The Nightingale [Hardcover]

Hans Christian Andersen (Author), Bagram Ibatoulline (Author), Stephen Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Works in Translation

Graceful and full of rich humor, Stephen Mitchell’s retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s THE NIGHTINGALE is paired with impeccably researched, astonishingly beautiful paintings by Bagram Ibatoulline.

The Emperor of China lives in the most marvelous palace in the world, made entirely of porcelain, and his garden is full of the rarest flowers. But loveliest of all - so say visitors to his realm - is the song of the nightingale in the forest by the sea. Though his bustling courtiers can’t find her, a clever kitchen maid can, and the nightingale soon enchants the Emperor with her song. But will the gift of a bejeweled bird with a mechanical tune replace the humble nightingale in his heart?

Warmly and accessibly retold by master translator Stephen Mitchell,
this definitive edition features breathtakingly intricate artwork by Bagram Ibatoulline, illustrator of CROSSING.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The exquisite jacket-which features delicate red lettering on a damask-patterned gold background and a cutout revealing a painting of a nightingale-sets up high expectations, and both Mitchell (The Frog Prince) and Ibatoulline (Crossing) meet them. Elaborate, harmonious watercolors pay homage to the flat style of Chinese brush paintings with iconic fidelity; brilliant interiors crammed with architectural and sartorial details alternate with muted landscapes and ancient, unchanging rocks and trees. The illustrations sometimes appear in several long panels set side by side, like scrolls hung on a wall. Mitchell's language is light and melodic: just as Death is about to claim the Emperor, "the whole room filled with the most beautiful singing. It was the nightingale, perched on a branch right outside the window. She had heard about the Emperor's sickness and had come to bring him hope and comfort with her song." In one panel, the bird perches on a gnarled pine branch above the ornate porcelain curlicues and red tiles of the imperial palace; the next shows the reviving Emperor, his crown askew and his brocade robes creased, raising himself up to hear the voice of his loyal friend as the specter of Death departs. This volume has a more formal elegance than Jerry Pinkney's recent The Nightingale, and it is just as impressive. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-The classic Andersen tale of a songbird's mystical powers is retold in a style meant to be "light, clear, swift, and funny." This updated version includes some new elements, among them an amusing scene in which a search party mistakes the sounds of a cow and frog for the nightingale's song. Contemporary phrases are sprinkled throughout the text. Travelers "ooh" and "ahh" at the sight of the emperor's porcelain palace and gardens. The kitchen girl is promised a "promotion" if she leads them to the nightingale. Eleven butchers' children are named in honor of the bird, including one who is "tone-deaf." The entire kingdom, from the emperor to "rag-a-muffins in the street," "Zee-zee-zee, gloo-gloo-gloo" along with the mechanical bird. Death's visit causes the emperor to break out in a "cold sweat." Unfortunately, these attempts at modernization diminish the tale's lyrical flow. In contrast to the narrative's casual tone, the illustrations are formal and conventional. The Chinese setting is portrayed in paneled mural paintings dominated by elegant jewel tones, and the art adorns rather than enlivens the story. Those looking for a new twist on this old tale should consider Jerry Pinkney's version (Penguin Putnam, 2002) with its dramatic Moroccan setting, lush and lively illustrations, and engaging poetic retelling.
Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1st edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763615218
• ISBN-13: 978-0763615215
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 10 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #939,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Nightingale, June 19, 2008

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N. Thompson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nightingale (Hardcover)

The NightingaleThis is a wonderful childrens story, and this publication has some of the most beautiful illustrations..... My children love reading this story. NT