The Princess and the Pea by Lauren Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4 September 2006
he miniatures are AMAZING. Even if you don't care for picture books you should take a few minutes to look at this one. Seriously.
***
30 June 2024
That up there is still absolutely true and utterly accurate. Details i noticed this time and feel compelled to mention: the paper dolls in the model sets are a very different vibe from Goldilocks. Also. I rather like the way Child addresses the traditional princess whiney aspect of the tale, and I kind of love that the prince and princess are so over the top and just the weenies bit exasperating. I expect they'll be quite happy together. The king and queen, on the other hand, are pur pragmatism.
Library copy, again
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Sunday, June 30, 2024
Review: The Princess and the Pea
Review: The Princess and the Pea
The Princess and the Pea by Lauren Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The miniatures are AMAZING. Even if you don't care for picture books you should take a few minutes to look at this one. Seriously.
Library copy.
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Review: Clarice Bean, Think Like an Elf
Clarice Bean, Think Like an Elf by Lauren Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is definitely going on my list of books to get me into a cheerful mood. It's exactly the sort of thing that seems like real life the way one might wish it to be: four kids, two parents, two grandparents, school friends, and aunts and uncles and cousins, plenty of dogs, a school concert, handmade presents, sudden changes in plans, meal fiasco, etc. Of course, there is the fight between Clarice Bean and her younger brother Minal Cricket on the kitchen floor, but that ends with only one bruise and having missed the last four minutes of the Ruby Redfort Special on t.v.
***
Feel free to skip on to the next paragraph, because in this one I digress to raise a cultural issue that utterly baffles me: putting the stocking on the foot of the bed. It's a reasonable and natural place to locate actual socks in the middle of a night, without fumbling about on the floor. But how is it possible for Santa (is "Father Christmas" not used, or is this a change for the American audience?) to creep into everyone's room quietly, not disturbing the occupants, carrying gifts and candy for a specific recipient which has to be transferred into the stocking? This seems like it guarantees that Santa is going to be tripping over and bumping into stuff, and walking into bedrooms where people are still quite awake, as well as having to drag his bag all over the house, which in this case seems to have six bedrooms. It's a much less efficient system than popping into one room only. How does he do it? This troubles me more than jetting about the entire world in a day, because whereas the living room and the designated real or symbolic mantel are usually rather tidy for the holiday, bedrooms are absolutely not. That's where all the miscellany that was cluttering up the living room has been temporarily stashed, on top of the normal daily dirty clothes and such. Unless, maybe, every bedroom isn't quite as untidy as ours with boxes unpacked for 11 years, and pet stairs and whatnot. (view spoiler)
***
Anyway, this would make a charming hour and a half of family entertainment for purposes of avoiding actual fights on the kitchen floor. Truly, this would become required viewing, along with The Grinch, and Miracle on 34th Street, and Die Hard, and A Wish for Wings That Work, and Muppets Christmas Carol, and Scrooged, and such.
Library copy
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Saturday, June 29, 2024
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Review: The New Small Person
The New Small Person by Lauren Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Library copy
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Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Review: The Penderwicks at Last
The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
9 July 2021
Birdsall does a lovely job of writing an old-fashioned sort of children's book. As wish-fulfillment for a perfectly happy childhood with the sort of family one wants to have, they're exactly right. This one has less plot and fewer adventures, but it feels true to Lydia's different sort of life. And after the catharsis of Spring going out on a high, light note feels just right.
6 June 2018
Aaaahhhhh. Very drawn-out sigh of satisfaction. I have just finished the fifth and final Penderwick novel. Previously I had noted how very old-fashioned the books felt: a sort of 20th-century nevertime with cars and phones and computers, but in which plot rarely if ever includes them. I mention this because it was less true in Penderwicks in Spring, and not true at all in Penderwicks at Last. No one watches tv still, but camera phones are integral.
One of the most satisfying conclusions I’ve ever read. Birdsall doesn’t try to tie up every last end, but she does suggest how the future might go. The reader is free to pick the path they like best.
A note on characterization: I like the adults Birdsall creates. She manages to keep them offstage in order for the kids to have freedom, but she does it without ever suggesting that they are neglectful. The emphasis, and the attention, and the really painstaking work goes into making the children vibrant and real and plausible. Well, okay, some of the attention goes to the critters, and oh! for fans of the dogs, this is a rich book indeed.
Heretofore I have reserved the Beloved shelf for books I have read and adored at least twice. There is no question that I will be reading the entire set again, probably many times, and that this final volume will be at least as beloved as the first, and maybe even more.
Library copy
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Sunday, June 09, 2024
Saturday, June 08, 2024
Tuesday, June 04, 2024
Sunday, June 02, 2024
Saturday, June 01, 2024
Review: My Favorite Pets, by Gus W. for Ms. Smolinski's Class
My Favorite Pets, by Gus W. for Ms. Smolinski's Class by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sheep are awesome. I don't know why I didn't have a sheep shelf. All those Tiffany Aching books!
This brings me to the end of my Birdsall readathon. It was great fun. I may well do it all again when her next book comes out. The Penderwicks still hold first place, but the picture books are also charming.
Library copy
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Review: Cat Eyes
Cat Eyes by Laura G. Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Apparently it's not just me who notices all the cats everywhere. I love Miki's single-minded focus. And all the cats. Also the cover is lovely and eye-catching.
Library cover.
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Review: Cat Eyes
Cat Eyes by Laura G. Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Apparently it's not just me who notices all the cats everywhere. I love Miki's single-minded focus. And all the cats. Also the cover is lovely and eye-catching.
Library cover.
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