Mona Minim and the Smell of the Sun [Hardcover]

Janet Frame (Author), Robin Jacques (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

"Once upon a time, not long ago, almost now, there was a young House Ant called Mona Minim who was preparing to make her first journey out of the nest." So begins this enchanting story of little Mona Minim in her yellow sunbonnet and floral apron and six black-buttoned shoes, who became lost while playing the Stair Game and was found by Barbara, the Garden Ant, who became her friend. That is how Mona Minim came to live for a while among the Garden Ants, and to play hide-and-seek in the Sunflower Forest, and how she got to know Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Pogo and Cousin Nigel who was going to marry the Princess one day. Uncle Pogo was quite a character. He couldn't see the point of working all the time like the rest of the Garden Ants. "A little steady work and plenty of steady rest"-that was his motto. He was all for a "honey break" to make things pleasant on the job. And so winter passed and spring came and everybody was filled with anticipation as Swarm Day drew near, when the young Princess would become Queen. "What is the smell of blue," Mona Minim wondered, thinking of the Queen's flight, "when you are flying in the sky, and of the smell of the sun and the wind that never blows close to the grass and the earth? What is the smell of the sun?" It was only after Swarm Day, when she had returned to her own House Ants and was able to review her adventurous life, that Mona Minim found the answer: "You must go out, little ants, and see and smell and taste and touch for yourselves, and then you will know."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Recipient of the prestigious Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1989, Janet Frame has long been admired for her startlingly original prose and formidable imagination. A native of New Zealand, she is the author of eleven novels, four collections of stories, a volume of poetry, a children's book, and her heartfelt and courageous autobiography--all published by George Braziller.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 94 pages
• Publisher: George Braziller; Second Edition edition (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807613347
• ISBN-13: 978-0807613344
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!, March 24, 2000

By 

ron (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mona Minim and the Smell of the Sun (Hardcover)

What an imaginative and delightful story. We bought it for our children, but I think we enjoyed it as much as they did. It made them think of the little ants' point of view and also suggested that experience is the best teacher--one should never be afraid to live life and do what the heart desires.