Skip to main content

The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli

Image
By Carla Morris

The girl who lives in the castle, which is located in a museum, is lonely. Children visiting the museum can see her in the castle if they look very closely. The castle is a strangely beautiful place, full of music, toys, and fun things to do. But loneliness overrides all of these joys. The ethereal and creamy faces of the museum children match those of the dolls, which adds to the overall surreal and dreamlike quality. Included in the end is a interactive activity which will solve the loneliness problem and compel the reader to return to this magical world over and over again.

Comments

2112 said…
The story was not my favorite part of this picture book. The end could be a little creepy to some young children. However, the illustrations are gorgeous!
February 28, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Unknown said…
That's interesting. I read the story as completely innocent, magical, and really sweet! The end doesn't seem creepy but 'haunting' and gentle. It seems like on the last page the little girl in the museum really is seeing the reader, as her friend. My daughter, who is three, loves it and kisses the girl on that page! Maybe that's what makes this such a good book. It can seem creepy to some (who might like creepy)and to others it can be read at face value. That makes it a classic for me. I was excited to find this one.
March 4, 2008 at 12:57 PM
curlyq said…
I, too, felt the story was lacking in quality. It had potential but felt rather unfinished to me. However, the illustrations are incredible, as all Ceccoli's work is, and I love the ethereal quality.
March 29, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Display: Dino-mite Reads

By
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs By Mo Willems New York: Balzar + Bray, 2012. Picture Book. "Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Definitely not!" --Editor Smart Vs. Strong! Written by Jill Esbaum Illustrated by Miles Thompson New York: Simon Spotlight, 2021. Easy Reader. 64 pages. "When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend." --Editor How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Written by Ame Dyckman Illustrated by Jennifer Harney New York: Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. "When a child in a museum asks how dinosaurs became extinct, Dad co
Post a Comment
Read more

From Story Time: The Letter "W"

By
  Preschool Time Something Wild By Molly Ruttan New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022. Picture Book. Hannah's performance jitters about her violin recital lead to some imaginative what ifs before she finds her confidence. --Editor Preschool Time There's a Dodo on the Wedding Cake Written by Wade Bradford Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2021. Picture Book. For his return visit to the wacky Sharemore Hotel, Mr. Snore will be playing his violin at a fancy wedding. As he waits for his cue to join the ceremony, he admires the wedding cake . . . and notices that he's not alone in ogling that tower of frothy perfection. Is that a dodo, eating one of the frosting roses? As more and more creatures enter the scene--including two beavers, a boa constrictor, and a bunch of bats--it's hard to tell who's a guest and who's a pest. But Mr. Snore, rushing the cake trolley from room to room, is going to do his heroic best to save that prize from sure d
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest?

By
How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? Written by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe Illustrated by Aaron Cushley Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2023. Informational. In this fascinating nonfiction adventure, unique forms of transportation like hot air balloons and zeppelins take readers to 12 of the most extreme locations on Earth and beyond. As the adventurer arrives in each new locale, from Lake Maracaibo--the world's most electric place--to Zavodovski Island--the world's stinkiest place--they are fully immersed into the scene around them. The text describes the distinctive sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and sensations characteristic to each place, supported by the delightful illustrations. Each stop also shares stories of real adventurers braving the elements. Readers big and small will learn something new in this exciting armchair adventure. The real adventurer anecdotes highlight both well-known and less-discussed figures, of diverse backgrounds and abilities. The illustrations provide ev
Post a Comment
Read more