Thirteen

By Remy Charlip, Jerry Joyner, Joyner Jerry

Book Overview

A book of creative metamorphosis and stunning visuals that will bend children's imaginations and appeal to all ages. "One of my own personal childhood favorites..." --Brian Selznick

Thirteen is no ordinary picture book. It is book of visual and conceptual revolutions, metamorphoses, and narratives that swallow their own tails. In thirteen illustrated stories, plus "a preview of coming attractions," nothing less than the birth of the world, its duration, death, and rebirth occurs, in thirteen arresting and evolving tableaus, involving a sinking ship, a play, a leaf and caterpillar, a card trick, swans, a worm, Cinderella, the alphabet, paper magic, pyramids, a getting-thin-and-getting-fat-again dance, the fall and rise of civilization, and a countdown. This is not a book you read from beginning to end, so much as one you enter into, are absorbed by and transformed, like the thirteen tableaus themselves.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681372304
• ISBN13: 9781681372303
• Release Date: May 2018
• Publisher: New York Review of Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.6" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

A brilliant and delightful book

There's nothing else like _Thirteen_ in the whole world, and that's sad. Sad because such delightful watercolors and quirky "stories" are told in a wonderful way that one has to figure out on one's own. The book is simultaneously a puzzle, a picture book, a book of optical illusions, a book of stories, and so much more. Hunt it down and adore it; you'll know what I'm talking about.

My favorite book: It's like coming home!

Thirteen is my favorite book of all time. I have had it since it was published in 1975 and it has moved with me for 25 years and 11 moves! I have thought to streamline my life and get rid of some things, but this book is a necessity in my household! It inspires and comforts--it is a work of art!

A visual treat of the highest quality for kids of all ages.

This picture book may be the cleverest ever created. "Thirteen" is 13 stories told simultaneously on 13 pages, each story told by pictures which change and evolve as you turn the pages. Many of the stories are circular or contain hidden surprises. This is the book that I have given most often as a gift, not only to kids but also adults, who may enjoy it even more than kids!

attention getting and though provoking

As a child my sister and I spent hours looking at this book and taking interest at how the pictures changed from one into another. We never tired of it and to this day we have the story of the sinking ship memorized. It was a very intriguing book and very cleverly laid out with the 13 one- picture stores continuing on the 13 pages.

My favorite book.

Thirteen is the best book I had from when I was little. My two sisters and I agree that it is still the best book, and they are ten years older than me! I love looking at the different stories and the pictures. My favorite sequence is either "The Perfect Day: A Play" or "The Leaf and the Caterpillar." I like how the leaf floats down on the inside front cover and a butterfly flies up on the back cover.