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geekwayne's review
4.0
'Gemma and The Giant Girl' by Sara O'Leary with illustrations by Marie Lafrance is a picture book about a doll discovering the world is a lot bigger than she thought.
Gemma is a doll that lives in a forgotten doll house with her family until one day a giant girl finds the dollhouse and starts making changes. Gemma has a chance to see the world, but what will her reaction be?
I liked this gentle story about a little person who has to deal with some big changes. The illustrations are delightful.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Gemma is a doll that lives in a forgotten doll house with her family until one day a giant girl finds the dollhouse and starts making changes. Gemma has a chance to see the world, but what will her reaction be?
I liked this gentle story about a little person who has to deal with some big changes. The illustrations are delightful.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
missprint_'s review
4.0
Some of the artwork is very lovely—I like the soft pallets and the way Gemma is drawn especially. But some is weirdly flat like the spread with Gemma and her parents and the text “Things had been the same forever and ever.” Where it doesn’t even look like the mother is sitting on the couch. Although in the context of Gemma being a doll in a dollhouse maybe that makes more sense? Kind of a fun pairing with Toys Go Out or The Borrowers.
I like that Gemma’s mouse doll is her steadfast companion and the balance between dollhouse and giant house is done well. The story kind of fizzles at the end but not in a bad way per se. Just a quiet way.
I like that Gemma’s mouse doll is her steadfast companion and the balance between dollhouse and giant house is done well. The story kind of fizzles at the end but not in a bad way per se. Just a quiet way.
periparaparasakura's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
juniper_reads_things's review
3.0
While I enjoyed this title, I found myself wanting more. I missed having a moral to the story. There didn’t seem to be any conflict in the story, or a plot to move it along so I was expecting some sort of moral, like It’s fun to leave your home but even more fun to return or something like that.
The author kind of left the readers hanging in that way.
The author kind of left the readers hanging in that way.
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
Things change when a child discovers an old doll house, and she makes things her way. The dolls have been living without a child, or giants, as they call them, and things are very different with the child calling the shots.
Told from the dolls point of view, she doesn't hate that everything has changed. If anything it is different, which she thinks is better than the same thing day after day.
I used to love thinking my doll houses had living things inside, so I think this will appeal to children of the age that like to play with miniatures.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Told from the dolls point of view, she doesn't hate that everything has changed. If anything it is different, which she thinks is better than the same thing day after day.
I used to love thinking my doll houses had living things inside, so I think this will appeal to children of the age that like to play with miniatures.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
panda_incognito's review
3.0
This unique picture book tells the story of a doll in a dollhouse who encounters a girl and the larger world outside her own. The premise is appealing, and the illustrations are nice, but I was hoping for more. The story ends somewhat abruptly, without a strong theme or satisfying conclusion. It's an interesting concept book, and kids will probably enjoy it, but it isn't something that especially gripped me, or that I would want to read repeatedly.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
kittykult's review
3.0
Gemma lives a cozy life with her mom and dad in the same house, with the same clothes, doing the same thing every day. This is because Gemma is a doll living in an unused dollhouse. Until one day, a new girl comes and opens up the dollhouse and shows Gemma how GIANT the world outside really is. This was a sweet story but I also felt like there was a lack of plot to it that, as other reviewers have mentioned, made it feel like something was missing.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
afterglobe's review
5.0
A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
4.5/5 - Really liked it.
This is a short and sweet story of a little doll naked Gemma being introduced to the real world. It translates well to the experiences of childhood - of being safe in your own little world only to be plucked up by the real world and sent off into the unknown.
The illustrations are whimsical and lovely. There is an attention to detail - for example, Gemma’s beautiful red braid becomes frayed as she is played with. The dollhouse fills with unusual objects over time. And the outfits the dolls are wearing change. There is a real problem which is addressed - Gemma is face with a scary world which is unknown. But by setting boundaries and growing curious, she is able to retain her sense of safety while growing, just as children must.
A great book for children as they learn to cope with change and the real world around them.
4.5/5 - Really liked it.
This is a short and sweet story of a little doll naked Gemma being introduced to the real world. It translates well to the experiences of childhood - of being safe in your own little world only to be plucked up by the real world and sent off into the unknown.
The illustrations are whimsical and lovely. There is an attention to detail - for example, Gemma’s beautiful red braid becomes frayed as she is played with. The dollhouse fills with unusual objects over time. And the outfits the dolls are wearing change. There is a real problem which is addressed - Gemma is face with a scary world which is unknown. But by setting boundaries and growing curious, she is able to retain her sense of safety while growing, just as children must.
A great book for children as they learn to cope with change and the real world around them.
nessas_lair's review
4.0
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! Lol I read this book to my boyfriend while we were waiting in line at the carwash. It was super quick and a cute little read about a girl doll who lives in a dollhouse with her parents and then a girl comes to play with them. The artwork was really interesting with the proportions of their heads haha. I loved the colours of the illustrations though, the pastels just gave it such a relaxing vibe. The message I got from this book was that there’s no place like home. This is a cute book to read to your child so go check it out
sandykay's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This book is a great starting point for discussing the big world with your kids and the value of knowing where you came from.
While reading this book, I was immediately reminded of Giants in the Sky from Into the Woods: “And you think of all the things you've seen, And you wish that you could live in between.”
This also has the tone of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Clearly, I find this theme inviting.
While reading this book, I was immediately reminded of Giants in the Sky from Into the Woods: “And you think of all the things you've seen, And you wish that you could live in between.”
This also has the tone of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Clearly, I find this theme inviting.
Such a sweet story with incredible illustrations.
A benefit of pictures books is discovering new artists. The work of the illustrator, Marie Lafrance, is gorgeous and adds to the wonderful experience of the story.
A benefit of pictures books is discovering new artists. The work of the illustrator, Marie Lafrance, is gorgeous and adds to the wonderful experience of the story.
I definitely recommend this book for the art as well as the story!
Stars 4
Would I Recommend? Yes
Stars 4
Would I Recommend? Yes