Fireflies

Though the book was not dull, it was not great either. The pictures are penciled which adds depth to them. They are also executed very well. However, the story itself seemed choppy and like there could have been more. It did remind me of the times when I tried to catch my own fireflies.

This book is one of my all time favorites! I love this book because of my personal love and connection that I have with fireflies and the many summers I spent collecting them at my grandparent's home up north. I also have used it every year with my 2nd graders during our writing workshop to show small moment writing. It's the story of a boy who, like myself, collected fireflies in a jar and keeps them in his room. At first, the glow of the fireflies are bright and stunning. Soon, the glow starts to weaken and the boy struggles with a hard decision. The story is beautifully written and one I will always treasure.

In print since 1985, Julie Brinckloe’s Fireflies – selected as a Reading Rainbow book – has found a comfortable, ongoing status as a minor classic of modern children’s literature. Having far outlasted the glut of flash-in-the-pan picture books found in any recent decade, Brinckloe’s snapshot of one summer evening filled with wide-eyed wonder and discovery clings to its status as a solid library add.

Both illustrated and authored by Brinckloe, Fireflies spins an enchantingly evocative story that vividly portrays the emotional tenor of summer evenings spent catching fireflies, and glorying in the wonders of nature. From the thrill of anticipation, to the joy of the chase, the glow of possession, and the bittersweet compassion of show more release, Brickloe’s carefully developed prose rings true.

Illustrated with action-filled pencil drawings filled with feathery texture, the only glimpses of colour Brinckloe adds from her palette are blue and yellow watercolours, sparingly used for accentuation. Undeniably lovely, these understated illustrations may not be appreciated by young audiences if there only exposure to picture books has been the blaringly bright, cartoonish, or hard-edged illustrations that are so dominant in today’s picture books.

Proving itself a well-written title, my six and three-year-olds were drawn into the story the first read through. They immediately settled as I read, and listened intently to the lyrical story of a boy who captures an entire jar of fireflies, only to release them reluctantly as they fade on his night table. Though they asked for a repeat reading as soon as I finished, Fireflies doesn’t seem to have made a deep impression on my children so far. When I asked my oldest for her thoughts she was distinctly neutral in her opinion. Perhaps additional repeated readings will awaken a deeper appreciation for the book in her; she still seemed somewhat confused as to the boy’s mixed emotions at the end of the story.

Parents of children who use scissors inappropriately may want to note a scene wherein the main character uses his mother’s scissors to punch holes in the lid of the jar he’ll use to catch his fireflies in. Knowing of his mother’s displeasure should she learn of his unauthorized scissors use, he acts stealthily and without permission. Having found my own children cutting (and consequently destroying) a wide variety of household items, this page made me groan and quickly add a warning to my own youngsters. If their misdemeanors have taught me anything (other than hide the scissors up high), it’s that the boy in question is acting in an entirely believable fashion.

Nostalgia for adults, familiarity for children, and the emotive flowing quality of Brinckloe’s work are clearly the winning ingredients that have allowed Fireflies to withstand the test of time. Having lived too far to the west to have grown up with chances to catch fireflies for myself as a child I now feel a vague sense of regret for having missed out on what is clearly a quintessential experience in the lives of many youngsters.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com show less

In this story, the author tells us the events of the story, but we need to infer the character's feelings. It's an example of "show not tell" writing; the actions and description of the character reveal his emotions.

A boy joyfully captures a jar full of fireflies. When he sets them on his bedside table at home, however, their shining brightness seems to grow dim. He tearfully chooses to let them go, but why is he also smiling?

I really enjoyed this book it reminded me of being young in the summer catching fireflies with my best friends in our front yards. Not only were the illustrations in the story great, but so was the word imagery. I found the illustrations correlated well with the story line. The author used bright colors for the fireflies and darker colors to represent the night. I enjoyed how much the images focused on the fireflies by making them so bright and florescent. I also found the use of dialogue to be attention grabbing and kept the story interesting for the reader. The author chose colorful language to match the colorful imagery. The author used common language to keep it family and kid friendly. I think this book would be great for first show more time readers. This book is easy for any reader to relate to and enjoy. show less

This is a warm tale of a traditional family on a summer evening. A young boy and his friends love to catch fireflies in jars. This is thrilling activity, but will the light last? The boy has an important decision to make. Will he keep the fireflies for their beauty or let them die?

Julie Brinckloe's "Fireflies" takes the reader back to the summer days of their childhood. The book follows a young boy, extremely excited for a night of catching fireflies in a jar with his friends. The night shines with the flashing of hundreds of fireflies and soon his jar is full and it's time to return home. As he settles into bed with the jar on his nightstand, the young boy soon realizes that the once bright light of the fireflies is fading and they seem to be dying. But they are HIS and he does not want to release them. At last when it looks like they will not survive, the boy finally realizes that he cannot be selfish and lets the fireflies go, back into the wild where they belong. Their lights shine bright once again and he show more knows he has done the right things no matter how hard it was for him to do. show less