Blueberry Girl

By Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Charles Vess

I have always been a fan of Neil Gaiman, but until today I had never read any of his children's books.  I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I'd heard a lot about Blueberry Girl so I was excited to see what the fuss was about.

Blueberry Girl is New Age prayer, based on a poem written by Gaiman.  On the last page he says "I wrote this for Tori, and for Tash, when she was only a bump and a due date."  The poem is a heartfelt and inspiring wish that Tash lives a long, fulfilled, and happy life:

Keep her from spindles and sleeps at sixteen,
Let her stay waking and wise.
Nightmares at three or bad husbands at thirty,
These will not trouble her eyes.
Dull days at forty, false friends at fifteen - 
Let her have brave days and truth,
Let her go places that we've never been,
Trust and delight in her youth.


Vess accompanies the poem with almost mythological images of young girls riding on owls, walking among the trees with an escort of wild animals, swimming with whales, or dancing on clouds in the shining sun.  The imagery is very naturalistic and seems to suggest the entirety of Mother Nature guiding these girls through life. The last page of the poem enforces this idea, with a woman and her baby sitting on an island, with all sorts of land and sea creatures looking over  them.

The story itself quite simple and short, but to me the message seems very powerful.  Gaiman and Vess portray young girls in a portrait of hope, strength, infinite potential, and inner beauty.  Blueberry Girl is full of wishes that every parent has for their daughter, and that every girl has for herself.  And that makes this book a great read for girls of all ages.