by Sonya Wadhera & Priya Wadhera ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2015
A delightful foray into magic, Indian culture, and the power of belief.
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Wadhera and Wadhera’s debut children’s book uses Indian folklore to craft a fairy tale about believing in oneself and accomplishing the impossible.
India is threatened by an evil demon, Raakshasa, who wants to rule the entire country. The kings of the North and the South devise a plan with their royal adviser, Pundit, to defeat the demon by uniting their soon-to-be-born children against her. When Pundit explains it is the children's destiny to defeat Raakshasa, both kingdoms rejoice. After the heirs, Prince Amir and Princess Sonali, each turn 3, Pundit gives them magical rings that endow them with the ability to harness the power of Shakti, the supreme power of the universe, to use against the demon. Raakshasa, however, curses the princess’s family as they leave the palace, turning them to stone. Sonali breaks the curse with her ring and is then rescued by a cow and a peacock, who raise her in a nearby village. There, she thrives as an ordinary village girl, but believes that she’s meant for greater things. Years later, when she encounters Amir, who possesses the secret to breaking the curse, they go on a mission to save her parents. Along the way, Amir falls in love with her bravery and intelligence. Sonali is presented as a brave, strong, and intelligent female character, who saves herself and her parents, with just a little help from Amir. She’s a wonderful role model for young girls, and her independence and strength give a refreshing, modern twist to traditional fairy tales in which the man usually saves the woman. The way that the prince and the princess unite to defeat a stronger foe will show young readers that they can accomplish the impossible if they believe and refuse to give up. The text is easy to follow and the pictures are vibrant, expressive, and compelling, bringing the magic of the story to life.
A delightful foray into magic, Indian culture, and the power of belief.Pub Date: April 2, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9939928-1-0
Page Count: 58
Publisher: Double Infinity International Incorporated
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Gabriella Barouch ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 2019
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves
A young child explores the unlimited potential inherent in all humans.
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the second-person narration. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. The no-frills, unrhymed narrative encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. The precisely inked and colored artwork plays with perspective from the first double-page spread, in which the child contemplates a mountain (or maybe an iceberg) in their hands. Later, they stand on a ladder to place white spots on tall, red mushrooms. The oversized flora and fauna seem to symbolize the presumptively insurmountable, reinforcing the book’s message that anything is possible. This quiet read, with its sophisticated central question, encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy—they will make messes and mistakes—but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures. It’s unlikely that members of the intended audience have begun to wonder about their life’s purpose, but this life-affirming mood piece has honorable intentions. The child, accompanied by an adorable piglet and sporting overalls and a bird-beaked cap made of leaves, presents white.
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves . (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-946873-75-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
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