My Review of a great children's book, The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
Is a refreshing remake of Goldilocks And The Three Bears. I don't know how anyone could possibly improve on this famous children's bed time story, but the truth is that Jan has done exactly that. This children's picture book takes place in the frozen Arctic landscape of the far North, and the leading character is a young Inuit girl named Aloo-ki. Aloo-ki glances up from fishing and sees her sled dogs floating off on an ice floe. She races after them and comes upon an igloo. Being a curious girl, she goes inside only to find no one home. Looking in, she sees a table and three place settings with three bowls of soup. After tasting each of the three bowls of soup, she discovers that the large one is too hot, the middle one is too cold, and the small bowl is just right. She then tries on three pairs of boots that suddenly catch her eyes. She first tries the large size, then the middle-sized, and finally the small boots. She decides that the small pair of boots is just right for her! After sampling three different spots on the bear's long sleeping bench, Aloo-ki discovers that the smallest spot is just perfect for her. She lays herself down for a nap and peacefully falls asleep.
Throughout this time the snow bear family has been out for a leisurely walk. While they are walking, they find Aloo-ki's sled dogs in trouble and they immediately proceed to rescue them. When the three bears return home, they are quite shocked to find that someone has apparently been in their igloo. They search and find Aloo-ki sound asleep on the smallest of the beds. Aloo-ki awakes to find the three bears staring down at her. She is startled and flees, in fright, out of the igloo. Seeing her faithful huskies outside waiting for her, she quickly hops on the dog sled rushing away. As she turns looking back, she waves a grateful thank you to the bears before heading for home.
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THE THREE SNOW BEARS
Book Description
Aloo-ki glances up from fishing and sees her sled dogs floating off on an ice floe. She races after them and comes upon an igloo. Being a curious girl, she goes inside only to find no one home. That's because the polar bear family who lives there is out walking while their breakfast cools off. Aloo-ki eats some soup, tries on their boots, and finally crawls into the smallest bed for a nap. Meanwhile, Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear see her dogs adrift, swim out to rescue them and return home to find Aloo-ki fast asleep in Baby Bear's bed.
Jan traveled to the far North to meet the Inuit people and see the amazing land where they live. Dramatic illustrations capture the shimmering ice, snow and deep blue seas of the Arctic, and when Jan adds a raven-haired Inuit girl and her appealing huskies, an endearing family of polar bears, and playful Arctic animals in the borders, the result is one of her most beautiful picture books.
The decorative Inuit patterns and clothing Jan uses throughout are sure to attract adult fans and collectors while children will want to listen to and look at this exciting version of a well-loved story over and over again.
About the Author
Jan Brett lives in Norwell, Massachusetts. Her most recent book, Hedgie Blasts Off!, was a New York Times bestseller.
The Three Snow Bears
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Release Date: 12/31/1969
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"A magical children's story told anew with a strange twist, you'll love it and so will your children!"
Jan Brett's official sites
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- Jan Brett's home page
- Jan Brett's official home pge
- http://www.janbrett.com/biography.htm
- Jan Brett's Bio official site
Who was your favorite character?
Rate it, if you dare...
The best line ever:
Come back! Aloo-ki shouted as her huskies floated out to sea. Oh No! She knew that although the ice flow was a good place to fish, it is a bad place to loose a dog team.
Your turn
Write a review, add a comment, or debate someone who disagrees with you.
What did you think?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLove it! Great read.
Intuitive says:
I love Jan Brett's work Not long ago I went to the library in a nearby town and there was a tour bus with her illustrations all over it. Turns out she was at the library signing books. But I remember her from when I was a children's librarian a long time ago.
Posted May 30, 2009
says:
sounds really good! i will definately recommend this book to a friend of mine for her children
Posted February 21, 2009
Gary Huber says:
Nice read....I will recommend to my younger children ...thanx....Electro Squid aka Gary Huber Offgridenergy 619-548-8108
Posted February 08, 2009
JaguarJulie says:
Now I would not mind reading this story -- as it sounds absolutely delightful.
Posted January 28, 2009
Sorry, not my cup of tea.
on Wikipedia
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a bear native to the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding seas. It is the world's largest carnivore species found on land. It's also the largest bear, together with the omnivore Kodiak bear which is approximately the same size, but which is a subspecies of the brown bear that is normally smaller than the polar bear. An adult male weighs around , while an adult female is about half that size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrow ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, it spends most of its time at sea, hence its name meaning "maritime bear", and can hunt consistently only from sea ice, spending much of the year on the frozen sea.
The polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species, with 5 of the 19 polar bear subpopulations in decline. For decades, unrestricted hunting raised international concern for the future of the species; populations have rebounded after controls and quotas began to take effect. For thousands of years, the polar bear has been a key figure in the material, spiritual, and cultural life of Arctic indigenous peoples, and the hunting of polar bears remains important in their cultures.
The IUCN now lists global warming as the most significant threat to the polar bear, primarily because the melting of its sea ice habitat reduces its ability to find sufficient food. The IUCN states, "If climatic trends continue polar bears may become extirpated from most of their range within 100 years." Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is listed as vulnerable. On May 14, 2008, the United States Department of the Interior listed the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Book and Audio CD's by Jan Brett
The Mitten Book and Audio CD Set (Paperback)
Product Description
Baba, Nicki's grandmother, knits pure white mittens for him, even though she is afraid that he will lose them in the snow. Sure enough, the first time Nicki is out, he drops one, and some animals promptly move into its snug wool interior. First comes a mole, then a rabbit, a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, a fox, a bear, and finally, a mouse. That mouse tickles the bear's nose and he sneezes, dislodging all of the animals at once. Nicki finds his mitten, and takes it home, but Baba is left to wonder about how it became so enormously stretched out. Brett's magnificent paintings feature her usual array of folk details, and this time, intricate knitting tracks, ornate embroidery, the crusty, peeling texture of the birch bark borders, and the exquisite patterns found in Baba's homey rooms. Readers will sit back, suspend belief, and welcome this tall tale from the Ukrainian tradition.
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The Hat Book and Audio CD Set (Paperback)
Product Description
Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage, "Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong," only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow in a pickle. When Lisa's red and white woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of it. Soon all the farm animals are coming around to chuckle at silly Hedgie's stocking hat. But in the end, nimble-witted Hedgie gets the last laugh. This magnificently illustrated companion book to artist (and hedgehog owner) Jan Brett's classic, The Mitten, was the winner of the prestigious 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Young readers can spend hours with this one short book, poring over the pleasing, spirited details of Brett's trademark picture borders. Throughout, Lisa can be seen in these artful frames, making preparations for the cold Scandinavian winter, never realizing that her clothesline is becoming more line than clothes. If it were possible to wrap oneself up in these warm, cozy illustrations, readers would be set for the winter.
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The Wild Christmas Reindeer (Book and Audio CD) (Paperback)
Product Description
Little Teeka's attempts to train Santa's reindeer for their Christmas ride meet with disaster until she realizes that she needs to work with the animals in a new way. "Tomorrow," she says, "no yelling, no screaming, and no bossing, I promise," and with her patient teaching, on Christmas Eve the "wild reindeer rise up together and carry the sleigh off into the night." Brett's characteristic, richly detailed borders depict the activity at Santa's workshop as each day brings Teeka closer to Christmas. As with The Mitten , Brett makes use of Ukranian motifs--colorful embroidered costumes, festive garlands, carvings and cunning toys decorate every page. The reindeer themselves--sporting names like Lichen, Tundra and Bramble--provide most of the comic action in this sweet Christmas fantasy that shows Brett at her best.
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Christmas Trolls (Book and Audio CD) (Paperback)
Product Description
Blonde, blue-eyed Treva teaches a pair of greedy little trolls how to celebrate Christmas. Following them in order to find the gifts and ornaments they've snitched from her house, she helps them decorate their home, shows them how to share, and offers them a gift -- a gesture they make in return on Christmas morning. The story is predictable but related with appealing directness; and fans will be enchanted, once again, with the lovingly detailed Scandinavian folk details in Brett's bright, crisply delineated art, especially in the intriguing borders -- where the trolls' charming pet hedgehogs are busy with their own related pursuits.
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Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? Book and Audio CD Set (Paperback)
Product Description
Knock knock. Who's there? More trolls to add to Brett's canon. Apparently, the trouble with trolls is that they're always making trouble. Luckily, they never get any smarter. In this Arctic story, a shy Finnmark girl fends off lurking trolls with help from a traveling boy and his pet polar bear. An icy landscape shimmers under the northern lights while bright Scandinavian frocks and household items give the scenery a kicky dash of color. Brett simultaneously reveals another angle of her tale via intricately designed side panels that frame the main event. The lifelike polar bear, both hulking and docile, is a scene-stealer.
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Great children's books by Jan Brett
Jan Brett is truly one of the great children's books authors of our time!
The Mitten
Amazon.com
A Ukrainian boy named Nicki wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. She warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow, but of course he promptly does just that! What happens next is the surprising part, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, then a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox. If you think the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait: "Then a big bear sniffed at the mitten. The animals were packed in tight, but the bear didn't care. He crawled in anyway." When a tiny mouse squeezes in, her whiskers tickle the bear's nose. He sneezes, and "Aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!" all the animals fly out of their crocheted cave. As the mitten sails through the air, Nicki spots it, reclaims it, and takes it home to show his smiling Baba.
Jan Brett is the illustrator of many well-known folktales, fairy tales, and poems, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Owl and the Pussycat, by Edward Lear. Her special signature in her detailed artwork is the intricate borders, seen in this book as birch-bark panels with embroidered details and mitten-shaped vignettes offering additional insights into the story line. Brett is at her best when she illustrates animals, and the expressions on the faces of her creatures are a delight. She carefully researched the costumes, furniture, and house in this traditional Ukrainian tale--all are authentic. A fine story to read on a frosty night with a cup of hot chocolate, and if you ever get your fill of The Mitten, you can always try its delightfully original companion book, The Hat, winner of the 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. (Ages 4 to 8)
From Publishers Weekly
Baba, Nicki's grandmother, knits pure white mittens for him, even though she is afraid that he will lose them in the snow. Sure enough, the first time Nicki is out, he drops one and some animals promptly move into its snug wool interior. First comes a mole, then a rabbit, a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, a fox, a bear and, finally, a mouse. That mouse tickles the bear's nose and he sneezes, dislodging all of the animals at once. Nicki finds his mitten, and takes it home, but Baba is left to wonder about how it became so enormously stretched out. Brett's magnificent paintings feature her usual array of folk details, and this time, intricate knitting tracks, ornate embroidery, the crusty, peeling texture of the birch bark borders and the exquisite patterns found in Baba's homey rooms. Readers will sit back, suspend belief and welcome this tall tale from the Ukrainian tradition. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury
Amazon.com
Celebrate the joy, beauty, and magic of Christmas with this giant treasury of Jan Brett's best-loved, bestselling books. Universally renowned for her exquisitely framed, highly detailed picture books, Brett captures the essence of winter wonderlands in her stories about hedgehogs, trolls, reindeer, and tow-headed children. The stunning natural settings and enchanting characters are based on the traditions and stories of the countries she has visited, especially Norway and Denmark. This glorious collection includes seven of Brett's snowy classics: The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Hat, Christmas Trolls, and The Night Before Christmas. What a treat! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers Weekly
Her many fans will welcome Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury. This oversize gift edition gathers together seven complete, previously published stories, including The Mitten and The Hat as well as The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Gingerbread Baby
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"I am the Gingerbread Baby,
Fresh from the pan.
If you want me,
Catch me if you can!"
That sassy cookie! When Matti opens the oven door just a little too soon, out pops a gingerbread baby instead of the gingerbread boy he was expecting. Eluding all efforts to catch him, the flat, becandied baby is chased around the village and into the countryside. He mercilessly taunts Matti's parents, a cat, the milk and cheese man, goats, villagers, a fox, and more. In a less traumatic twist on the classic Gingerbread Boy story, this Gingerbread Baby even outfoxes the fox. Sure he's bratty, but he doesn't deserve the gruesome end the Gingerbread Boy usually comes to. Matti makes sure this naughty but appealing little one ends up right where he belongs.
This fresh-baked version of the traditional nursery story is brought to you from the creative and award-winning ovens of Jan Brett. Best known for such favorites as The Mitten and The Hat, she has illustrated many other familiar folktales. Her intricately detailed paintings, with their pretty, illuminated borders, are a perfect fit for the Swiss mountainside setting of this cozy old tale. And don't miss the Gingerbread Baby plush! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers Weekly
Brett (The Mitten; Comet's Nine Lives) presents a rather wordy and wandering version of "The Gingerbread Boy." Impatient for the gingerbread man to bake the full eight minutes that is specified in the cookbook, Matti opens the oven door prematurely and a doughy baby jumps out instead: "I am the Gingerbread Baby,/ Fresh from the pan./ If you want me,/ Catch me if you can." The cherubic child remains at home while his parents and a smattering of animals lead a cumulative chase through the Swiss countryside, depicted in minutely detailed pictures. Within the artist's characteristically intricate borders, windowlike cutouts shaped like gingerbread cookie cutters reveal Matti's activities at home: he bakes, constructs and decorates an elaborate gingerbread house, which he then places in a clearing in the woods. Well ahead of his pursuers, the fugitive cookie discovers the elaborate structure and happily takes refuge inside. The grand finale allows youngsters to lift a flap shaped like the gingerbread house to uncover its new resident, smiling and winking. Brett's fetching art offsets her rather facile narrative in a book likely to please her faithful fans and holiday gift shoppers. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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The Hat
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage, "Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong" only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow in a pickle. When Lisa's red and white woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of it. Soon all the farm animals are coming around to chuckle at silly Hedgie's stocking hat. But in the end, nimble-witted Hedgie gets the last laugh.
This magnificently illustrated companion book to artist (and hedgehog owner) Jan Brett's classic The Mitten was the winner of the prestigious 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Young readers can spend hours with this one short book, poring over the pleasing, spirited details of Brett's trademark picture borders. Throughout, Lisa can be seen in these artful frames, making preparations for the cold Scandinavian winter, never realizing that her clothesline is becoming more line than clothes. If it were possible to wrap oneself up in these warm, cozy illustrations, readers would be set for the winter. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3. A clever and appealing picture book. In preparation for cold weather, Lisa takes her winter clothes out of their storage chest and hangs them up in the fresh air. A strong wind blows one of her knit socks off the line. A hedgehog sticks his head inside, and it becomes stuck on his quills. When a hen, goose, cat, dog, pig, and horse laugh at his appearance, he tries to salvage his dignity by telling each one that his new hat will keep him dry, warm, and cozy throughout the winter. Finally, Lisa finds him and removes her sock, telling him that animals don't wear clothing. But when she goes back to the clothesline, she sees all of the animals wearing her gloves, sweaters, and scarves on their heads. Brett's illustrations are done in her trademark style of highly detailed depictions of her characters and a creative use of borders. Contained within them are small illustrations foreshadowing what will happen next. Shades of grays and greens capture the chilly autumn landscape. Against this background, the earthy colors of the animals and the deep red of Lisa's sock make a stark contrast. The pictures, story, and subject matter make this a natural for sharing aloud. And while very young children may need to have the humor of Hedgie's predicament explained to them, the book's appeal will be broad.?Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Knock knock. Who's there? More trolls to add to Brett's (Christmas Trolls; Trouble with Trolls) canon. Apparently, the trouble with trolls is that they're always making trouble. Luckily, they never get any smarter. In this Arctic story, a shy Finnmark girl fends off lurking trolls with help from a traveling boy and his pet polar bear. An icy landscape shimmers under the northern lights while bright Scandinavian frocks and household items give the scenery a kicky dash of color. Brett simultaneously reveals another angle of her tale via intricately designed side panels that frame the main event. The lifelike polar bear, both hulking and docile, is a scene-stealer. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-In this story based on a traditional Norwegian folktale, a boy traveling from Finnmark to Oslo with his pet polar bear stops by Kyri's hut on Christmas Eve. The guests help to frighten away the trolls who come to wreak havoc and steal all of the holiday treats. The pleasure here lies mostly in the lush, richly textured illustrations, with Brett's distinctive borders that incorporate Norwegian folk motifs and trolls romping through skies lit by the Northern lights. Scenery aside, the children are rather one-dimensional, but the bear is handsome and heroic and the trolls satisfyingly ugly and naughty.-V. W.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Gingerbread Baby
4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Story is Retold With a Fun, New Ending and Beautiful Pictures, July 14, 2006
By A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "How cold is ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
Matti waits for gingerbread to be made while he thumbs through a cookbook. A gingerbread baby, much like the classic childhood tale, pops out the oven, and scampers across the room. Household havoc soon follows as Matti's family tries to catch the escaped snack.
The gingerbread baby leads everyone outside and down the road, creating a mess along the way. The entire town is up in arms, tempted by the gingerbread baby's poetic taunts:
"I'm the Gingerbread Baby.
Catch me if you can!"
How will the gingerbread baby be caught? Can Matti save the day?
Beautiful colored drawings fill each page, with many two-page spreads. There is winter atmosphere, from the fire-filled hearth, to snow flowing over mountaintops, to the sugar-crusted gingerbread house. Creative and active, the pictures meet well with the story.
The pictures sometimes overtake the type. Although set in Breughel (like Times New Roman) in what appears to be 14 pt., the contrast is occasional weak, making the story difficult to read in a few places.
I fully recommend "Gingerbread Baby" by Jan Brett. It is one of the good ones.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
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Fritz and the Beautiful Horses (Sandpiper Books)
5.0 out of 5 stars Charming story by a well-loved children's author, November 20, 2002
By breyergal "breyergal" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
This is a wonderful story about Fritz, a short, shaggy pony who lives his life in the shadow of the tall, sleek horses of the kingdom. His life changes, however, when this little "nobody" prances forward to rescue the children when the "beautiful" horses cannot.
An endearing story which teaches children that true beauty is found inside. As with all Jan Brett books, the charming illustrations will captivate even the smallest of children.
Add this one to your child's library ... it's sure to quickly become a favorite!
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Annie and the Wild Animals
Editorial Reviews
Review
Publishers Weekly : "The pictures hold countless surprises. Indisputably, this is a work of wonder that deserves highest honors."
Review
"The pictures hold countless surprises. Indisputably, this is a work of wonder that deserves highest honors."
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The Wild Christmas Reindeer
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"Teeka was excited. And a little afraid. This year Santa had asked her to get the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve." Teeka, an Arctic girl who lives "in the shadow of Santa's Winterfarm," knows it will be a struggle to round up the reindeer who'd roamed wild on the tundra since last Christmas. Reindeer training is not easy for the hard-working young girl: "Teeka looked at the tangled reindeer, once so bold and free, and began to cry. 'It's my fault,' she said. 'I've spent all my time yelling at you, instead of helping. I'm sorry.' And one by one she gave each reindeer a hug." On December 24, Teeka--who's finally learned how to be a gentle, effective trainer--brings her antlered team to meet Santa and all the elves who have loaded the sleigh. Teeka is asleep on the last page of the book, as Santa and his well-trained reindeer--Bramble, Heather, Windswept, Lichen, Snowball, Crag, Twilight, and Tundra--fly past her window for a night of magical surprises. (Ages 3 to 8) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Little Teeka's attempts to train Santa's reindeer for their Christmas ride meet with disaster until she realizes that she needs to work with the animals in a new way. "Tomorrow," she says, "no yelling, no screaming, and no bossing, I promise," and with her patient teaching, on Christmas Eve the "wild reindeer rise up together and carry the sleigh off into the night." Brett's characteristic, richly detailed borders depict the activity at Santa's workshop as each day brings Teeka closer to Christmas. As with The Mitten , Brett makes use of Ukranian motifs--colorful embroidered costumes, festive garlands, carvings and cunning toys decorate every page. The reindeer themselves--sporting names like Lichen, Tundra and Bramble--provide most of the comic action in this sweet Christmas fantasy that shows Brett at her best. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Town Mouse, Country Mouse
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The grass may be greener in the country, and the carpets softer in the city, but--as the two amiable mouse couples in Brett's rich interpretation of the timeless fable finally resolve--"There's no place like home." Brett's ( The Mitten ; Trouble with Trolls ) version of how they arrive at their wise conclusion serves up a sumptuous visual feast. The art on each double-page spread (alternately devoted to urban and rural settings) is brimming with droll details; exquisite patterns appear on clothing, china and rugs; and imaginative borders range from silk cord to pottery shards to dandelions. The text also conveys the culture gap between the city and the country mice with a good deal of humor. When she feels a raindrop on her head, the city-mouse wife asks, "Is the bathtub leaking?"; and her natty husband proudly dons a new jacket ("so colorful and eye-catching"), not realizing that it will indeed catch a creature's eye--that of a large owl whose greedy clutches he barely escapes. Bound to be a standout among the season's picture book offerings. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-A new spin on the familiar fable. A mouse couple living in a town are enchanted by the simple life of the country, and, while on a picnic, meet a pair of local mice who long for the luxury and convenience of the city. Homes are swapped, but they find that reality is different from their expectations. Both couples end up fleeing from unfamiliar, predators-a cat in town and an owl in the country-all the way home. The owl and cat collide, and in an original twist, negotiate a territorial swap of their own. Traditionally, the town resident is portrayed as a pompous snob who turns his nose up at the country dweller's simple fare, while the country mouse is a folksy bumpkin. In Brett's version, the town mice are as charming and naive as their country cousins. Furthermore, the original fable depicts country life as utterly tranquil, but the city mice find that it is anything but serene. Brett's narrative alternates the parallel mishaps of the two sets of mice with lively, smooth writing and a deft touch of humor. As with any of her books, the illustrations are rich with meticulous detail. The natural fibers of the clothes of the country mice are as realistic in texture as the fine beaded and bedecked clothing of the town mice. The text is neatly integrated into each double-page spread. Lozenges at either side portray the activities of the two predators and are bordered with natural objects such as buttons, stamps, coins, and safety pins. Because of the wealth of small details, the book is better suited for one-on-one sharing than as a group read aloud.
Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Trouble with Trolls
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
A brave girl outwits some trolls when they try to kidnap her dog. "A wintry winner with a sunny glow," said PW. Ages 3-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-- Treva's trouble begins when she and her dog, Tuffi, go up Mount Baldy. She meets five white-haired trolls, all intent on taking Tuffi; they want a dog and have filled their underground burrow with the things such a pet would need. Quick-thinking Treva, using tactics worthy of Br'er Rabbit, convinces the trolls that her mittens, hat, sweater, etc., are much more important to her than a dog, but wins all her belongings back before she and Tuffi escape down the mountain. Obviously influenced by Scandinavian folklore, the story is appealing. With the fine details that have become her trademark, Brett tells two stories at the same time: the child's encounters with the trolls appear on the top three-fourths of each spread, and a cross-section of their abode occupies the bottom. A humorous subplot involves a curious hedgehog. Set against a wintery, snow-capped background, the saturated colors seem to jump off the page. As always, Brett does a remarkably realistic job of depicting clothing and the natural landscape. Less successful, however, are her renderings of Treva and Tuffi, who have a slightly frozen quality. But the trolls are a personable bunch and readers may hate to see them disappear at the end. Overall, a visually attractive and accessible book that's ideal for individual use, but also fun to share aloud. --Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State Univ . , Normal
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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On Noah's Ark
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Brett presents the biblical story from the perspective of Noah's granddaughter. The child watches the construction of the ark and the arrival of its passengers. Once they are on board and the rain falls, she untangles the crowded beasts so that they can all sleep peacefully. When the storm ends, Grandpa Noah releases her pet dove to search for land. After the creatures disembark, she helps him plant a seed to start life anew. This familiar story serves as a vehicle for Brett's watercolor-and-gouache panoramas of animals, birds, and insects from all corners of the Earth. Even the dodo appears. Each spread features a large scene surrounded by a papyrus border. Smaller pictures that relate to the central image are presented in animal-shaped frames to the left and right. Close-up views of insects appear near the corner of some pages and the dove also has a spot in many illustrations. Such details add to the book's interest for older children, who can find something new to explore during repeat readings. Brett's fans will recognize her artistic style, and where her work is popular, this book is a "must purchase." Other librarians may want to assess demand for Noah stories versus the number of titles in the collection, including Jerry Pinkney's Noah's Ark (North-South, 2002). If there is room for one more interpretation, this one is worth considering.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 1. There's no mention of a wrathful God in this beautifully illustrated retelling of the familiar story of the ark, which is related through the viewpoint of Noah's granddaughter. As the water rises, Noah and his family prepare while the animal pairs march aboard. The 40 days and nights in the ark are restless and crowded, but the girl tries to make everyone comfortable. Finally, she sends her dove in search of land, and a new world begins. The words are basic and effective; it's the detailed watercolors of the animals that are the real attraction here. In precise brushstrokes and vivid colors, Brett creates incredibly textured feathers and fur, and the appealing book design positions the images on backgrounds made to resemble papyrus scrolls. Very young children will want to point out their favorite animals in the parade; older ones who know the story may enjoy this kinder, secular version. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Teaching With Favorite Jan Brett Books: Engaging Activities That Build Essential Reading and Writing Skills and Explore the Themes in These Popular Books
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Invite children to explore the stories and rich, detailed artwork of this popular author-illustrator. Includes a profile of Jan Brett; before- and after-reading discussion ideas; and activities that help kids build vocabulary, learn about genres, and explore story elements. Plus, extensions in science, social studies, math, poetry, and more.
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The Twelve Days of Christmas
From Publishers Weekly
"On the first day of Christmas,/ My true love gave to me/ A partridge in a pear tree." A straightforward beginning to a carol that grows increasingly complicated as both the list of presents and the numbers involved accumulate. Brett's lavish treatment of the song portrays various levels of meaning; she has illustrated the fantastic gifts in outrageous splendor (seven swans swim in folkloric Russian headdresses), turned them into a border of tree decorations, included a menagerie of animals carrying banners with "Merry Christmas" in different languages, and set into the outer edges of each page an ongoing story about a family's preparations for the big day itself. In the final frame, the decorated tree serves as the centerpiece for their own caroling. The artist demonstrates, once again, that she will not relinquish a project before every last glorious detail is in place; the clarity of her vision is stunning.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The New York Times Book Review
A warm book to the touch." --This text refers to the Board book edition.
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Christmas Trolls
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
Blond, blue-eyed Treva (The Trouble with Trolls, 1992) teaches a pair of greedy little trolls how to celebrate Christmas: following them in order to find the gifts and ornaments they've snitched from her house, she helps them decorate their home, shows them how to share, and offers them a gift--a gesture they make in return on Christmas morning. The story is predictable but related with appealing directness; and fans will be enchanted, once again, with the lovingly detailed folk/Scandinavian details in Brett's bright, crisply delineated art, especially in the intriguing borders--where the trolls' charming pet hedgehogs are busy with their own related pursuits. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Book Description
Christmas is Treva's favorite time of the year. But this year, decorations and presents are mysteriously disappearing. When Treva follows a small creature making off with the Christmas pudding, she discovers two irresistible trolls who want to have Christmas, but don't understand it. Jan Brett's trademark luminous paintings give readers a magical Christmas full of surprises.
"Luminous, richly detailed...a visual treasure trove." -Publishers Weekly
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Jan Brett's Little Library
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Now you can savor all three Jan Brett board books in one beautifully illustrated gift set. Jan Brett's Little Library features three of her best-loved titles, The Mitten, The Hat, and Gingerbread Baby, available for the first time in board, together in a sturdy slipcase decorated with Jan's signature illustrations. A welcome addition to anyone's Jan Brett collection, it makes a perfect gift year round-for the holidays, for a new baby, for birthdays.
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Hedgie Blasts Off!
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-Hedgie the hedgehog is back. Aspiring to become an astronaut, he works as a member of the cleanup crew for the Star Lab run by the Professor (a dog), who is the smartest scientist on Earth and in charge of Outer Space. On the tiny planet of Mikkop, an erupting crater called the Big Sparkler, a popular tourist attraction, is inexplicably slowing down. The Professor orders his team to build a small spaceship that can carry a robotic astronaut into space to assess the problem. When the robot malfunctions, Hedgie is the only one who can fit into the vehicle, and off he zooms. Bretts color illustrations are filled with humorous details, including eager reporters (an owl, a flamingo, a toucan, and a cockatoo, whose postures convey their avid impatience) and whimsical spaceships filled with comical alien tourists. Small groups can easily view the richly hued art, although many scenes merit closer inspection. Children will cheer for this intrepid hedgehog as he solves the problem of the plugged crater.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. Hedgie the hedgehog loves heading the cleanup crew at Star Lab, but he longs to be an astronaut. The lab's scientists are concerned about Big Sparkler, an outer-space, volcano-like formation that has stopped emitting sparks that cause beautiful gardens to grow on its planet. When the lab's robot is damaged, Hedgie, who fits neatly into the lab's pint-size rocket, undertakes a mission to investigate. Ingenious Hedgie successfully restores Big Sparkler, which was damaged by space tourists. The setup is a bit clumsy, but, as usual, Brett's exquisite artwork will easily draw children's interest, particularly in scenes of underdog, child-size Hedgie soaring triumphantly through the beautifully imagined depths of outer space. One nagging question about the animal character groupings: Why are all the dogs scientists; the journalists birds; and Hedgie, the only hedgehog, an astronaut? Teachers may want to use this as a starting point for discussions of how humans impact the environment. For aspiring astronauts, pair this with Faith McNulty's fact-filled If You Decide to Go to the Moon (2005). Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Comet's Nine Lives
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-Comet, a white cat with orange markings, goes through eight of his nine lives in one of Brett's more playful offerings. Readers will enjoy anticipating how Comet will lose his next life: eating foxglove, having a shoe thrown at him by a famous actress, falling into a tuba-these are just a few of the humorous demises he suffers (and he always manages to look catlike, dignified, and somewhat surprised that any of these disasters should be happening to him). The Nantucket setting is lovingly shown and expertly woven into every picture. Elaborate borders are fashioned with shells, wildflowers, and fishing line; the island is populated by dogs, all quite realistic looking and all wearing human clothes. Attentive children will enjoy poring over these detailed pictures and will feel satisfied by the conclusion, which has been nicely foreshadowed throughout. Brett's many avid fans are sure to love this book.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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The Umbrella
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Jan Brett, well-loved for her ornate, Scandinavian-themed picture books takes her talents deep into the Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica. A tropical twist on The Mitten, this story chronicles the antics of myriad animals that make themselves right at home in the handcrafted leaf umbrella that Carlos has left at the foot of a giant fig tree. As the tree frog, toucan, kinkajou, tapir, quetzal, monkey, and more pile into the umbrella, Carlos, who is visiting the cloud forest expressly to see these animals, doesn't see a single one. Things heat up when the impulsive monkey hurls the umbrella into the river: "'¿Qué pasa? What is happening?' Froggy asks as water starts to pour into the umbrella." Jaguar jumps in, adding to the confusion, but it's the addition of the tiniest of hummingbirds that causes the big "KER-SPLASH!" Brett's gorgeous, detailed watercolor and gouache illustrations steal the show here, from the exquisite endpapers to the vine-encased leafy side panels that reveal the tree-climbing boy on the left side and a sneak preview of the next umbrella-dwelling animal on the right side. Not Brett's best-crafted story, but her fans will want this lush offering anyway. (Ages 5 to 8) --Karin Snelson
Did You Know?
Fun Facts about Jan Brett
* Each book begins with the art first.
* Jan likes to listen to audiobooks while drawing--usually thrillers!
* Each book takes about a year to complete.
* The pages of each book are not created in sequence (she saves the front materials and endpapers for last).
* Each book is carefully researched--she created The Umbrella after a trip with her husband to Costa Rica.
* Jan prefers to use her memories of a place to create her art, rather than relying on pictures.
For Young Writers and Artists
Tips from Jan Brett
* Want a reality check on your artwork? View your work in a mirror.
* Be honest with yourself, and get comfortable with personal and private writing. Write in a notebook that no one sees but you.
* Remember the things that happen to you now. It's okay to feel things strongly as a kid. You can use your emotions as part of the recipe for something later.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-Young Carlos hopes to spot certain animals in the nearby rain forest but is disappointed when no living things appear. Dropping his umbrella made from leaves, he climbs a tree for a better view. Meanwhile, one by one all of the creatures the boy hoped to see settle into his umbrella, arguing over available space until the weight of a hummingbird tips the whole thing over. The story line, which mimics Brett's The Mitten (1989) and Pamela Allen's amusing Who Sank the Boat? (1983, both Putnam), is a trifle overambitious and seems to sink, like the umbrella, under the weight of its components. The animals lapse into Spanish often enough to perplex readers, since the words and phrases aren't always clearly translated. The text fails to improve on earlier versions of this tale. However, the watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are stunning. Lush vine-framed paintings show a leafy world where countless shades of green are illuminated by tropical flowers and exotic animals. Each spread provides an enticing glimpse of the creature that will appear next and thus an entertaining visual puzzle for children. Despite the narrative's weaknesses, this book can be used as an introduction to the rain forest, and the illustrations alone make it worth owning.-Susan Weitz, Spencer-Van Etten Schools, Spencer, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Release Date: 09/13/2004
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Honey... Honey... Lion!
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-This title is based on the legend of the honeyguide, an African bird that leads an animal to a honeycomb and then shares the spoils once the stronger creature has broken it open. In Brett's version, Honeyguide takes revenge upon a greedy honey badger that refuses to share the sweet treat. She leads him on a merry chase that ends up not at a honeycomb but at the lair of a lion. Badger's pursuit of the honeyguide and flight from the lion are reminiscent of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, with each landmark and sound effect revisited on the return journey. Brett has created another lush winner with beautifully detailed illustrations of the animals and a clear, fast-paced story. Honeyguide's anger and subsequent punishment of Badger is witnessed by the other animals that form a bush telegraph, passing news along from individual to individual. This process is visualized on the edges of each page in typical Brett style-a story within a story. This lovely title works equally well for storyhours or for one-on-one sharing. Readers interested in other versions of the legend can check out Francesca Martin's The Honey Hunters (Candlewick, 1994).-Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. Honeyguide, an African bird, has always helped her friend Badger find honey, and in turn, the team always devours the sweet hives together. One day, Badger greedily consumes the honey himself, so his feathered friend gets mad. The next day she leads Badger on a wild hunt for what he thinks is honey. Through the baobab roots ("Pitter, patter!"), into the water hole ("Splish, splash!"), over the termite mound ("Sprong!"), and straight into an acacia bush, the resting spot of a soon-to-be-angry lion, which readers can see by lifing a flap. Brett brings her traditionally ornate style to an African setting, specifically Botswana's Okavango Delta, forming patterns with skins, seeds, and feathers to craft her careful borders. Side panels reveal myriad African animals spreading the news through the plains of Badger's betrayal via "bush telegraph," from elephant to hippo, hippo to warthog, warthog to hyena. Badger and Honeyguide's sound-effect-filled trek guarantees a lively read-aloud. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Children find the story of Goldilocks delightful for so many reasons. There's a trespassing little girl, for starters, who barges into the bears' house uninvited and not only snoops around, but eats the bears' food! The suspense of wondering whether she'll get caught only adds to the thrill of the trespassing itself, and the repeated lines about the three bears with their three distinct voices, bowls, chairs, and beds further endear this tale to the preschool set. In Jan Brett's Goldilocks, the bears and the slightly audacious flaxen-haired heroine all sport traditional (Black Forest?) costumes with detailed embroidery, and the wooden furniture is carved with bears, birds, and flowers. (Intricate borders--carved wooden panels in this book--are Jan Brett's special signature.) Brett is the illustrator of many well-known folk tales, fairy tales, and poems, such as The Mitten and Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat. Of her exquisite interpretation of this beloved story, Booklist writes, "This is perfection." (Ages 3 to 6) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
PW found this "beautifully executed retelling . . . distinguished by the use of luxuriant color and a wealth of visual detail." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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The First Dog
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
"Long, long ago," Kip the cave boy re-christens Paleowolf, a helpful, ever-hungry animal companion--and man's best friend is born. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1 A simple, imaginative tale of how the first domestication of a wild animal may have occurred. Kip, a cave boy living at the end of the Ice Age, is followed on his journey home by a Paleowolf, who, smelling the boy's roasted Woolly Rhino bones, begs for a treat. Each time the boy stops to rest and eat, the wolf hound senses danger and flees, saving the boy's life, too. After Paleowolf warns him of a fearsome Saber-Toothed Cat, the boy makes a deal with himhe will exchange some of his food for the animal's protective senses. The book's glorious watercolor illustrations will attract young prehistory enthusiasts, for amidst the melting ice floes roam the mighty Mammoth, the Wild Horse, the Woolly Rhino and other denizens of the Pleistocene period. Each scene appears on a ``canvas'' stretched across two pages. Borders show wood and stone carvings, cave paintings, and artifacts. Side panels on several illustrations show the dangers that Kip avoids by heeding Paleowolf's warnings. This is another of Brett's lavish offerings, intricately designed and filled with eye-catching detail. However, it is a fabricated story told with authority, featuring a modern-looking boy amidst authentic-looking animals and scenery. Children familiar with the ever-growing body of factual material on this period may accept it as the truth, despite its accompanying notes. Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, Ohio
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Hedgie's Surprise
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Henny doesn't know what to do. Every morning the irksome gnomelike Tomten steals her egg and takes it home to cook in his kettle and gobble up for breakfast. But when she sees Goosey-Goosey sailing by with a gaggle of goslings, Henny is suddenly galvanized to do something. Will she never have chicks of her own? She consults her wise friend Hedgie the Hedgehog, who comes up with a clever plan guaranteed to give the Tomten a sharp lesson in appropriate behavior.
Jan Brett's trademark illustrations--detailed watercolors bordered by intricate needlepoint patterns---capture the charm and mischief of this Scandinavian-style folk tale set in Denmark. Each wide woven margin shows a hint in miniature of upcoming events: Hedgie crawling under Henny's brooding basket, or the enraged Tomten after being outwitted. Young readers will love guessing what Hedgie has up his proverbial sleeve, and will rejoice with Henny at the unusual hatching of her first brood of chicks. A warm, humorous, 100 percent satisfying story by the creator of many picture book favorites, such as The Hat and The Mitten. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers Weekly
Brett's (The Mitten; The Hat) trademark, elaborately bordered paintings are once again the centerpiece of her latest tale set in timeless rural Scandinavia. And, as in her prior works, the author's endearingly expressive animal characters, depicted in meticulous detail, steal the show. After viewing Goosey-Goosey's brood of chicks, Henny the hen longs for her very own offspring. But each morning a greedy, elf-like "Tomten" steals her newly laid egg, insisting he needs "a little yummy for my hungry, hungry tummy." Henny awakens her friend, Hedgie the hedgehog, with a loud wail, "No eggs, no chicks, no peeping babies," and he offers to help Henny put a stop to the Tomten's thievery. On successive days, her pal plants in Henny's nest an acorn, a strawberry, a mushroom, a potato andAin the ultimate deceitAhides himself in the straw, rolled into a ball, which sends the rogue running after he picks up the prickly fellow. Thanks to Hedgie's cleverness, five eggs hatch into fluffy chicks, fulfilling Henny's wish for a family of her own. Youngsters will be happily diverted by the busy goings-on in both Brett's mainframe illustrations and elegant borders, which feature a red-and-white needlepoint background and egg-shaped spot art that tactically foreshadows the narrative. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Berlioz the Bear
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
"This winning balance between high style and fun will amuse and amaze readers again and again," said PW. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- A wonderful blending of elements into a cohesive, thoroughly entertaining work that subtly introduces young readers to the world of music. While practicing, Berlioz the Bear detects a strange buzzing noise coming from his double bass. On the way to the concert with the rest of the bear band, he is so preoccupied with the sound that he accidently runs the wagon into a hole. The lead animal, a mule, refuses to budge, despite a series of animals who unsuccessfully try to pull the wagon out. At that moment, what should fly out of Berlioz's bass but a very angry bee that takes out its frustration on the mule's hindquarters. The sting does what the other animals failed to do; the wagonload of musicians goes careening into the village at full speed and arrives just in the nick of time. In tone, Brett's cumulative story has elements of traditional folklore, and her spare text begs to be read aloud. Her pen-and-ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations are richly, often humorously, detailed, and they sweep over each double-page spread. The brushwork is distinct, and the palette is a well-organized blend of earth tones with touches of red and blue. The artist's penchant for borders is evident, here taking the shape of a proscenium arch. The top portion of each arch shows the villagers' preparations for the performance while the side panels depict various animals enroute to the concert. The borders, manner of dress for the animals, and scenery all have a distinct flavor of traditional Austrian and Swiss culture. --Denise Anton Wright, Library Book Selection Service, Inc., Bloomington, IL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Armadillo Rodeo
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Brett (The Wild Christmas Reindeer; Trouble with Trolls) here gives her trademark, exquisitely detailed art a Western flair as she sets this endearing tale "deep in the heart of Texas hill country." "Don't go gettin' distracted on me," a mother armadillo cautions Bo, one of her four young 'uns. Undeterred, the ever-curious Bo follows a lizard down to the creek just as young Harmony Jean slides down the bank, trying to scuff up her brand-new "pointy-toed, high-heeled, hand-tooled chili-pepper red boots with fancy cutwork, tall tops, and a Curly H brand." Bo (who, like all armadillos, can't see very well) mistakes the boots for a shiny red armadillo, whom he greets with a friendly "Howdy." Impeccably reproducing the design, stitching and trims of Western clothing, border panels follow Bo's brothers and Ma as they search for their weak-eyed wanderer. He, meanwhile, is having the time of his life at the Curly H rodeo, where he rides on the back of Harmony Jean's horse, munches on a jalape?o pepper under a table and kicks up his heels at a barn dance-all in the company of his new "friend." The high-spirited hero and action-filled art will please the author/artist's many fans. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3?Every icon associated with Texas mythos is incorporated into Brett's latest picture book: boots and spurs, cactus and bluebonnets, barrel racing and bull riding, Bar-B-Q and hot peppers, and...armadillos! Weak-sighted Bo, a baby 'dillo, mistakes one of Harmony Jean's new red boots as a potential friend and follows it throughout a busy day, while his ma and brothers search for him in all the wrong places. By day's end, Bo has ridden horseback, sampled the jalape?os, two-stepped at the barn dance, and been rescued by his mother. Brett's distinctive style shines in these joyous pictures filled with the excitement and fun of a day at the rodeo. Each double-page spread is framed by a lariat and decorated with side vignettes of tooled leather depicting offstage events. A delightful addition to the artist's canon.?Ruth Semrau, formerly at Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Daisy Comes Home
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Picked on, pecked, and jostled, Daisy the hen is not quite as happy as her Happy Hens market basket might suggest. One evening, fed up with the other pushy hens, Daisy crawls into one of the baskets by the river, and falls asleep. Unaware of the rising river, this put-upon bird winds up floating downstream, past marauding monkeys, snorting water buffalo, and a greedy fisherman. Will Daisy ever make her way back to the home of the little girl Mei Mei and the six happiest hens in all of China? Breaking away from her usual Scandinavian illustrations and stories, Jan Brett embraces the beauty of China in this Story About Ping-inspired picture book. Bamboo poles frame the lavish illustrations of picturesque villages, strangely shaped mountains (Brett incorporates images of the animals into the ranges), and river-life characters. As in The Hat and her many other tales, Brett advances the plot with miniature border details. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers Weekly
Inspired in part by the classic story of Ping, the adventurous young duck on the Yangtze River, Brett's (The Mitten) spirited, intricately illustrated tale centers on Daisy, the smallest of Mei Mei's six hens. Escaping the taunts of the larger hens, the beleaguered creature leaves the henhouse one rainy night to sleep in an egg basket at the edge of the Li River. But soon the rising water reaches the basket, and the current sweeps Daisy downstream. While a distraught Mei Mei searches for her, Daisy encounters (and cleverly escapes from) a dog, a water buffalo and a troop of monkeys before being snatched up by a fisherman who can't wait to sell her at market. Mei Mei's nick-of-time rescue of Daisy will bring smiles to young faces as will Daisy's new status in the hen house. In the main frame of each paneled spread, Brett depicts in fine detail the diverse wildlife and lush vegetation found along the Li, while smaller images in the corners amplify elements of the plot. Incorporating simulated bamboo patterns, basket weaves and painted pottery, the artist's trademark borders and embellishments intriguingly evoke the timeless setting. The elegance of the illustrations gains a touch of whimsy as Brett hides some surprises in the distant mountains. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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The Mitten Gift Package
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In Jan Brett's wintertime favorite The Mitten, a Ukrainian boy named Nicki wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. She warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow, but of course he promptly does just that! What happens next is the surprising part, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, then a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox. If you think the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait: "Then a big bear sniffed at the mitten. The animals were packed in tight, but the bear didn't care. He crawled in anyway." The Mitten, a runaway holiday hit, is now packaged in a lovely gift box with a set of pale gray, stretchy acrylic, machine-washable, one-size-fits-most-kids-under-five mittens, complete with hedgehog decal. This is a fine story to read on a frosty night with a cup of hot chocolate (wearing hedgehog mittens of course), and if you ever get your fill of The Mitten, you can always try its delightfully original companion book, The Hat, winner of the 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. (Preschool to age 5)
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-By Jan Brett.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Beauty and the Beast
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This beloved old French fairy tale has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years. Beauty, as you may recall, is the youngest daughter of a devoted father who has fallen on hard times. Returning from a journey, he picks a rose for his daughter, enraging the owner of the rosebush, the fearsome boarlike Beast who inhabits a nearby castle. As payment for the rose, Beauty must leave her family and reside in the Beast's castle as his companion. She gradually comes to appreciate the Beast's kind nature, and, after leaving him to visit her family, realizes that she has fallen in love! Beauty willingly returns to her Beast, in time to break the spell that has caused his current, beastly countenance and restore him (and the servants in the castle) to their human forms.
Jan Brett--well-known for her artistry in Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Mitten--has worked her usual magic on this beautiful edition of Beauty and the Beast. In a unique visual spin on the story, the tapestries hung on the walls of the Beast's castle reveal the true identities of the animal servants who are under the same spell as the Beast--a subtle, fascinating feature that may not be noticed until the second or third reading. The story's old-fashioned and graceful language perfectly accompanies the French court setting. One of the finest takes on this classic tale, Brett's Beauty and the Beast is described by Kirkus Reviews as "a lovely, carefully made edition of an old favorite." (Ages 5 to 8)
From Publishers Weekly
A single peacock feather, its delicate beauty rendered in meticulous detail, sets the tone for this sumptuous retelling of a classic fairy tale. The story is a familiar one, with true love triumphing over a wicked enchantment in the end (the moral, of course, is "never judge a book by its cover"). But the central attraction is the illustrations. Brett's images glide by in a kaleidoscope of luminous color: iridescent blues and greens flow from page to page, entwined with the radiant shades of Beauty's own symbol, the rose. Brett, whose trademark is her careful detail, leaves hidden clues for sharp-eyed readers that hint at the Beast's secret--such as mottoed tapestries and glimpses of the meddlesome fairy herself, decked out naturally enough as a peacock butterfly. But it's the recurring motif of the peacock, itself a symbol of vanity and surface appearances, that ties the threads of the story together. It's a brilliant marriage of artwork and text; once again Brett proves herself a contemporary illustrator of consummate skill. Ages 6-12.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Noelle of the Nutcracker
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Jane's first book magically captures the dreams-can-come-true atmosphere of the holiday season. Ilyana and Mary Jane, second grade rivals, both fall in love with the same ballerina doll in a shop window. Mary Jane vows her rich father will get it for her, while Ilyana despairs. The doll, Noelle, doesn't want to be owned by anyoneshe dreams of being on stage. It is her dream that comes true first, when she is used as one of "Clara's" props in a production of The Nutcracker. In the meantime, Ilyana and Mary Jane prepare for the class Christmas pageant. Ilyana dresses up like Noelle, and her performance is spotted by her teacher's fiancethe propman from The Nutcracker who wants Noelle to belong to a little girl. Ilyana finds Noelle under her Christmas tree. The series of coincidences never seem strained; Jane is a skillful storyteller. Readers may wish Brett's realistic pencil drawings were in color, but this is a lovely novella any time of the year.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
American Bookseller 8/86
Pick of the Lists
Excellent illustrations add to the enjoyment of this book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $16.00
El sombrero
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
El invierno se acercaba. Lisa sacó su ropa de lana del baúl y la colgó al aire libre. De repente, un viento fuerte se llevó uno de los calcetines. PuercoespÃn curioso encontró el calcetÃn, metió la nariz y al sacarla, el calcetÃn quedó prendido de las púas. Todos los animales se burlaron del sombrero del PuercoespÃn, pero él les explicó que en invierno era necesario usar sombrero, le quitó el calcetÃn y le dijo que los animales no usaban ropa.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $8.95
What is the buzz on the internet about the NY Times Top 50 best seller list book The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett!
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Hello folks,
I have greatly enjoyed putting this lens together featuring the fabulous children's books of Jan Brett, and focusing on her recent NY Times best seller The Three Snow Bears. Please feel free to leave me your thoughts on this great author of children's books.
Intuitive wrote...
This is an awesome Squid Lit lens! Love all the reviews of the other books. 5*
Posted May 30, 2009
wow, you did an awesome job on this lens, very well layout out and the content is great! the author sounds like a great childrens author and now my curiosity is raised, going to go to the bookstore when i get a chance to look through some of the books
Posted February 21, 2009
cymrymongan wrote...
Great lens! I tried writing a children's book a few years ago. I'm always looking for great new books!
Posted February 17, 2009
kellywissink wrote...
Well Done!
Thanks for joining the Squidoo 100 lens Club!-Kelly
Posted February 16, 2009
TheGreenerMe wrote...
This looks like a cute book. I had fun reading this lens!
Posted February 12, 2009
EverythingMouse wrote...
This looks like a great children's book. I haven't read it but I am always looking for new ideas for books.
Posted February 08, 2009
JudyDunn wrote...
My kids are teens now, but I held on to all the Jan Brett books we owned. She is a gifted writer and illustrator. I will have to look at this book, and maybe add it to my collection!
Posted December 20, 2008
eclecticeducation wrote...
We just read this book in our homeschool. I thought it was adorable. 5*
Posted December 16, 2008
OhMe wrote...
Fantastic lens. I have enjoyed Jan Brett's books and website for some time and I really enjoyed this lens. Lensrolling to my Squidlit "Christmas Tree In The White House by Gary Hines". Thank you.
Posted December 05, 2008
annetteghallowell wrote...
Even though my daughter is 18, there are some childrens books that I did not give away. Jan Brett's books are among them. I think she has some of the most beautiful illustrations of any books out there..I had not seen this book before but will be getting it to use with ESL teaching! 5*
Posted August 11, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Great lens! I see why the angels blessed it.
5*
Lizzy
Posted June 19, 2008
poddys wrote...
Wow really cool lens and such great books. Nice job. It's important to get the kids reading about something other than what they see on tv and to understand more of the world around them.
Posted May 18, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
What a Great Lens! 5 Stars and Favored!
The Three Bears lumbered over to check out your lens and liked it so much that they are sending you virtual Maple Syrup to pour on your Waffles.
Posted May 18, 2008
Roving_Band wrote...
It's great to be in the "Get Kids Reading" group with you!
Posted February 25, 2008
Fantastic lens. 5 stars no doubt. Keep it up!!!
Do visit my lenses and give a rating if you want to.
All the best to you.
Posted January 21, 2008
tonyab wrote...
Thanks for the review - it look like a great kids book and one that my son would love! A definite 5 star lens.
Star Wars Transformers
Posted January 20, 2008
LABELSTONE wrote...
Awesome lens. 5-star all the way. I love all children's books - it looks like a great one with super illustrations.Excellent information!Do visit my lens on St. Patrick's Dat at: http://www.squidoo.com/IrishEyes.
Posted January 18, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Though I love Jan Brett's illustrations, I prefer Alaska's Three Bears by Shelley Gill for it's storyline.
Posted January 15, 2008
Frankster wrote...
Excellent Lens. 5*. I can't wait to read this book. I love polar bears, as you can tell by Are You Polar Bear Aware?. I've also bookmarked you on Polar Bear Ware. Again, great lens. Bear hugs, Fran
Posted January 11, 2008
Barkely wrote...
Very nicely done. I haven't read this book, but I think you've inspired me to check it out.
Posted January 10, 2008
rms wrote...
I've never read this one but wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your fantastic lens.
Posted January 10, 2008
If you really liked this lens then I encourage you to bookmark it or email it to a friend.
