Bertolt

Book looks to be in new condition except for the torn cover on the backside.

This little hardcover book (6.5"x7.5" approx.) is beautifully written, illustrated and produced. There's a lively sketchy feel to illustrations that belies how perfect they are. The little loner protagonist is instantly engaging and likable, and his big friend, Bertolt, makes a wonderfully drawn companion.The tale might end a little abruptly for readers who crave a traditional story arc, but I was delighted by every page turn of this book, including the last.

This is an English translation of a book originally in French. The publishers needn't have bothered with a translation--the second half of the book is wordless and perfectly comprehensible, and I can understand the story even while using loose-leaf paper to cover up the first half's writing, to create a fully wordless book.As to the content: this is a story of a boy learning about true affection, loss, and how to show honor or unselfishly preserve memories. It's a good "read."

Wonderful book. Started collecting various children's books about death to help my little brother deal with loss - loved the illustrations, story and the characters. The pacing, wording and overall format everything play incredibly well together. It is a very poignant story and art style is just wonderful.

What a great book FOR ALL AGES! Teaches so much kindness.

This is one of the most beautiful books about death I have read in a long time. I work in hospice and few books, other than the Sad Book, capture the true feelings of losing someone you love. It is nuanced, but the emotions are there. Buy it in memory of loved ones lost. The illustrations are beautiful as well.

The illustrations are beautiful, and anyone with a loner streak in them will definitely relate with the main character... But the translation is a little clunky at times, and the emotional impact just wasn't there for me (nothing like an illustration of a dead cat to ruin a mood...).

My daughter absolutely loves this book. We checked it out from the library and she didn’t want to take it back. Beautiful pictures!

Bertolt is an introvert. He revels in his own company and delights in watching the world from afar. Happy in his own imaginations, he opens his thoughts and secrets to one friend alone: Bertolt, who happens to be a stately oak tree. Mocked by his classmates for his little idiosyncrasies, the young boy saunters off, completely unphased, to play within Bertolt’s branches. From within the canopy he watches the world turn – from its people to the plants and animals – it’s all just one wonderful round to him.Then when Spring arrives and the young boy delights in the thought of playing in Bertolt’s leafy branches again, disaster strikes. His ancient companion bears no leaves this season and it dawns on our young character that the tree’s life has passed. Rather than lose himself to the misery of loss, our young protagonist seeks to memorialise the memories past. Through his fertile imagination he celebrates his relationship with Bertolt in the most magical way – leaving the reader with a tender message of memory and belonging.Goldstyn’s French-Canadian illustrations reminded me so much of Goscinny’ & Sempe’s Nicholas books. Those fine ink-scratchy illustrations which seems to capture some wonderful moments, from Marie, the lawyer’s daughter canoodling with Kevin, the local biker to Cynthia the goat munching on forbidden corn. Coloured pencils lay low and subtle throughout most of it until they are called on for a blossoming climactic moment.Bertolt is one of those books which invite rather than tell and I have so much time for these kinds of stories. Written not long after his own mother had died, Goldstyn’s story here is a celebratory rather than melancholic. Much like Matt James’ The Funeral, he taps into a view that perhaps we could only expect from a child who had been invited to see the world his own way.

Deserves a place among the classics alongside The Giving Tree. What the little boy gives back to Bertolt at the end is absolutely magical. Imagination is the best friend anyone can have - and a tree!

Heart-warming quirky story, beautifully drawn. A white family favourite.

A moving story with beautiful illustrations.

Read this book to your child!