A very pleasant and graceful new version packaged in a small trim size that suits the heroine and young readers/listeners as...
The oft-adapted tale of the tiny girl who has big adventures.
Here is a smoothly paced, lyrical retelling of Andersen’s classic that works equally well as a read-aloud, with its onomatopoeia and jaunty jingles, as it does an independent-reading title for early to middle graders. Those familiar with the story as well as newcomers will be delighted by the small protagonist who conquers fears, overcomes harrowing encounters, stands up for herself, devises clever ideas to extricate herself from trouble, and emerges triumphant. Of course, since this is a fairy tale, Thumbelina, who demonstrates refreshing feistiness here, doesn’t accomplish all this on her own. Depicted with very white skin and vaguely Asian features, Thumbelina receives much help from animals and a fairy king (who, in this version, wants to learn to sew!). Youngsters will appreciate the familiar tropes, including ancillary animal characters with distinct, sometimes-humorous, sometimes-sinister personalities. The retelling is much enhanced by beautiful paintings in a charming, dreamy folkloric style that emphasize Thumbelina’s diminutiveness. A timeless feel is maintained by the repetition of certain decorative motifs, and illustrations rendered in fluorescent pinks add a quirky sprightliness befitting the story and protagonist; lush endpapers add to the charm.
A very pleasant and graceful new version packaged in a small trim size that suits the heroine and young readers/listeners as well. (Fantasy. 5-9)Pub Date: April 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-78285-276-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
A charming start to a new adventure series.
An 8-year-old girl struggles to keep her secret when a new neighbor moves in next door.
Nobody knows that Isla Verde can talk to the animals on the island where she lives, Sol. It’s a talent that comes in handy when she sends her best friend, Fitz the Gecko, to check out the moving truck that arrived on her street. To her excitement, one of the new neighbors is a girl her age, so she might finally have a human best friend. However, Tora Rosa, who comes from La Ciudad, seems like the complete opposite of Isla—she’s tidy, loves the big city where she’s from, and runs from animals—but Isla still wants to make a good impression, so she comes up with an idea. On a trip to town to prepare for her big plan, Isla bumps into Tora. When an attention-seeking bird steals Tora’s prized pin, a reminder of her old home, the two embark on an adventure across the island. As they traverse Sol, Isla runs into some of her best animal friends, which puts her secret at risk of exposure. Isla just may find that the best way to make a friend is to be herself, despite her and Tora’s differences. A well-paced adventure with simple language, this is an excellent selection for beginning readers. Soft, warm illustrations depict Isla’s beloved island as she shows Tora around, keeping young readers engaged while they learn about what the island offers. Isla’s curiosity and joy shine through as a budding friendship blossoms. Isla and her family are brown-skinned, while Tora and her family are lighter-skinned; both families are Spanish-speaking and present as Latine.
A charming start to a new adventure series. (Fiction. 5-9)Pub Date: Dec. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66592-654-6
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
Utterly satisfying.
In Faruqi’s debut for children, transitioning readers watch a fun, curious, and creative Pakistani-American girl solve problems and have adventures.
Four separate sections give Yasmin lots of opportunities. “Yasmin the Explorer” makes a map of her neighborhood and uses it when she goes to the farmers market with her mother. “Yasmin the Painter” doesn’t know what to create for the art contest at school, but when she tinkers with a paint set gifted to her by her baba, she gets an idea that proves successful. “Yasmin the Builder” is once again stumped over a class project, but after a few false starts and moments of frustration, she comes up with a brilliant contribution. Finally, “Yasmin the Fashionista” is bored at home with her grandparents while her parents eat out together. She complains of having nothing to do, but when she stumbles into her mother’s closet, the hijabs and saris and a new kameez give her lots of ideas. Each episode spans two to three chapters. Each spread has full- or half-page art in attractive, bold colors. Readers will be charmed by this one-of-a-kind character and won’t tire of her small but significant dilemmas. Faruqi nails the child’s perspective, and illustrator Aly gives Yasmin life. Backmatter intended for child readers offers things to think and talk about from the stories, an index of Urdu words presented as a fun way to learn the language, facts about Pakistan, a recipe, and a craft.
Utterly satisfying. (Fiction. 5-9)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68436-022-2
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Picture Window Books
Review Posted Online: May 27, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
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