf. To add an interactive lesson, you could have children point out on the clock the time line as you "read" along. Great fun!
Critical Reviews :Publishers Weekly stated, "Wiesner's visuals are stunning: slightly surrealistic, imbued with mood and mystery, and executed with a seemingly flawless command of palette and perspective. But, perhaps because this fantasy never coalesces around a human figure, it is less accessible and less resonant than his tales that center on a child protagonist." I agree wholeheartedly with the first sentance but, don't agree with the second. I think it was very accessible. S.L.J. noted, "It may not be immortal, but kids will love its lighthearted, meticulously imagined, fun-without-a-moral fantasy".
July 18, 2016
This book has fantastic illustrations, but an odd "story". My kids liked it a lot and I liked the surrealism. We will certainly look for more books by this author.
This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2016- Quarterly Caldecott discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2016- Quarterly Caldecott discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
July 17, 2021
1992 Caldecott
Another Caldecott winner from Wiesner. Illustrations 5, Story 5. Crazy frogs flying on lily pads at night. Fantastic art. Just crazy enough for kids to really love. Wiesner has won multiple Caldecott awards. His illustrations go back to 1980, and his writing started in 1987. Truly impressive work.
Another Caldecott winner from Wiesner. Illustrations 5, Story 5. Crazy frogs flying on lily pads at night. Fantastic art. Just crazy enough for kids to really love. Wiesner has won multiple Caldecott awards. His illustrations go back to 1980, and his writing started in 1987. Truly impressive work.
July 13, 2016
Gorgeously surreal.
September 21, 2017
If your'e curious to know what this wordless picture book is about, just think, "flying frogs on lilly pads and loving their night out away from the pond."
March 26, 2017
Tuesday by David Wiesner takes place on (you guessed it) a Tuesday; to be more exact, on a Tuesday evening around eight. At around that time, an unknown force rises all the frogs on lily pads, from a swamp, into the air and takes them around a nearby town for a joy ride. Their adventure, through the town’s suburban neighborhoods, lasts all Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
The first thing that caught my eyes were the very detailed illustrations in the book. No illustration left a lack luster feeling inside of me. Even the cover was eye catching with the shiny gold title font.
Text isn’t a direct contributor the story; there’s a grand total of six words in the whole story and are used to describe the time and date. What it does instead is create a mysterious and tone; The use of so little words in the story make the reader feel like they don’t really know what will happen. The line “Tuesday evening, around eight,” is very vague, not revealing anything, just the time. The time of day revealed in the text also adds to the tone. For a child, that time usually means time for bed but for the story, it means the beginning.
That being said, the whole story is told through beautifully detailed watercolor illustrations. The illustrations are presented in various different ways in the book. Most of the illustrations are spreads but are not full bleeds- these illustrations are enclosed in a thin white border. Some of the illustrations are presented in a comic-esque style. The illustrations are arranged to show three panels per page; on one page, some illustrations are placed in a horizontal position while the other can be in a vertical orientation. The first page in the book shows three horizontal panels representing an aspect-to-aspect scene. The upper panel focuses on the sunset, the middle panel focuses on the swamp and the bottom panel focuses on a turtle on a log. Action-to-action panel are also used. On a separate page, a frog floating on a lily pad makes its way towards the right of the page. On the middle panel, it stops when it sees a dog approaching from the right and turns around in the third panel.
This story falls under the fantasy genre, more specifically the fantastic stories subgenre. The story takes place in a very realistic world, in the suburbs of a small town, but the fact that frogs float on lily pads makes it unrealistic. The characters are all animals as well- another aspect hinting at fantastic stories. One of fantasy’s traits that this books uses well is the manipulation of time. The story takes place throughout a whole night. As you progress in the story, there are time jumps indicating that the frogs have been very busy having fun; the story jumps from 8pm, to 11:21pm, to 4:38pm, allowing it to progress very quickly.
The first thing that caught my eyes were the very detailed illustrations in the book. No illustration left a lack luster feeling inside of me. Even the cover was eye catching with the shiny gold title font.
Text isn’t a direct contributor the story; there’s a grand total of six words in the whole story and are used to describe the time and date. What it does instead is create a mysterious and tone; The use of so little words in the story make the reader feel like they don’t really know what will happen. The line “Tuesday evening, around eight,” is very vague, not revealing anything, just the time. The time of day revealed in the text also adds to the tone. For a child, that time usually means time for bed but for the story, it means the beginning.
That being said, the whole story is told through beautifully detailed watercolor illustrations. The illustrations are presented in various different ways in the book. Most of the illustrations are spreads but are not full bleeds- these illustrations are enclosed in a thin white border. Some of the illustrations are presented in a comic-esque style. The illustrations are arranged to show three panels per page; on one page, some illustrations are placed in a horizontal position while the other can be in a vertical orientation. The first page in the book shows three horizontal panels representing an aspect-to-aspect scene. The upper panel focuses on the sunset, the middle panel focuses on the swamp and the bottom panel focuses on a turtle on a log. Action-to-action panel are also used. On a separate page, a frog floating on a lily pad makes its way towards the right of the page. On the middle panel, it stops when it sees a dog approaching from the right and turns around in the third panel.
This story falls under the fantasy genre, more specifically the fantastic stories subgenre. The story takes place in a very realistic world, in the suburbs of a small town, but the fact that frogs float on lily pads makes it unrealistic. The characters are all animals as well- another aspect hinting at fantastic stories. One of fantasy’s traits that this books uses well is the manipulation of time. The story takes place throughout a whole night. As you progress in the story, there are time jumps indicating that the frogs have been very busy having fun; the story jumps from 8pm, to 11:21pm, to 4:38pm, allowing it to progress very quickly.
October 20, 2008
Title: Tuesday
Author: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books, 32 pp, 1991
Format: Picture Book (wordless story)
Intended Audience: Children, ages 4 to 8
Description:
Tuesday is a wordless picture book that vividly depicts strange events that happened at various times of the day on Tuesday.
Personal Review:
For a picture book that has relatively few or no words at all, the illustrations are the only thing that drives the story. Tuesday has illustrations that are lively and vivid. With nothing really guiding the story, it is entirely up to the reader to be creative and think about why some of the strange events are happening. The illustrations show a group of frogs that seem to be flying on Lillie pads at night across a neighborhood at night. They fly around the neighborhood, interacting with a dog and even going into an elder woman’s home and watching TV! When morning comes around, the frogs go back to the pond like usual, leaving the people scratching their head. The last scene of the story is a detective investigating outside and examining a Lillie pad and an eyewitness being interviewed by reporters.
I have never read a “wordless story” before and didn’t know what to expect. I found myself scratching my head at times in trying to figure out the point of the story. Apparently when it turns night outside, frogs fly around at night in Lillie pads. There is no point to this story but I did find the pictures to be very interesting. I guess that this is one of those books that enforce the reader to really use their imagination and think. I can only wonder how a parent would approach reading a “wordless story” to their children.
Citation of two critical sources:
Publishers Weekly describes this book as having visuals that are “stunning, slightly surrealistic and imbued with mood and mystery." This review was short and almost as wordless as the wordless picture book. It was not really helpful in explaining the purpose of the book.
Patricia Dooley’s School Library Journal review probably does a better job of telling the story of the wordless picture book than the actual book itself. The review is effective in that it describes what happens in the pictures. It also describes the story as a “lighthearted, meticulously imagined, fun-without-a-moral fantasy.”
Author: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books, 32 pp, 1991
Format: Picture Book (wordless story)
Intended Audience: Children, ages 4 to 8
Description:
Tuesday is a wordless picture book that vividly depicts strange events that happened at various times of the day on Tuesday.
Personal Review:
For a picture book that has relatively few or no words at all, the illustrations are the only thing that drives the story. Tuesday has illustrations that are lively and vivid. With nothing really guiding the story, it is entirely up to the reader to be creative and think about why some of the strange events are happening. The illustrations show a group of frogs that seem to be flying on Lillie pads at night across a neighborhood at night. They fly around the neighborhood, interacting with a dog and even going into an elder woman’s home and watching TV! When morning comes around, the frogs go back to the pond like usual, leaving the people scratching their head. The last scene of the story is a detective investigating outside and examining a Lillie pad and an eyewitness being interviewed by reporters.
I have never read a “wordless story” before and didn’t know what to expect. I found myself scratching my head at times in trying to figure out the point of the story. Apparently when it turns night outside, frogs fly around at night in Lillie pads. There is no point to this story but I did find the pictures to be very interesting. I guess that this is one of those books that enforce the reader to really use their imagination and think. I can only wonder how a parent would approach reading a “wordless story” to their children.
Citation of two critical sources:
Publishers Weekly describes this book as having visuals that are “stunning, slightly surrealistic and imbued with mood and mystery." This review was short and almost as wordless as the wordless picture book. It was not really helpful in explaining the purpose of the book.
Patricia Dooley’s School Library Journal review probably does a better job of telling the story of the wordless picture book than the actual book itself. The review is effective in that it describes what happens in the pictures. It also describes the story as a “lighthearted, meticulously imagined, fun-without-a-moral fantasy.”
November 6, 2024
Brilliant. I wish I could add a sound recording of my 5 year old giggling madly at every page of this book. Especially the one where the frogs chase the dog back.
June 16, 2011
When I started reading David Wiesner's books the one title universally recommended was Tuesday. I have finally taken that advice to heart and read the book.
David Wiesner specializes in wordless picture books. In this one, the only word used (and it's used sparingly) is Tuesday as a reminder that all the events are taking place on a Tuesday night.
Those events involve frogs flying through the town and countryside on lily pads. The illustrations are Wiesner's usual wonderful surrealism. The pallet is rich in blues and greens befitting a night time amphibian adventures.
The book has won the 1992 Caldecott Medal. It also won two state awards: The Kentucky Bluegrass Award for K-3 in 1993 and the Young Hoosier Award for K-3 in the same year.
David Wiesner specializes in wordless picture books. In this one, the only word used (and it's used sparingly) is Tuesday as a reminder that all the events are taking place on a Tuesday night.
Those events involve frogs flying through the town and countryside on lily pads. The illustrations are Wiesner's usual wonderful surrealism. The pallet is rich in blues and greens befitting a night time amphibian adventures.
The book has won the 1992 Caldecott Medal. It also won two state awards: The Kentucky Bluegrass Award for K-3 in 1993 and the Young Hoosier Award for K-3 in the same year.
September 21, 2007
This is an almost completely wordless book, but the pictures tell the story really well. A lot of fun to look at!
December 8, 2009
Strange and surreal, with a little humor and a bit of eerieness as well--quite intriguing!
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