Description
About the Author
Natalie Portman is an Academy Award-winning actress, director, producer, and activist whose credits include Leon: The Professional, Cold Mountain, Closer, V for Vendetta, the Star Wars franchise prequels, A Tale of Love and Darkness, Jackie, and Thor: Love and Thunder. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, she is a graduate of Harvard University, and now lives with her family in Los Angeles. Natalie Portman’s Fables is her debut picture book.
Janna Mattia was born and raised in San Diego. She received a degree in Illustration for Entertainment from Laguna College of Art and Design, and now works on concept and character art for film, illustration for licensing, and private commissions. Natalie Portman's Fables is her picture book debut.
Product Description
Academy Award-winning actress, director, producer, and activist Natalie Portman retells three classic fables and imbues them with wit and wisdom in this New York Times bestselling book.
From realizing that there is no “right” way to live to respecting our planet and learning what really makes someone a winner, the messages at the heart of Natalie Portman’s Fables are modern takes on timeless life lessons.
Told with a playful, kid-friendly voice and perfectly paired with Janna Mattia’s charming artwork, Portman’s insightful retellings of The Tortoise and the Hare, The Three Little Pigs, and Country Mouse and City Mouse are ideal for reading aloud and are sure to become beloved additions to family libraries.
An instant New York Times bestseller!
From School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-Some children's stories are timeless, three of which are retold in this book for a new generation of young readers. First, the tortoise and the hare race for glory, learning that patience and perseverance lead to victory more often than raw skill and bravado. Next, the three little pigs strike out on their own, building their own homes out of the materials they have on hand. Along the way, their habits and waste are emphasized, causing readers to examine their own behaviors, as well. Last, country mouse and city mouse get a taste of each other's differing lifestyles, learning that each has its own unique benefits. Portman's activist voice comes out in the final lines of each story. Rhyming couplets are used throughout, but the meter and pacing of each line are uneven, making it difficult to read the stories aloud. Additionally, the challenging vocabulary and subject matter may prove to be better suited to an older audience than intended. Mattia's illustrations improve the package and are enjoyable in their design. Readers young and old will be reminded of nostalgic childhood memories when seeing the pastel colors and watercolor designs. Expressive and dynamic, each illustration supports the forward momentum of the tales-only one of which is an actual fable-at hand. VERDICT This well-intentioned collection lacks the qualities necessary to become a library must-buy.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.