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Instructions
Unavailable
Instructions
Unavailable
Instructions
Audiobook5 minutes

Instructions

Written by Neil Gaiman

Narrated by Neil Gaiman

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

"A perfect reminder to always be on the lookout for magic and wonder. Sometimes, we need those two things the most" (Brightly.com, citing "Books That Teach Kids What It Means to Be a Kind Person").

In this breathtaking jacketed picture book, Neil Gaiman's lyrical poem guides a novice traveler through the enchanted woods of a fairy tale—through lush gardens, a formidable castle, and over a perilous river—to find the way home again.

Illustrated in full color by Charles Vess, Instructions features lush images of mythical creatures, magical landscapes, and canny princesses. Its message of the value of courage, wit, and wisdom makes it a perfect gift.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateApr 27, 2010
ISBN9780061983955
Unavailable
Instructions
Author

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning author and creator of many beloved books, graphic novels, short stories, film, television and theatre for all ages. He is the recipient of the Newbery and Carnegie Medals, and many Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner Awards. Neil has adapted many of his works to television series, including Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett) and The Sandman. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. For a lot more about his work, please visit: https://www.neilgaiman.com/

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Reviews for Instructions

Rating: 4.238516102473499 out of 5 stars
4/5

283 ratings34 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Love this book. Condensed wisdom from many stories
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Sort of like a Oh, the Places You'll Go for fairy tale fans.

    This poem is included in Fragile Things and M is for Magic but Vess's artwork is as charming as ever.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Haphazard & whimsical. The drawings were fine but the text seemed very random
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read this for the "A Hardcover" part of my 2020 reading challenge. Instructions for having a great adventure, it was simple and lyrical and perfect.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An interesting take on a story that reminds me of important details in various folk and fairy tales that help the protagonist ultimately succeed. The reader, who might be the character, is given "instructions" for nothing in particular, but the advice is still wise in it's way.The illustrations are interesting and detailed. I like the recurring character, who isn't human but might be an anthropomorphized cat or dog or something similar. I'm not sure what the ideal audience for this book would really be. I feel like people would either enjoy the openness or ambiguity of the instructions and what they are for, while others might be annoyed at the lack of a specific story to follow.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A synthesis of fairy tale wisdom, or perhaps: a condensed assay of mythopoeic themes and tropes, doled out as if imparting life lessons. W pronounced it "interesting but weird". I cannot improve upon that review.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Overall, I liked this book, but it seems very wordy and esoteric for a children’s picture book. I can see a child asking “what does it mean” and having a long talk that they may not understand.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Vital information if you’re going on a quest, whatever it may be. Short and sweet.The quester is an anthropomorphic cat and as she travels, she makes friends with a tabby cat who follows her on her quest. I kept thinking 'I know that story ... and that fairy tale ...' but I can't quite remember them.Instructions opens with Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before,There are other instructions which would apply equally well to Life as to a quest, such as Remember your name.Trust your heartDo not forget your manners.Richly illustrated by [[Charles Vess]].4 stars
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful! A fairy tale masquerading as a how-to -- simple but not simplistic, and completely enchanting. Charles Vess' illustrations are an indispensable part of the magic that Gainan's quiet poetry weaves. These are two artists who are well-versed in the world of fairy tales, with its darkness and its charm. This is a perfect delight of a book -- I would say gem, but gems are cold and they cut (as Gaiman reminds us).
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A beautiful poem and one that I didn't even know came in its own book format for I had found it hidden in a collection of stories of which I couldn't remember. Fortunately a few months back my sister made mention of the poem while finding me and ordering me this book. Although it takes on the ring and taste of a fairytale instruction manual the book's words can also be used to understand the wisdom of the world that we live in. It is beautiful for those who can read and for those who may only be able to see the pictures.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Interesting picture book. Sort of a lessons learned from many fairy tales.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A children’s book in classic Gaiman style, we follow along on a short journey with the author’s instructions leading the way. There are monsters and creature to meet along the way, some to trust, others’ to avoid. I fell for this book after hearing Gaiman read the whole thing during a talk I attended a few years ago. His lilting British accent made each new line come alive. BOTTOM LINE: It’s a gateway book for youngsters to get introduced to Gaiman’s work with lovely illustrations and wise advice on every page.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    One of the things enjoy about Neil Gaiman's writing is his subtle incorporation of mythological and fairy tale motifs in his fiction. 'Instructions' plays with the typical fairy tale structure. Gaiman uses very spare prose to remind readers of all the twists and turns that await those who travel on the path or stray from it. This is a book that is and isn’t a story, is whimsical and sober at once, playful and cautionary. The illustrations by Charles Vess are a wonderful with surprises and secret details sprinkled here and there throughout the pages.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Neil Gaiman, teams up with illustrator Charles Vess, to bring an engaging invitation to journey. Instructions, is everything you need to know on your journey. Where does that well lead to? How do you treat the old lady that sits under the tree? What, on earth, do you do with an eagle feather? The illustrations by Charles Vess are just right for young imaginations: not to boring, nor too scary. This book may be overlooked due to a cover that is understated, but don’t overlook it, the book is fantastic.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This would be a great book for use at the end of a unit about fairy tales/folklore. Otherwise, I fear that many of today's children to not have the prior knowledge to understand why this book is an invitation to adventure and imagination. Could be used as a prompt for older children's writing: choose three instructions from the book and write a story in which the main character(s) must follow those instructions.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I included this book in my multicultural text set because of the variety of mythological creatures that are mentioned in the book, and it tells the reader what to do when you meet them. Something that the book consistently emphasizes is to help and be polite: "...If any creature tells you that it hungers, feed it. If it tells you that it is dirty, clean it. If it cries to you that it hurts, if you can, ease its pain." It tells you to give things to the creatures that ask, and remember to be polite because they might return your favor you do for them. I think it is a great combination of things to expect when reading traditional literature. The big idea of this book is to remember who you are on a journey, and be kind to all you meet.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The art of course, is simply amazing. Charles Vess always draws amazingly well. The story/poem by Gaiman is sweet and nice. I just wish it had lasted longer. Even for a graphic novel it was exceptionally short, I felt a bit ripped off for the price and the amount of story you get. That is the main reason I’m giving it 4 and not 5 stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I am not really sure how to explain why I like this book because I'm not really sure if I really understand it. The book is a series of instructions for a character in the book, BUT as I read it, it's almost like it is instructions on how to lead a good life, like it is so much deeper than the story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Highly Recommended This seems to be an all ages picture book. I was not really sure what to expect from Neil Gaiman in a picture book. This book takes you on a journey through a fairy tale world. It tells you about things you should do and things you should not do. It seems to be advice on life and that making the right choices will get you further on your journey. At the end of the journey, you are “to go home or make a home or rest.” That can be interpreted in a variety of ways.I think younger readers will take the words and advice at face value. Older readers will appreciate the different interpretations and perspectives one can take from this poem. The setting is very fairy tale-like and the main character looks like a cat or a fox. This book could be read in the classroom as poetry. It could also be studied in an art class as to how a visual artist was able to illustrate a poem. The feelings and emotions could be explored both through the words and the drawings.One of the reviewers said the book was written in second person point-of-view, something that I would not even have noticed. But this could be a great tool for middle school and high school teachers to use as an example of second person. It could also be used to start a unit on fairy tales in any grade. It would make a great read aloud book in the library or classroom for all ages.I thought the Kirkus reviewer had a great point when they stated, “It could be instructions for a child, a writer, a newly minted adult or an elder.” I agree. This book would make a good addition to an elementary, middle or high school library. A very enjoyable read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Charming poem and beautifully detailed illustrations make this Neil Gaiman book a delightful, hypnotic read! So glad I discovered it on a display in the library!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a neat kind of book, written in the second person and seemed to sum up a lot of fairy tale cliches and common themes in a few short pages. It was fun and simple and if it had been any longer it would have been going into overkill. I liked it as it was.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Rich in fairy-tale allusions, and proffering a wealth of advice for the hero upon his archetypal journey, Neil Gaiman's poem Instructions - which first appeared in the fantasy collection A Wolf at the Door: and Other Retold Fairy Tales, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling - has been remade here as a picture-book, with artwork by Charles Vess. The result is an engaging journey into a landscape that readers of the genre will recognize immediately, and a celebration of all the terrors and joys to be found therein.Although I enjoyed the poem, its strength, for me, lay chiefly in the allusions, from the mention of the twelve months sitting around the fire (see: Samuil Marshak's The Month-Brothers: A Slavic Tale, or Rafe Martin's Twelve Months), to the description of the dangers of spewing diamonds and roses (see: Charlotte Huck's Toads and Diamonds). As a narrative, it was somewhat lacking, and sometimes felt a little disjointed (yes, even as a poem), but I was willing to forgive that, because of my enjoyment of the references, and the artwork by Vess. Recommended to fairy-tale readers, and to fans of Gaiman and/or Vess.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The poem in picture book format, beautifully illustrated with many references to well and lesser known fairy tales.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Minimalist. Enjoyable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I get chills reading this. Magical, simple, delicious.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Actually, I was a slightly - but only slightly - dissapointed. Being a Neil Gaiman Fan, of his books as well as his Graphic Novels, I sort of expected something more? different? Maybe the point is that I am not a great poetry fan. I got this book because 1. I collect children books and 2. this book has been praised for his exceptional art work,beautiful prose and the abillity to challenge any childs imagination. Exceptional art work - No - It's lovely art work, but definately not exceptional. Exceptional I find the art work of Shaun Tan and others. Beautiful prose - Probably a matter of taste. Challenging a child's imagination - definately. There is quite a lot to see and find in the pictures which leads to a lot of questions and indeed helps to roam into the fantasy world. What I did like very much is "Trust your dreams" "Trust your heart, and trust your story". Daring children to be brave enough to follow their dreams and heart wishes, that nothing is impossible as long as you believe in it. :)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a short, adorable instruction manual to the fantasy world. Someone returned it to the library and I snapped it up, based on the cover alone. It's sort of a reader beware kind of book, but aimed at kids. It's a great introduction to the fantasy genre and will hopefully have kids looking for more fantasy as they get older.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I don't normally understand poetry, unless I've studied it for a long time, such as Robert Frost or Wilfred Owen (I'm sorry Mr Soyinka, I still don't understand Background and Friezes). But Instructions? I understood it perfectly. I love the references to the different fairy tales, and how Neil Gaiman interweaves them together to form a coherent narrative. This short book is well worth the expensive price I paid for it (well, when you think of the price to pages ratio). The illustrations by Charles Vess is so suited for it, and reminds me of why I will not buy Stardust until I find the version that he illustrated. The pictures enhanced the content, and makes it easier for everyone, especially young children to enjoy this book. I think this is an excellent book to encourage a friend, or as a present, or to just keep for yourself. The instructions lend themselves to so many situations and are very encouraging, especially during difficulties.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Compressed art of fantasy storytelling. Read to my kids, also enjoyed by myself.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a slim volume, so I will keep my thoughts brief.Neil Gaiman’s poem “Instructions” has been appearing in various anthologies and short story collections for going on ten years now. I’m not always the greatest fan of this fantasist’s writings—Stardust produced mixed feelings in me, and I was downright repulsed by a couple of his short stories—but this is a charming piece, informing the reader what he must do if he stumbles into a fairy tale. (“It’s always best to be prepared for these things, after all,” Gaiman wrote in his author’s note for one anthology.) The prose is somehow both plaintive and witty, and the author manages to make something original out of the patchwork of folklore, myth, and legend he’s brought together. In short, “Instructions” reminds me of all the reasons I admire and respect Neil Gaiman, and contains none of the elements that sometimes disturb me.I’m not sure I find the picture book format the best mode of presentation for this selection—there’s just something about letting the words speak for themselves—but I’m grateful that this latest publication is bringing “Instructions” more attention. And Charles Vess’ illustrations are delightful in themselves. Recommended.