From School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-These seven tales from around the world feature brothers and sisters as the chief protagonists. Some are familiar, such as the German "Hansel and Gretel" and the Armenian "The Red Cow," but others are less well-known, such as the Sudanese "Achol and Maper." The stories explore the sibling bond from a variety of perspectives, running the gamut from all-consuming jealousy to undying devotion. Hoffman is a competent reteller and maintains a lively pace. Shaw-Smith's illustrations, done in watercolor and mixed media, have a vibrant palette and are rich in detail. Part of the action is depicted on bottom borders, and there are rounded insets on almost every page, so there is much for the eye to explore. The whole effect gives readers the impression that they are being allowed a private peek into the long ago and faraway. Brief source notes are appended.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 2-5, younger for reading aloud. Talk about rough childhoods! The siblings in this well-told and illustrated anthology suffer hardship in a myriad of fairy-tale forms: cruel queens, witches, and stepmothers (an author's note addresses the fairy tale tendency to demonize "reconstituted families"); starvation, separation, and loss; and shape-shifting evil enchantments. The siblings are both victims and heroes, finding salvation in magic, the animal world, and within each other. Throughout, as the author notes, the emphasis is on "equality and affection . . . rather than rivalry and discord," and the result is a rich collection of uplifting stories despite the fantastic and often cruel circumstances. With ethnic origins ranging from Japanese to Sudanese to Armenian, the tales contain a few details that may disturb a modern audience: a Moroccan character paints herself in blackface to pose as a servant, for example. But Hoffman retells the stories in clear, captivating language, each the perfect length for a bedtime read, and Emma Shaw-Smith's colorful, highly detailed illustrations, both inset and bordering each page, will keep children engaged. Abbreviated source notes appended.
Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
