Customer Reviews

A Carousel Tale

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once again Elisa Kleven creates a magical world where the redemptive power of love and belief rule! Ernst, the lovable crocodile featured in PUDDLE PAIL and ERNST, returns in this whimsical celebrating the imagination--Kleven's beautifully detailed collages the story to life. As a former preschool teacher I believe A CAROUSEL TALE is an essential addition to the well read childs' library.

I purchased this book for my son, who absolutely loves Kleven's 2009 title, "Hooray, A Piñata" (ISBN: 014056764X). While the illustrations remain consistent with Kleven's style - boldly colorful scenes and expressive characters orchestrated in intricate mixed media collage compositions - the plot of A Carousel Tale is nearly identical to that of "Hooray, A Piñata." The books are so similar, that my son now confuses the two books with one another. In both books, the main character, along with a slightly curmudgeonly companion, becomes attached to an inanimate object with the knowledge that that object must be given up at some point in the future. In the end, the protagonist gets to keep the beloved object as its original function is satisfied with a new object. In both books, there is a two-page spread that is almost identical one reads, "They flew in Clara's dreams that night..." and the other reads, "Together they flew through Ernst's dreams." There is also a carousel/merry-go-round in each book...that's just a small example of the similarities.

Both Carousel and Piñata are strong titles; however having read both of them, Piñata is the stronger of the two because the storyline flows more naturally, albeit aided by Mexican tradition. I wish that I had followed my own advice of borrowing the book from the library prior to my purchase.

I love Elisa's new book, A Carousel Tale. It's a wonderful gift for children and my students adore the story and artwork. Elisa has captured the magic of children's imaginations with her art and writing, and adults can now enter this magical world too.

Sarita (teacher in Watsonville, CA)

This book features a charming story and gorgeous artwork. Elisa Kleven creates such a wonderful world for her characters. This book is sure to enchant children!

This is a beautiful tale of how love and caring create poitive transformation and change. Through Ernst's devotion, a simple relic from a closed down carousel, a tail, takes on a life of it's own and Ernst learns to see change as natural and positive. A Carousel Tale will inspire children to take care of their treasures and hopefully, will encourage parents to ask themselves if their carousels, both global and personal, could use some more attention.

This book is visually enticing (as are all of Kleven's charming books) providing a perfect colorful backdrop to the story of Ernst, an imaginative crocodile, who uses his creativity to breath life into a simple object. A Carousel Tale is a celebration of the wonder and magic of childhood and encourages the reader to follow their creative impluses.

I love the character of Ernst (Ernst, The Puddle Pail, and a cameo in The Wishing Ball). He's as sweet as ever in this story of transformation, of how to turn loss into hope through creativity. The text is perfect, a poetic gem, and the art, as always in Kleven's books, is a visual treasure, full of the kinds of detail children love to search for. I have three sons and they all love her books and this one is another classic.