Customer Reviews

Dove Isabeau

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Yolen, as usual, wows and wonders the reader with the story of Dove Isabeau. A beautiful, soft, sweet and innocent dove of a girl discovers a dragon without and within her after suffering the enchantment of her wicked and jealous stepmother. Isabeau, unlike many of her fairy tale counterparts, isn't going to passively watch her knight in shining armor be turned to stone for all eternity, and she takes sword in hand to try and save the day. Yolen's prose is singsong storytelling at its best, that rolls along like a bard by the evening fire. The stepmother is underdeveloped, as she is in most stories, and the reader might wonder why she hates Dove Isabeau so much, but that certainly doesn't take away from the pure enjoyment of this story.

I found this book in college and was enchanted all the same. A lifelong fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I loved the story as well as the illustrations. I plan on holding onto this book forever - and to share it with my own children and with the children of friends and family.

My second grade teacher read this book to me. I thought about it years later, but couldn't remember the title. I recently sought out and e-mailed my former teacher and asked her about this book. I'm now taking a class in Children's Literature and plan to share it when we cover picture books. I think it really speacks to the story that, twenty years later, I am still spellbound by it and feel the need to share it with others. My one regret is that I was only able to find it in paperback and not hardcover.

I found this book while volunteering at a library when I was 12 and was absolutely spellbound. The story is full of deeper meaning and the illustrations are gorgeous. It is at once an enchanting fairy tale a younger child can enjoy, and a story that will speak to the heart of a preteen or teenager. It contains messages about unconditional love, of looking beyond appearance and even behavior to the person within, and self-acceptance that are beautiful and touching for all ages. I now have three daughters of my own and can't wait to share this book with them. It is a book that a child could appreciate for many years, finding different aspects to enjoy as they grow.

I loved the book Dove Isabeau by Jane Yolen. Although it is filled with action and excitement Dove Isabeau was not at all gory and even though it was scary, it was a good book. The characters were amazing. They had great dialog!
(For example)Kemp Onwain a handsome man studying sorcery. He loves Dove Isabeau a young girl turned into a dragon by a witch who has eyes as green as May but a heart as bleak as February. Oh and remember the white cat that helps Kemp Owain on his quest to save Isabeau. The plot was amazing and very dramatic. It was also sad.
The Theme was love someone for who they are, not for beauty. All the men who loved Dove Isabeau for beauty were devoured by Isabeau as a dragon.
The book started when Isabeau's mother dies and her father marries a witch. The brilliant yet evil witch hates Isabeau and is always talking to a crystal ball hoping that she can find a terrible fate for Isabeau. One night a frightened lizard climbs on to the glass ball. The witch sees and knows that she must turn Isabeau into a dragon. She collects herbs trailed by the cat.
Isabeau greets her stepmother at the door and they go up to Isabeau's mother's room together (which is now filled with dark magic.) The Which waves her hands so Isabeau cannot move or protest. Then she throws the herbs in Isabeau's face Screaming," herbs of evil herbs of woe change the shape the shape of Isabeau."
Isabeau feels her shape change. She sprouts wings and her gown bursts. Then shiny red scales appeared all over her body. Isabeau is now a dragon and only Kemp Owain can save her (he will soon he will be turned to stone.)
One of the best things about was that it was very poetic. There was a poem on almost every other page. This is part of my favorite poem "give the red wyrm kisses three and turned to stone you'll surely be."(This poem was a clue that the white gives Kemp Onwain.)
Compared with Yolen's book the Devil's Arithmetic Dove Isabeau was less complex. But still Dove Isabeau is complex and it is also one of the best books I've ever read!

I think you can use this book for a great read aloud for kindergarten to second grade in third grade you should be able to read it to yourself. Get a grown up to help you with words and watch out for romance. It takes a certain personality to like this book, but on a scale of one to ten, Dove Isabeau gets a nine so I would suggest reading it!!!!

Sophie Age 9

This story and the beautiful pictures will delight youngsters. Older children and teens might like reading, along with it, the Old English poem, "Kemp Owyne" upon which it is based. I love it myself and I'm well above the age of discression!

When you read a tale that is spun with surprise, drama, and delight, you first ask, who is this author and I wonder what else she writes, and what her general thinking style is like to come up with this gem. I asked, and then went on to read every Jane Yolen book I ran across. I think when you read Dove Isabeau, you will agree.