MY NAPOLEON

by Catherine Brighton ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1997

A look at Napoleon through the eyes of a real child, Betsy Balcombe, in whose home Napoleon lived when he was exiled to St. Helena. Betsy wrote about Napoleon in her journal, and it is this account that Brighton (Mozart, 1990, etc.) uses as the basis for her story. The details have the ring of truth to them: Betsy is terrified of the emperor until she discovers he is tiny--""no bigger than me!"" He teases her and takes her for a ride in his carriage, is pleased that she will speak French with him, and plies her with sugar bonbons until she is sick all over the carpet. When the family returns to England, Betsy is sorry to leave him behind. Scenes from a child's perspective are given bright, hyper-realistic colors that seem to drench the characters in the last rays of the setting sun. Children will enjoy the story whether they know of Napoleon or not, and will be surprised in coming years to meet a rather different fellow in the annals of European history.

Pub Date: March 1, 1997

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Millbrook

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1997

Categories: CHILDREN'S