Day: January 29, 2010

Wishing for Tomorrow

| Tasha

Wishing for Tomorrow: The Sequel to A Little Princess by Hilary McKay

I have been a huge fan of A Little Princess since I was a little girl.  It was my favorite book for years and have read it so many times that I can’t count.  My favorite version was the one with the illustrations by Tasha Tudor.  The pictures matched the ones in my head so beautifully.  I am also an enormous fan of Hilary McKay and her Casson family series.  So how would one of my favorite authors do with a sequel to one of my favorite books?

Now that Sara has left Miss Minchin’s school, things are very different, especially for Ermengarde who misses Sara very much.  One thing though has bothered Ermengarde ever since she got a glimpse of Sara’s attic cell after the magic transformed it.  Why did Sara never tell her of how her world had changed?  With Sara gone, Lottie returns to her mischief and Lavinia once again is the leader of the girls.  A new maid replaces Becky.  She brings with her a fresh attitude and a no-nonsense point of view that is soon beloved by the girls.  When a boy moves in next door with a wandering cat, everything is poised to change again. 

When I first heard of a sequel to A Little Princess, I assumed that it would focus once again on Sara Crewe.  Then I was disappointed, now I am delighted.  Continuing the story of the girls we met in the first book was a great choice.  McKay lets us see into the other girls in the book and each girl is surprising and interesting.  McKay’s writing pays homage to the original but has a wry humor that keeps the book from ever becoming sentimental.  I would compare this book to your best friend moving away and realizing that other girls that were there all along are also wonderful companions. 

Bravo to the very brave McKay for taking on such a challenge and creating a winning story that both honors the past and takes its own direction.  Well done!  It is a book just like the first that I intend to read again and again.  Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

Also reviewed by Charlotte’s Library, Nayu’s Reading Corner, and So Many Books.

Henry in Love

| Tasha

 

Henry in Love by Peter McCarty

How do you create a great romantic picture book?  Well, first it must include fresh-baked blueberry muffins.

Henry woke up to the smell of muffins baking and was given one to take to school for snack.  Henry thought Chloe was the loveliest girl in his class.  Whenever he looked at her the wind started to blow and he saw poppies, flowers and grass.  At recess, Henry decided to go up to Chloe even though his friends thought it was a bad idea to talk to a girl.  After Henry demonstrated his best somersault, Chloe showed him her perfect cartwheel.  Then a game of tag started and Henry chased after Chloe.  Back in class, the teacher rearranged their desks and guess who Henry got to sit right next to?  Just in time to share his blueberry muffin.  Now that’s true romance!

A large part of the reason this book is so successful is the art.  As you can see from the cover it is done in inks with touches of watercolor.  Color is used subtly here to great effect. Even the slightest color is magnified by the bare backgrounds.  The result is a book that is modern and charming.  McCarty includes small moments in the book that really make it a treat.  It made the book difficult to summarize because it is the collection of the small moments of Henry’s day that make this book such a delight.  Just as with color, words are used sparingly and offer just the right amount of story to carry the book forward.

A very sweet, honesty picture book, this story captures childhood crushes with dignity and appeal.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from library copy.