Tatsinda (HBJ Contemporary Classic) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Enright (Author), Katie Thamer Treherne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1991 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: HBJ Contemporary Classic

Tatsinda is considered an outsider by the people of the Tatrajanni kingdom. Her talent as a weaver has ensured that she can support herself--and perhaps win the love of the handsome Prince. But when an evil giant takes Tatsinda prisoner and plans to destroy the kingdom, it will take all the magic, skill, and love that Tatsinda and the Prince can muster to foil the giant and restore peace and beauty to the mountain. “This timeless story will make an absorbing read-aloud.”--School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-- On a far away mountaintop in a peaceful kingdom there lives a beautiful golden-haired, brown-eyed girl, Tatsinda. Because she does not have the white hair and blue eyes of all the other inhabitants of Tatrajan, they feel sorry for her, even though she is an excellent weaver and makes a good living. They all live in harmony until a greedy troll-like ogre from a tribe beyond the mountain invades the tiny kingdom and carries Tatsinda off. It takes the special magic of the wise woman of the mountain, the prince's determination, and the girl's own skill and courage to save her and the kingdom from destruction. Originally published in 1963, this new edition has 19 stylized full-page, full-color illustrations in watercolor and ink, finely detailed with ornate borders. This timeless story will make an absorbing read-aloud. --Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Elizabeth Enright (1909-1968) grew up in a family of artists. She won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal for Thimble Summer and a Newbery Honor for Gone-Away Lake.

Katie Thamer Treherne is a published illustrator of children's books. Published credits of Katie Thamer Treherne include Tatsinda (Hbj Contemporary Classic), The Little Mermaid, and Light Princess.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st THUS edition (March 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152842802
• ISBN-13: 978-0152842802
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #943,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I don't Have to Feel Guilty Anymore, July 6, 2000

By 

Ann E. Nichols (Sierra Vista, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tatsinda (HBJ Contemporary Classic) (Hardcover)

When I was a girl I loved checking this book out at our library, both for the beautiful illustrations and for Tatsinda herself. Of course Tatsinda would have had no difficulty having her beauty appreciated in the USA. It could have been her personal tragedy that she has brown eyes and golden hair in a land where everyone else has blue eyes and white hair, so she's considered disfigured. Tatsinda does not allow the rude opinion of those around her to sour her personality. The strength and courage of this extraordinary young woman are proved in a daring adventure. In the end, she is instrumental in changing her community's narrow point of view. Besides the heroine, I love the wise woman who knew Tatsinda's true worth before anyone else did. I also liked the woman's attitude toward people who wanted to consult her. I don't have the book with me at the moment, so I hope I'm quoting her correctly: "Waste not my time, waste not your own. Ask only that which MUST be known." My review's title comes from the fact that this wonderful book was out of print for many years. Back when I was in library school ['76-'77] and had no car, another student from my dormitory was nice enough to give several of us a lift to a local used bookstore. There I spotted a copy of TATSINDA. I bought it even though the driver saw it and exclaimed that she loved that book. I felt horrible because she would have been able to buy it for herself if she hadn't done me a kindness, but my better nature did not prevail. I never saw her again after graduation, so I couldn't even mail her another used copy I found. I'm so glad the book is in print again, not just for all the readers who now have a chance to be as enchanted as I was, but because that nice lady can get her own copy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enchanted wrapping of the difficult subject of prejudice., April 23, 1998

By 

"wordesmythe" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tatsinda (HBJ Contemporary Classic) (Hardcover)

When blonde Tatsinda is dropped, literally, into the mountaintop land of the Tatrajanni, her unusual coloring sets her apart from the people of the kingdom. She must overcome their prejudice to win the love of the prince and establish her own worth in their midst. The book is full of strange and mystical characters and creatures.

Tatsinda is a strong female character in a book that was written long before this was the norm. It was my favorite book when I was ten and still is as I pass it along to all the ten year olds on my gift giving list.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 40 years to find this book again! Get the Haas illustrations., April 25, 2006

By 

Quickbeam (Oconomowoc, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tatsinda (HBJ Contemporary Classic) (Hardcover)

I read this book in 1966 as my mother was dying in a hospital. I put it back on the library cart and never saw it again although I thought about finding it for decades. Thanks to internet searches, I was able to recomnnect with it. It is a powerful book and great fantasy. Enright was a wonderful children's author. I enjoy the book now as an adult as much as I did as an 11 year old.

I am very disappointed with the new illustrations. The original Irene Haas artwork was brilliant and period-perfect. You can get a copy with the Haas work used pretty easily.