Book Review: Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear

Virginia Wolf
by Kyo Maclear (jP MacLear)

Having read a Virginia Woolf book for a radical feminist book club a few years back, seeing this title in the picture book section intrigued me. Although a couple of key details point back to the famous 20th century author, a reader of this book does not need that background whatsoever to understand this book. This book is ideal for elementary-aged children and their families. This is a heartwarming story about a young girl who is feeling gloomy and full of doldrums, and how she comes out of it with great support from her sister. Unfortunately, I can imagine this book having wider appeal now that so many children are dealing with the trauma of COVID-19. The way Virginia’s sister Vanessa was able to use her artistic skills to build an imaginary place for Virginia is inspiring. It reminds us we can use the ready skills we have at our disposal to help try and cheer up a friend or family member. If I were reading this with children, I would encourage them to envision their most perfect place and try to draw or paint it.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Fog by Kyo Maclear, Rabbityness by Jo Empson, Places to Be by Mac Barnett or Through With the Zoo, by Jacob Grant.]

[ official Virginia Wolf page on the official Kyo Maclear kids literature web site ]

Recommended by Naomi S.
Eiseley Branch Library

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!