Skip to main content

The Goblin & the Empty Chair

By curlyq
The Goblin & the Empty Chair
by Mem Fox; illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon
Beach Lane Books, 2009. Unpaged. Picture book.

Seeing his reflection, a goblin is so horrified by his visage that he determines never to expose his hideous countenance, thus shrouding his face. As he lives a lonely, solitary life to avoid frightening anyone, he happens to see a family in need and silently does what he can to ease their pain.

Through an all-star team of renowned author and illustrators comes this lovely, understated picture book. The Dillons are some of my favorite artists, their style being beautifully composed and crafted in every way. The little details tell the story very aptly--I didn't catch the full meaning of the family until I read the book a second time, carefully following the pictures. Mem Fox, of course, also does a nice job with telling this story simply and tenderly. A wonderful, original fairy tale.
Labels:

Comments

2112 said…
Wonderful illustrations and a great story. Thanks for blogging about it!
September 30, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

By
If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.
Post a Comment
Read more

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

By loo
Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The Factory

By
The Factory By Catherine Egan New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2025. Fiction. 306 pages.  Thirteen-year-old Asher Doyle has been invited to join the Factory, a secretive research facility in the desert which ostensibly extracts renewable energy from the electromagnetic fields of its young recruits. But Asher soon realizes something sinister is going on. Kids are getting sick. The adults who run the Factory seem to be keeping secrets. And the extraction process is not only painful and exhausting, but existentially troubling. Asher makes a handful of new friends who help him with an investigation that turns into a resistance, which turns into...a cliffhanger! The Factory is a page-turning sci-fi with multidimensional characters, an intriguing plot, and refreshingly straight-forward writing. Egan weaves in detail about climate crises and social unrest, making the story's dystopian setting feel rich and plausible. With its sophisticated themes and accessible storytelling, I would recomm...
Post a Comment
Read more