Thumbelina: Tiny Runaway Bride (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–5—In this retelling, Hans Christian Andersen's original tale gets a little padding, some reinterpretation, and a format makeover into an early chapter book. The changes include expanding the role of Thumbelina's mother, making Thumbelina a bit more assertive, assigning the mouse a case of unrequited love, and adding an epilogue with an alternate ending. The basics, including Thumbelina's adventures and suitors, remain the same, even retaining language alluding to Denmark and references that create a historical context (e.g., mention of a dowry). Old-fashioned-looking black-and-white silhouettes break up the text. Neither the caliber of the writing nor the illustrations make this an essential purchase. The novel format may tempt fairy and princess fans who have moved on to longer fiction. Otherwise, libraries that own good versions of the tale, such as Lauren Mills's Thumbelina (Little, Brown, 2005), could pass on this one.—Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
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From Booklist

In this light, charming retelling of Andersen’s classic fairy tale, Ensor focuses on Thumbelina’s engagements, with an alternative ending that many girls will relish. Ensor allows modern sensibilities to peek through as she embroiders the original tale. The witch who gives Thumbelina’s mother the seed from which Thumbelina is born sounds “like Anne Marie’s high-school math teacher.” The epilogue tartly informs readers, “Now you know exactly what happened and can write a book report, if you need to do that, or count this as part of your summer reading list.” The expanded dialogues work well: the toads are especially fun, and direct comments and questions to the reader are engaging and effective. The strong feminist perspective will delight young readers, who may have been puzzled by Thumbelina’s passivity in the original version, and the story also encourages empathy for individuals whose options are narrowed by their particular environment, culture, or history. Black-and-white paper-cut illustrations, like those Andersen himself made, and Thumbelina’s diary entries round out this slight but satisfying addition to the retold fairy-tale genre. Grades 2-5. --Debbie Carton

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (May 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375839607
• ISBN-13: 978-0375839603
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #836,148 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Witty and Whimisical, June 16, 2008

By	Agnes G. (Florida) - See all my reviews

Once again Ensor's witty and fresh approach to a classic fairy tale captivates the reader and keeps the pages turning. The scumptious illustrations are icing on the cake. A must for every smart girl's bookshelf. I can't wait for the next in the series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, lighthearted book for tweens, May 23, 2008

By	The Well-Read Child "http://wellreadchild.blo... - See all my reviews

Thumbelina: Tiny Runaway Brideby Barbara Ensor is a contemporary spin on the classic tale of the tiny girl, Thumbelina. The book begins showing Thumbelina's mother, Anne Marie, who is desperate for a child handing over her life savings to a witch. Anne Marie gets her child, and as we all know, this child is so small that her mother names her Thumbelina.

As Thumbelina grows, we see that her mother becomes extremely overbearing and overprotective. She reads Thumbelina's diary, edits her spelling and grammar, and writes her own comments to her daughter's private thoughts in the diary itself. Thumbelina is a bit spunky and longs to go outside on her own and to have a bit of freedom. When her mother reluctantly grants her wish, she is carried off by a mother toad, looking for a bride for her son. The rest of the story chronicles Thumbelina's escape from the toad and her adventures that follow.

Scattered throughout the book are inkblot illustrations that resemble the Rorschach inkblot test. Thumbelina's messy handwritten diary entries with sentences and words crossed out are endearing and look like many of my own diary entries when I was that age. Tweens will relate to Thumbelina's desire to have a bit of freedom and will enjoy this lighthearted and fast-paced book with an unconventional ending.

5.0 out of 5 stars Surely a title that will create a lot of traffic to the family bookshelf, August 6, 2008

By	Kidsreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Like all good independent girls who will grow up to be adventurous, spirited and independent women, Thumbelina doesn't understand why her mother wants to oppress her so much and keep her safe from the big, bad world. Thumbelina decides to venture away from Anne Marie, her desperately clutchy mom, and finds out what the real world has in store for her, good and bad.

THUMBELINA, the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, finds a brave, bold and funny new telling in Barbara Ensor's THUMBELINA, TINY RUNAWAY BRIDE. Her Anne Marie wishes plaintively for a child, echoing the attention paid to biological clocks by most of the moms who will read this book. However, when the seed an old witch gives her becomes the brave and freewheeling Thumbelina, Anne Marie does everything she can to keep the child at home and safe in her own guarded environment. Considering that Thumbelina is the size of a human thumb, well, who can blame her? However, on a hot and sultry summer's evening, Thumbelina takes the plunge, moving forth into the crazy world to find that maybe her mom was right after all about the dangers that awaited her.

Using the funny and heartfelt personal diary of young Thumbelina, as well as glimpses into the heart and soul of her protective and loving mother, this retelling of the classic story unfolds in an exciting new way. With contemporary vernacular and attitude, it marches the fairy tale into the 21st century and engages modern readers, young and old, with its vivacious and sassy tone and the extremely dangerous and nutty situations that arise for our young protagonist as she ventures into the big bad world.

The fantastic style of the book, the hardcover, the trim size, the font and the color all exceed expectations, and its overall look adds to the wonderfully inspired story. It touches on elements that the fairy tale never did, and the volume is a joy just to hold in your hand. Ensor has found a magical way into what could have been a precious but stale story. With artistic details that excite and engage the eye, THUMBELINA is surely a title that will create a lot of traffic to the family bookshelf.

--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano