Posted on: 22/04/2013
Each month we will pick some recently published books that we have bought to share with you. This month we have an updated version of a classic fairytale, a book about a rather famous scientist and a one-of-a-kind picture book!
Having recently blogged about fairy tales and spent some time researching and discovering the best and most engaging ‘twisted’ tales and retellings, we were delighted to stumble upon this brilliant version of a classic story.
However, there is nothing new about the text in this wonderful version of Cinderella, in fact it dates from the 17th century, but Roberto Innocenti has added something spectacular by way of his distinctive illustration style. We have already used Snow White in New York by Fiona French and Lynn Roberts’ Cinderella: An Art Deco Love Story and now Innocenti has transplanted this classic tale into the elegant beauty of the 1920s.
We are huge fans of Innocenti’s collaborations, particularly his work with Ian McEwan on Rose Blanche, Aaron Frisch on The Girl in Red and, of course, J Patrick Lewis on The Last Resort. His work lends itself so well to use with older children due to the amount of inference that can be drawn from the images (regulars of our site will know we are huge advocates of picture books being used with all ages!) and this most recent offering doesn’t disappoint.
A boy’s daydream of cycling down the road, travelling at the speed of light will eventually lead to some of the most significant scientific theories ever proposed. Intrigued by the many mysteries and wonders of his world, Einstein’s story is told beautifully through the words of Jennifer Berne and illustrations of Vladimir Radunsky.
Ignoring, for a moment, the scientific implications of his story, this is really a tale about imagination, vision and having a dream, and how they can have life-changing consequences. We think this story will inspire and educate young and old minds alike.
This is a truly one-of-a-kind reading experience. The first decision you have to make as a reader is which end of the book to begin from. Start from one end and you follow the adventures of a creature’s journey from outer space through the solar system, into the earth’s atmosphere and eventually to the very bottom of the ocean, where he finally comes to rest. Start from the other end, however, and you have an entirely different narrative, where the creature begins on the ocean floor and starts his journey into space, where he arrives with his alien family.
The vertical artwork which helps to tell the different narratives is stunning and offers a unique experience for its readers. We are huge fans of Frank Viva’s work and suggest also looking at Along a Long Road.
