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The Blue Hour
A lovely and tranquil celebration of nature
The sun has set, the day has ended, but the night hasn't quite arrived yet. This magical twilight is known as the blue hour. Everything in nature sky, water, flowers, birds, foxes comes together in a symphony of blue to celebrate the merging of night and day.
With its soothing text and radiant artwork, this elegant picture book displays the majesty of nature and reminds readers that beauty is fleeting but also worth savoring.
The sun has set, the day has ended, but the night hasn't quite arrived yet. This magical twilight is known as the blue hour. Everything in nature sky, water, flowers, birds, foxes comes together in a symphony of blue to celebrate the merging of night and day.
With its soothing text and radiant artwork, this elegant picture book displays the majesty of nature and reminds readers that beauty is fleeting but also worth savoring.
42 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2015
About the author
Isabelle Simler
52 books37 followersIsabelle Simler has written and illustrated over twenty picture books for children. Sweet Dreamers, My Wild Cat, Plume, and The Blue Hour were all featured in the Society of Illustrators "The Original Art" annual exhibition. Plume was also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book. Isabelle lives in France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
March 27, 2017
What a wonderful book. The blue hour is that darkening time of day when life and the world slows down, light fades, nature slows and blue seems to predominate in the natural world as night arrives. Isabelle Simler (who also illustrates) presents the wide range of blues that occur in nature and shows the flora, fauna, the many faces of our world with beautiful images.
While this may be considered a book for the young among us, I think I would like a copy for myself. I would also like to give it to great-nieces and nephews.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys nature and artistic renderings--and everyone partial to blue!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
While this may be considered a book for the young among us, I think I would like a copy for myself. I would also like to give it to great-nieces and nephews.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys nature and artistic renderings--and everyone partial to blue!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 13, 2021
One could get lost forever in the blues of this gorgeously illustrated book. Not surprisingly, the birds are my favorites, especially the regal blue jay.
March 31, 2017
I need to take a moment and catch my breath with this title. It may very well be the most beautiful non-fiction children's book I have ever seen. Oversized and glorious, originally published in France; it is a stunner. The first pages depict a chart with the various names and hues of blue. The depictions of the various birds, animals and plants all in various shades of blue are intricate and almost other worldly. The Blue Hour is magnificent. Check it out!
April 29, 2022
Beautiful art and mood in blues that deepen into night increasingly with each turn of the page. Programmed here: https://bookshop.org/lists/my-favorit...
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May 31, 2017
3.5 stars
This children's picture book is hard for me to rate. The art is visually stunning, and I could look at these pages for a very long time. Simply beautiful. The text however is dull and boring. Given that this is about the the magical twilight hour, I expected more from the text. Now, I loved reading Goodnight Moon to my nephews when they were little, and they loved it too, and in no way would I say that the text was amazing, so maybe the reason I found the text so lack luster with this one is that I was missing a wee one in my lap to read aloud to. I'd give the art 5 stars, the text 2, and will round up because this one is worth picking up for the art alone.
This children's picture book is hard for me to rate. The art is visually stunning, and I could look at these pages for a very long time. Simply beautiful. The text however is dull and boring. Given that this is about the the magical twilight hour, I expected more from the text. Now, I loved reading Goodnight Moon to my nephews when they were little, and they loved it too, and in no way would I say that the text was amazing, so maybe the reason I found the text so lack luster with this one is that I was missing a wee one in my lap to read aloud to. I'd give the art 5 stars, the text 2, and will round up because this one is worth picking up for the art alone.
March 10, 2017
This would be an amazing bedtime book. It is dusk and the sky and the world are blue. Isabelle Simler, who also illustrated this book does an amazing job of showing us the world at that fleeting time as the sun sets. Along with the blue horizon, she shows us a variety of plants and animals that are also blue, from around the world. I never realized that there were that many. It is a soothing, quiet story that would be sure to help ready the little ones for a night of sleep. Gorgeous illustrations accompany the text. A great book for bedtime, for those who love to learn about animals and nature as well as a great book for teaching about colours and art. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
January 4, 2017
Although this book will not be released until February 2017, I definitely want to place it on my fellow readers "take notice" list. The illustrations took my breath away and even brought a tear to my eye. I would certainly recommend this book to art educators and to primary level teachers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an e-Arc of this children's book.
Thanks to NetGalley for an e-Arc of this children's book.
March 10, 2022
A beautiful read appealing to all ages. See if you can discover all 32 shades of blue used in the illustrations, a key is provided.
January 6, 2017
Holy moley what a beautiful book! The artwork is absolutely amazing. I love the nature theme and how the author uses the full names of the different animals. I love how there's a map at the end that shows how the animals are from around the world. Really pretty book! I might look into buying this for my daughter.
The darkening of the pages as you get closer to full evening reminds me of Goodnight Moon.
ARC kindly provided by Netgalley.
The darkening of the pages as you get closer to full evening reminds me of Goodnight Moon.
ARC kindly provided by Netgalley.
November 11, 2021
I am always a little wary of beautiful children's books. Often adults are more interested in them than children are. However, this one appeals to both groups. I have read it to children with disabilities and a precocious 8 year old. They have all been fascinated. Of course, I loved it too. Truly intriguing illustrations.
April 26, 2017
A celebration of the color blue and how we see it in nature. This has such beautiful and atmospheric illustrations.
May 30, 2018
The pages are beautiful but I didn't like the ending.
March 17, 2017
The use of a collection of hues and shades of blues by the artist author to create The Blue Hour results in an engaging sensual delight. So many and varied creatures and objects exist that are of blue colorization and yet we miss it in our daily lives. Yes, we delight when we see a Blue Bird or a Blue Jay and we love blue flowers and blue skies, but there is more, so much more.
Isabelle Simler has gathered this variety from across the globe and all climates. And then she has settled them what is known, especially in the photographic world, as "The Blue Hour." Just what is "the blue hour"?
"The blue hour (from French l'heure bleue) is the period of twilight early in the dawn each morning and late in the dusk each evening when the sun is at a significant distance below the horizon and the residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue hue. This effect is caused by the relative diffusibility of short blue wavelengths of light versus the longer red wavelengths. During the blue "hour" (typically a period about 40 minutes in length), red light passes straight into space while blue light is scattered in the atmosphere and therefore reaches the earth's surface. Many artists treasure this period because of the quality of the light." (source -Wikipedia)
The children's picture book uses limited text with beautiful artistry predominantly in blues with vivid touches of other colors to tell the story of how the world and its creatures settle down for the night and it is such a gentle, sweet story.
I found the book to be a treasure in that it is a gentle bedtime reading, an artistically beautiful book, educational in global placement of all the creatures, and an introduction into the "blue hour" phenomena. And there is also the two pages at the beginning with circles of named shades and hue of blue with will prove to be a great tool for identifying specific blues. A plus for any library collection which I highly recommend.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Eerdmans Publishing to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated.
Isabelle Simler has gathered this variety from across the globe and all climates. And then she has settled them what is known, especially in the photographic world, as "The Blue Hour." Just what is "the blue hour"?
"The blue hour (from French l'heure bleue) is the period of twilight early in the dawn each morning and late in the dusk each evening when the sun is at a significant distance below the horizon and the residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue hue. This effect is caused by the relative diffusibility of short blue wavelengths of light versus the longer red wavelengths. During the blue "hour" (typically a period about 40 minutes in length), red light passes straight into space while blue light is scattered in the atmosphere and therefore reaches the earth's surface. Many artists treasure this period because of the quality of the light." (source -Wikipedia)
The children's picture book uses limited text with beautiful artistry predominantly in blues with vivid touches of other colors to tell the story of how the world and its creatures settle down for the night and it is such a gentle, sweet story.
I found the book to be a treasure in that it is a gentle bedtime reading, an artistically beautiful book, educational in global placement of all the creatures, and an introduction into the "blue hour" phenomena. And there is also the two pages at the beginning with circles of named shades and hue of blue with will prove to be a great tool for identifying specific blues. A plus for any library collection which I highly recommend.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Eerdmans Publishing to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated.
January 28, 2022
Mood: Something Lovely
Thoughts: You don't need to have a small child to enjoy this picture book, it is an absolutely stunning rendition of the natural world and blue and wonderfully soothing to look at. The illustrations are absolutely enchanting and after a long day of work why not just let yourself be taken by the blue hour.
Read if you need: soothing, sleepy time tea in book form, something gentle, you simply want to admire the color blue.
Thoughts: You don't need to have a small child to enjoy this picture book, it is an absolutely stunning rendition of the natural world and blue and wonderfully soothing to look at. The illustrations are absolutely enchanting and after a long day of work why not just let yourself be taken by the blue hour.
Read if you need: soothing, sleepy time tea in book form, something gentle, you simply want to admire the color blue.
February 21, 2017
'The Blue Hour' by Isabelle Simler is a picture book for bedtime with soothing text and beautiful illustrations.
The book is all told in varying shades of blue. As the day fades and the night comes in, the blue gets darker. Against this blue backdrop are the different animals and plants that are also blue. Like blue herons and blue whales. Bluebells and cornflowers shine off the pages. The book ends with the animals waiting silently for the night. The final page shows where are the different animals can be found in the world.
The book begins with a color chart of all the shades of blue, and I think most or all of them are used in the book. I love the progression of color from lighter to darker blue. I like the peacefulness and beauty of these pictures showing not a scary dark world, but one full of wonder. If you are looking for a beautiful picture book to share with your little one during quiet time, this is a good choice.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The book is all told in varying shades of blue. As the day fades and the night comes in, the blue gets darker. Against this blue backdrop are the different animals and plants that are also blue. Like blue herons and blue whales. Bluebells and cornflowers shine off the pages. The book ends with the animals waiting silently for the night. The final page shows where are the different animals can be found in the world.
The book begins with a color chart of all the shades of blue, and I think most or all of them are used in the book. I love the progression of color from lighter to darker blue. I like the peacefulness and beauty of these pictures showing not a scary dark world, but one full of wonder. If you are looking for a beautiful picture book to share with your little one during quiet time, this is a good choice.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
June 11, 2019
The text of this book is very simple but I love the beautiful pictures and how many blue things from nature (mainly animals) are mentioned. I also like the fact that several shade of blue are identified at the front of the book.
March 25, 2017
OH. MY. GOSH. GORGEOUS. GORGEOUS. GORGEOUS! Would definitely consider this in the Caldecott conversation if it had been published in the United States. The text is fairly bland, but the illustrations more than make up for this lack.
April 15, 2017
This is a beautiful book with oversized spreads centered around everything in nature that is blue, especially during “the blue hour” - when the sun has set but the night hasn’t quite arrived.
What happens during the blue hour? The author/illustrator shows us how blue things in nature - such as blue jays, blue foxes, blue-feathered song birds, and all the blue flowers, like forget-me-nots, bluebells, and cornflowers - respond to the blue hour. Gorgeous pictures of glass snails, indigo buntings, and a blue-crowned pigeon are set off by the striking non-blue of creatures of mixed colors, like the blue-ringed octopus.
On the front endpapers, there is a guide to 32 different colors of blue, and the back endpapers show silhouettes of the birds, animals, and fish featured in the book.
Evaluation: When I saw this book, I immediately wished I were (way) younger, so I could have beheld this book with the same wonder I know I would have when I was little. There isn’t a lot of information to accompany the pictures, but all the same they are entrancing, and might inspire little ones to seek out more background.
What happens during the blue hour? The author/illustrator shows us how blue things in nature - such as blue jays, blue foxes, blue-feathered song birds, and all the blue flowers, like forget-me-nots, bluebells, and cornflowers - respond to the blue hour. Gorgeous pictures of glass snails, indigo buntings, and a blue-crowned pigeon are set off by the striking non-blue of creatures of mixed colors, like the blue-ringed octopus.
On the front endpapers, there is a guide to 32 different colors of blue, and the back endpapers show silhouettes of the birds, animals, and fish featured in the book.
Evaluation: When I saw this book, I immediately wished I were (way) younger, so I could have beheld this book with the same wonder I know I would have when I was little. There isn’t a lot of information to accompany the pictures, but all the same they are entrancing, and might inspire little ones to seek out more background.
February 14, 2024
Originally published in France in 2014. English translation Copyright Eerdmans (no name listed).
So many shades of blue! The blue hour is that hour (perhaps not a full hour) between day end and night fall as things quieten down. Features so many animals, from the blue jay (and many other birds) to blue morpho butterflies, to underwater creatures like blue sardines and a blue ringed octopus, plus blue flowers (bluebells, cornflowers, violets). Gorgeous illustrations. Oversize -- tall -- large book. Text is short enough for a read aloud/storytime. Love the map on the endpaper with the animal silhouettes over the places tey are from. Front endpaper shows so many shades of blue!
medium ?? not stated . . . would love to know
So many shades of blue! The blue hour is that hour (perhaps not a full hour) between day end and night fall as things quieten down. Features so many animals, from the blue jay (and many other birds) to blue morpho butterflies, to underwater creatures like blue sardines and a blue ringed octopus, plus blue flowers (bluebells, cornflowers, violets). Gorgeous illustrations. Oversize -- tall -- large book. Text is short enough for a read aloud/storytime. Love the map on the endpaper with the animal silhouettes over the places tey are from. Front endpaper shows so many shades of blue!
medium ?? not stated . . . would love to know
October 26, 2017
This book is exquisite.
I have already bought it as a gift for a nephew. I will buy others.
As well as the absolutely stunning illustrations this book gives children a sense of that time between the sun setting and the full night arriving. As you page through the book the light is gradually fading, so that by the last page it is night.
To me, it is that sense of a time of day which will lead children to a greater sense of the days around them, the changing time and also the seasons. That is the story of the book.
The artful depiction of the creatures depicted on the pages are a wonderful bonus.
I have already bought it as a gift for a nephew. I will buy others.
As well as the absolutely stunning illustrations this book gives children a sense of that time between the sun setting and the full night arriving. As you page through the book the light is gradually fading, so that by the last page it is night.
To me, it is that sense of a time of day which will lead children to a greater sense of the days around them, the changing time and also the seasons. That is the story of the book.
The artful depiction of the creatures depicted on the pages are a wonderful bonus.
March 10, 2017
The blue hour sounds so tranquil and peaceful, and when you peruse this book with the highlight of the color blue, you and your child are going to be returning to these pictures time and again.
These seems to be the prefect night time book, and the color is so soothing, while the back cover states that The day ends. The night falls. And in between… thee is the blue hour.
You will want this book for the illustrations alone, they are beautiful and start with the cover forward.
There is a page that highlight just about every shade of blue, from pale blue to midnight blue, and then the birds of blue, fox of blue, frogs, sardines, and more and more. As you can see everything is blue, and very peaceful, and you will be wanting wonderful book to add to your collection, and one that you will be using as a nighttime special.
I received this book through the Publisher Eerdmand Books for young Readers, and The LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.
These seems to be the prefect night time book, and the color is so soothing, while the back cover states that The day ends. The night falls. And in between… thee is the blue hour.
You will want this book for the illustrations alone, they are beautiful and start with the cover forward.
There is a page that highlight just about every shade of blue, from pale blue to midnight blue, and then the birds of blue, fox of blue, frogs, sardines, and more and more. As you can see everything is blue, and very peaceful, and you will be wanting wonderful book to add to your collection, and one that you will be using as a nighttime special.
I received this book through the Publisher Eerdmand Books for young Readers, and The LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.
May 9, 2018
Beautiful, evocative shades of blue as animals in their natural habitats settle down for the night at twilight or "the blue hour." The author/illustrator has depicted every gradation of blue and her detailed crosshatched drawings are natural and lifelike. Stunning in every way.
March 1, 2019
A simply written story with delicious illustrations. The various shades of blue are remarkable. A great read aloud to investigate time of day or blue creatures. Spectacular!
March 11, 2022
"Everything was blue. My favorite blue is duck blue and turquoise blue and peacock blue."
August 7, 2017
Glorious illustrations throughout. Animals at dusk and all is blue.
October 11, 2020
Unglaublich schöne Illustrationen!
February 28, 2017
***I received an ARC from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
This is very profoundly illustrated and colored book with a simple, beautiful story about nature and animals preparing for nighttime.
Premise: The blue hour is the time when the day has ended and the night hasn't quite begun, when everything seems to be cast in a shade of blue. Various animals sing to greet the night and their friends, as they slip home to prepare for sleep. Some are watching over their eggs, some are finding that last meal, and some are settling down. As the blue hour gets darker, everything becomes quieter: "They wait for this moment every evening, silently...and the night softly wraps them in its quiet."
What a gorgeous book! The focus on one color in a variety of shades really intensified the experience of the story. Blue is a calming color, and since the story is about animals settling down for the night, I found this to be a great book to read at bedtime with my son. I like that Simler featured a variety of animals, including different types of birds whose calls you might hear in the evening and some animals you might not usually think about, like glass snails. Simler keeps the story simple as well. There is a gorgeous picture with just a little sentence or two on each page, which keeps the focus on the illustrations and makes this a great book for toddlers to younger school age children. We'll definitely be picking up a copy of this regularly for bedtime!
This is very profoundly illustrated and colored book with a simple, beautiful story about nature and animals preparing for nighttime.
Premise: The blue hour is the time when the day has ended and the night hasn't quite begun, when everything seems to be cast in a shade of blue. Various animals sing to greet the night and their friends, as they slip home to prepare for sleep. Some are watching over their eggs, some are finding that last meal, and some are settling down. As the blue hour gets darker, everything becomes quieter: "They wait for this moment every evening, silently...and the night softly wraps them in its quiet."
What a gorgeous book! The focus on one color in a variety of shades really intensified the experience of the story. Blue is a calming color, and since the story is about animals settling down for the night, I found this to be a great book to read at bedtime with my son. I like that Simler featured a variety of animals, including different types of birds whose calls you might hear in the evening and some animals you might not usually think about, like glass snails. Simler keeps the story simple as well. There is a gorgeous picture with just a little sentence or two on each page, which keeps the focus on the illustrations and makes this a great book for toddlers to younger school age children. We'll definitely be picking up a copy of this regularly for bedtime!
March 1, 2017
I read this with my granddaughters. The illustrations are lovely; it is a delightful, visual view of nature.
The ‘blue hour’ is that twilight time when sun has gone down but the dark of night has not yet arrived. The sky, the water, the fauna, animals and birds shine out softly, in all sorts of glorious blues. The images are beautiful and I really loved how the creatures are located on the final pages in their native countries. The only problem I had was that the text was very small to read, even on my computer. I was glad that my granddaughters were reading with me as the eight-year-old was able to read the story for us.
This is very lovely. I do recommend this as a wonderful, delightful book to share with young… and old.
I received this book through NetGalley. My rating 4.75.
The ‘blue hour’ is that twilight time when sun has gone down but the dark of night has not yet arrived. The sky, the water, the fauna, animals and birds shine out softly, in all sorts of glorious blues. The images are beautiful and I really loved how the creatures are located on the final pages in their native countries. The only problem I had was that the text was very small to read, even on my computer. I was glad that my granddaughters were reading with me as the eight-year-old was able to read the story for us.
This is very lovely. I do recommend this as a wonderful, delightful book to share with young… and old.
I received this book through NetGalley. My rating 4.75.
September 19, 2018
Luscious.
January 6, 2017
Gorgeous artwork! A great read for children learning to differentiate shades, and additionally recognize more detail in images. For example, each page introduces a specific species which usually contains the word blue, if not also blue itself. This interesting even as an adult reader, since I was tempted to look up some of these species for more information. There's a blue ringed Octopus? Fascinating!
Additionally, at the end of the novel there is a great world map that indicates where each animal is found.
I think this is a great read, that offers more than just a set plot, and many opportunities for a young reader to learn more, and encourage further interest in animals.
Additionally, at the end of the novel there is a great world map that indicates where each animal is found.
I think this is a great read, that offers more than just a set plot, and many opportunities for a young reader to learn more, and encourage further interest in animals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews