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Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

Tales of Hans Christian Andersen translated by N.Lewis, illust by J Stewart Walker Books

When I first came across Joel Stewart's illustrations in Carroll's Jabberwocky, I had trouble reading the poem aloud. I felt jealous and resentful that the listeners of this nonsense poem had time to adore the drawings, while I was a slave to the words. Eventually, I memorized the poem and the problem was solved.

The Adventures of a Nose, the next Stewart I came across, was all about the pictures. This complicated and intense story of a nose who was trying to fit in only to learn that he would always stick out, was visually superb. His images are not only beautiful, but are stretching for a picture book reader. His people, who come in every shade of skin, are often melancholy or ponderous. His animals look wise.

When I saw that Joel Stewart teamed up with Naomi Lewis to illustrate Andersen, I was delighted. There are many compilations of this sort but this one stands beside my all time favourite one illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger (North South Books). Stewart alternates between sepia drawings and coloured pastel illustrations. Even though one might have a separate Emperor's New Clothes or The Princess and the Pea, having thirteen stories altogether means that one will read the lot simply because they are there.

You can read doctoral theses on Hans Christian Andersen, so I will not go into the individual stories here. But don't overlook him as old fashioned. Like a true classic, he speaks to these times. He is just as relevant now as when he wrote them a century and a half ago.

Loudmouth Louis by Anne Fine

I read this book mostly because I hadn't finished the two other books I was considering reviewing. It actually turned out to be very subtle and funny.

The story is about Louis, a boy who cannot stop talking. His constant chattering gets him into trouble. His teacher is so stressed that she needs to take aspirins at the end of the day! It drives his family nuts and is, in general, a nuisance. One day, his talking takes him too far when he accidentally tells the teacher that he will think up his own fundraiser to get money for the school library.

After a conversation with his gran, he finally has an idea. Since his mouth gets him into trouble, he will have a sponsored silence for seven hours straight. The teachers, who have had enough of his yammering, think this is a great idea, especially Mr Hambleton, as shown in this quote: "A whole percussion band practice without you talking! Oh, it's too good to be true! I can hardly wait."

Soon the fateful day arrives. Louis finds that because he always talked, he missed out many interesting parts of school life, and gains a special magnifying glass. He mends his chattering ways.

This story, told in the first person, is funny and interesting. The fact that it was written by the master author Anne Fine only makes it better. It has well developed characters who are believable and likable. Gran did not feature in much of the book but she was a very amusing character. Eventhough this book is short, it is a good read. (ages: 7-10)

Noah J.