The Magic Hill [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by A. A. Milne (Author), Isabel Brown (Illustrator) "Once upon a time there was a king who had seven children..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
For this winsome fairy tale, a first-time picture book illustrator imagines the characters from a story Milne wrote in 1925. Brown's fine ink line combines with pastel and bold hues in delicately detailed, small-scale watercolors. The opening illustration sets the tone: a foppish king of long ago, decked out in an ermine-rimmed red robe, looks quite bewildered by his frisky brood of six boys. The family portrait serves as the perfect foil for Milne's accompanying understated wit: "The first three were boys, and he was glad about this, because a King likes to have three sons. But when the next three were boys also, he was not so glad, and he wished that one of them had been a daughter." After a girl, Daffodil, is at last born, a fairy godmother grants her a christening gift: "Let Daffodil/ The gardens fill./ Wherever you go,/ Flowers shall grow." When the flaxen-haired child takes her first steps and dots the pathways with blooms, the King decrees that Daffodil must walk only on the flower beds rather than play on the paths with the other children. There is, of course, a happy-ever-after resolution, which Brown's art illumines with humor and charm. All ages. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-This rediscovered original fairy tale, written in 1925, is full of charm and sly humor. Neither complex nor overtly moral, it delivers its own sweet vision of childhood where play is as pleasant as a freshly picked flower. At her christening, Princess Daffodil's parents anxiously await a gift to be bestowed upon her by the Fairy Mumruffin. Will it be Beauty, Wisdom, or Goodness? No, it is that flowers will grow wherever their daughter goes. Upon the child's first birthday, the King returns from hunting to find flowers blooming on his pathways. He decrees that the Princess must be carried across all walkways and can play only in the flowerbeds. The forlorn child finds that the opposite is true for the other children, who are not allowed in the beds. Thus, when the Doctor finds her sorely in need of exercise, he advises, "although she is a Princess, she must do what other little girls do." The Queen finds a solution: a lovely little hill where the child can romp all day and the country children pick flowers come evening. The watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations define the characters with a light and airy touch. They are full of royal dignity as well as palpable pathos. Facial expressions bring humor and joy to the fore. Minute, loosely detailed flowers are radiant, and the neatly framed pages add to the overall appeal of this fanciful tale.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525461477
• ISBN-13: 978-0525461470
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,656,797 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magic Story, May 18, 2000

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The Magic Hill is an old fashioned fairy tale, complete with a happily ever after ending about a young princess who makes flowers grow wherever she walks. A.A. Milne wrote this delightful story 75 years ago, but it is as fresh and charming now, as I'm sure it was then. The illustrations by Isabel Bodor Brown are very special, beautifully drawn and compliment the text. An old story that will become a new classic. The Magic Hill is a treasure for the whole family to enjoy again and again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magic Hill, March 2, 2000

By A Customer

This was one of the sweetest books I've read in ages. In an age where robots and monsters dominate the children's book world, "The Magic Hill" is a welcome change. More impressive than anything were the illustrations by Isabel Bodor Brown. Her beautiful, whimsical drawings made this book an absolute pleasure to read. They were tasteful and lovely. All the little girls who have seen the drawings were mesmerized by Princess Daffodil, and all wished they could be just like her. This book is a classic in the making, and a perfect gift for any child. I highly recommend it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the perfect fairy-tale, March 8, 2000

By A Customer

The Magic Hill is a marvelously illustrated fairy-tale, the perfect Easter gift, and a refreshing, charming story. Your child will want to read it over and over and will love the pictures cover to cover. I highly recommend it.