Rebecca Solnit, known for books such as Men Explain Things to Me and A Field Guide to Getting Lost, puts pen to much less paper in this retelling of the classic fairy tale. I didn’t note much about it beyond the basic lessons I suspect are prominent in the original – the magic of helping others reach their best, the importance of asking for help when needed, and (of course) the lousy feeling of not being invited to the party.
I generally read all children’s books recommended to me provided they aren’t novel length. This book and its twenty-eight pages proved no opportunity for a rare exception. I think a reader intrigued by the concept of a retelling or generally in favor of Solnit’s work will enjoy this book and I suggest giving it a try if you are on the fence. Reading a children’s book might feel like an odd way to spend time but I generally find the small investment in the five or ten such books I read a year is well worth the effort. There are simple things that I always like about theses books – all those COLORS – but I think the real gift is how these books always broaden my perspective with the way they look at simple facts about the world like animals, feelings, or objects with a curiosity and wonder that I sometimes go weeks without experiencing myself.
