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hmcdanielnc's review
5.0
Ellie and her best friend Gabe are full of energy and creativity, but they do NOT like to read. Library-time at their school is a drag, and they hide under a potted plant and chew gum instead of reading. When their librarian Ms. Molly confronts them, Ellie makes a dreadful confession: "Reading is boring".
Those are fighting words for a book-lover, and Ms. Molly is no ordinary librarian. She casts a spell on Ellie, who falls into a deep read - which becomes deeper and deeper. Can Ellie's best friend Gabe overcome his hatred of reading to save her?
Reading Beauty is a whimsical and creative take on classic fairy tales, destined to become a favorite of librarians and book-lovers (those who have experienced, like Ellie, the enchantment of a deep read). The characters are likable, the plot moves at a good clip, and the artwork is lively and full of humorous details. Adult book-lovers will enjoy examining the spines and covers of tumbled books pictured throughout, searching for titles they recognize. The ending is satisfying, but leaves some room for wonder.
I especially appreciated the underlying message of Reading Beauty: that even the most self-avowed reading-haters can find a book that will captivate them and draw them into a deep read. This is a great read-aloud book, and I look forward to giving it as a gift to my nieces.
Those are fighting words for a book-lover, and Ms. Molly is no ordinary librarian. She casts a spell on Ellie, who falls into a deep read - which becomes deeper and deeper. Can Ellie's best friend Gabe overcome his hatred of reading to save her?
Reading Beauty is a whimsical and creative take on classic fairy tales, destined to become a favorite of librarians and book-lovers (those who have experienced, like Ellie, the enchantment of a deep read). The characters are likable, the plot moves at a good clip, and the artwork is lively and full of humorous details. Adult book-lovers will enjoy examining the spines and covers of tumbled books pictured throughout, searching for titles they recognize. The ending is satisfying, but leaves some room for wonder.
I especially appreciated the underlying message of Reading Beauty: that even the most self-avowed reading-haters can find a book that will captivate them and draw them into a deep read. This is a great read-aloud book, and I look forward to giving it as a gift to my nieces.
scostner's review
4.0
Most readers have experienced it, and heard their friends talk about it. That story that pulls you in and makes you lost touch with the world around you. We call those books enchanting, mesmerizing, we say they have put a spell on us. In the case of Gabe and Ellie, it happens to be the literal truth.
These two friends have much better things to do than read. There are soccer and turtles and chewing gum, and "Reading is BORING." Of course those are words that you should never say to your school librarian, and Ms. Molly gets her revenge. The spell she casts will throw Ellie into a "deep read for all eternity!" Sixteen minutes later, the paper cut on Ellie's finger seals the spell and she becomes a reader. For a week she reads everywhere, all the time. Gabe is sad that he has lost his best friend. She is not even interested in a new flavor of gum - nothing can pull her away from the books.
But when it seems that she has fallen into the deep read and will never come out again, Ms. Molly does mention one thing that can save her. Will Gabe be able to accomplish this impossible task and rescue his friend? (I'll give you a hint - this is the sort of fairy tale that has a happy ending.)
The author has taken her love of fairy tales, books, and young readers and woven them together into a magical story of children finding the helpful adult and perfect book to transform them into lifelong readers. Being able to rescue the beauty without having to resort to anything gross like a kiss (Ewwww! as middle graders would say), is a feat of prestidigitation all on its own. The illustrator's depiction of Ellie under the spell shows her glasses filled with an hypnotic swirl that reinforces the pull that the books have over her. And the spread showing Gabe trying to reach Ellie resembles the piles of artifacts within the Room of Requirements at Hogwarts. (After all, a library is the closest thing most Muggles have to such a room.)
Highly recommended as a read-aloud, or a gift for readers who enjoy stories about the power of books and the retelling of classic tales with updated details. I received a copy of the book from the author for review purposes.
These two friends have much better things to do than read. There are soccer and turtles and chewing gum, and "Reading is BORING." Of course those are words that you should never say to your school librarian, and Ms. Molly gets her revenge. The spell she casts will throw Ellie into a "deep read for all eternity!" Sixteen minutes later, the paper cut on Ellie's finger seals the spell and she becomes a reader. For a week she reads everywhere, all the time. Gabe is sad that he has lost his best friend. She is not even interested in a new flavor of gum - nothing can pull her away from the books.
But when it seems that she has fallen into the deep read and will never come out again, Ms. Molly does mention one thing that can save her. Will Gabe be able to accomplish this impossible task and rescue his friend? (I'll give you a hint - this is the sort of fairy tale that has a happy ending.)
The author has taken her love of fairy tales, books, and young readers and woven them together into a magical story of children finding the helpful adult and perfect book to transform them into lifelong readers. Being able to rescue the beauty without having to resort to anything gross like a kiss (Ewwww! as middle graders would say), is a feat of prestidigitation all on its own. The illustrator's depiction of Ellie under the spell shows her glasses filled with an hypnotic swirl that reinforces the pull that the books have over her. And the spread showing Gabe trying to reach Ellie resembles the piles of artifacts within the Room of Requirements at Hogwarts. (After all, a library is the closest thing most Muggles have to such a room.)
Highly recommended as a read-aloud, or a gift for readers who enjoy stories about the power of books and the retelling of classic tales with updated details. I received a copy of the book from the author for review purposes.
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