4 out of 4 stars
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What an enchanting tale! When I started reading the book I thought it was just another run-of-the-mill book, but boy was I in for a big surprise! The Rainbow Dance by Allan Hirsch is an awesome children's book, following the adventures of a young girl named Asia in the fairy world. This book has it all: a vivid imagery, colorful cast, compelling tale, and good writing, all the necessary ingredients of a good book.
Allan Hirsch has created a whole new take on fairy tales in this imaginative yarn. Follow six year old Asia on her quest to save a magical kingdom from the clutches of evil witches. One night the Sandman pops up in Asia's room and sprinkles magic dust over her. Soon after seven laughing kids come in, wake up Asia, and whisk her into a magical cave through a pop-up window. While there an old lady storyteller takes Asia on a raft ride through the cave and tells her magical stories about a fairy kingdom and its Inhabitants. There are stories about unicorns, dragons, a prince on a quest, a mysterious prophecy, curses and much more besides. Where there are fairies there are witches as well, and this story has three of them no less. The plot thickens as Asia finds out she has to undertake a quest in order to save a princess under a spell. She and her beloved doll, Belinda, face many exciting adventures, and they meet new friends along the way.
The author weaves vivid images and important life lessons into this endearing tale. Kids will enjoy the story and will learn that good can conquer evil. To summarize in the words of G. K. Chesterton: "Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." The book also emphasizes qualities such as compassion, empathy and kindness.
The author interjected into the tale some whimsical poems and rhyming dialogues. The stories and poems follow the same basic structure and themes, not a bad thing as kids like repetition. The author uses poetic devices such as rhythm, repetition, alliteration, and rhyme, which greatly enhance the story. Some of the tales are uplifting and humorous, while others are dark, and I loved every one of them!
The book has a natural, flowing style. There are also some lovely illustrations at the beginning of each chapter (black and white on my kindle). The writing style is easy to understand, but by no means simplistic. Speaking of that, there were some misplaced possessive apostrophes, or missing altogether, but other than that the grammar was fine. The language used is appropriate for young readers or for a preschoolers read-aloud. Overall it was a fun read which I enjoyed immensely, so I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to young readers, or to parents seeking a good book to read with their children. This bedtime story will delight kids and adults alike!
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The Rainbow Dancer
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