Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool - ADVISABLE


Catchpool, Michael The Cloud Spinner, illustrated by Alison Jay.  Knopf (Random), 2012.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  

A little boy weaves himself a head scarf and a neck scarf from the beauty of the clouds as they pass his hilltop loom.  When a greedy king sees the scarves, he demands, scarves, caps, cloaks and dresses for himself and his family – even if it means using up every cloud in the sky.  Only the quiet little princess realizes what hew father has done, as the land dries and turns to dust – and she knows what she must do.  

I admit it – as soon as I saw Alison Jay’s illustrations, I snatched this one to read for myself.  Her old-fashioned illustrations are a perfect way to give Catchpool’s new fairytale a look that will make ti already beloved.  I bet some people who read this will think that it was adapted froma forgotten Mother Goose story – but it’s not!  

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

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