- Hardcover: 48 pages
- Publisher: Viking Children's Books (Jun 24 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0670036471
- ISBN-13: 978-0670036479
- Product Dimensions: 26.1 x 18.7 x 1.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 349 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #759,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-In this picture-book fantasy, a skinny, red-haired girl is lured into a forest inhabited by tree spirits, fairies, and magical cats. When Lillian falls asleep under an ancient beech tree, she accidentally disturbs a snake whose bite quickly draws her toward death, until the cats gather around her in a magic circle. However, to save her, they must change her into something that isn't dying, and thus she awakens transformed into a kitten. Her quest to return to her true self brings her into contact with many creatures, but it is the gnarled Apple Tree Man who finally leads her to her heart's desire. De Lint uses simple yet evocative language to describe Lillian's journey into this mysterious place filled with dark hollows and dense woods, where felines work their enchantment with voices that sound like "a kitchen full of fiddles not quite in tune with each other." Although the plot seems too neatly resolved, young readers are certain to enjoy the mood that has been created. The artwork is also appealing, with illustrations reminiscent of an animated film. Backgrounds are soft and misty and foregrounds set the scene, but the effect is sometimes too Disneyesque. Still, the book is worth consideration, particularly as a short read-aloud or for middle graders seeking a quick read.
Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los Angeles
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los Angeles
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A new North American fable,
By
This review is from: Circle Of Cats (Hardcover)
Charles de Lint has long been creating a new North American mythology through his Newford (and pre-Newford, for that matter) stories of magical realities in a modern world, where Celtic, Native American, cyberspatial and other mysteries combine into a fresh tapestry of lore. Now, de Lint and artist Charles Vess have created a modern folk tale in which a young girl and the spirits of trees interact with the innate magic of cats. The story is written for children, but adults -- particularly those who have been steeped in de Lint's lore in the past -- will still find this tale absorbing. It's perfect to read aloud to a child or for an intermediate reader to enjoy alone. The artwork, too, is an integral part of the story; Vess supplies us with a very vivid, spindly limbed and red-haired young heroine, brimming with sparkle and delight, seeing the world through deep, thoughtful eyes. And the cats? Don't be surprised if one pads its way from the pages to curl up on your lap for a scratch and snooze.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Circle Of Cats (Hardcover)
I rarely write reviews but this book is a fascinating read for adults and children alike. The illustrations are superb. Well worth buying.
5.0 out of 5 stars
An original childrens' story,
By
This review is from: Circle Of Cats (Hardcover)
This is an excellent, 44 page book for younger children, filled with full color illustrations. The type style and formatting make it easily readable. It is the story of a young girl, Lillian, who lives with her aunt at the edge of the forest, far from the nearest neighbors. She spends her free time wandering in the woods looking for fairies. When disaster strikes, she is saved by cat magic. This is an original fairy tale, and seems a mixture of folklore and magic. It can be read to younger children, or read by slightly older children. I would put the age level at 4 to 12, although I am 67 and thought it was an interesting tale (I actually bought it to use as a gift for a young child).
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
