This Is the Glade Where Jack Lives: Or How a Unicorn Saved the Day
by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis
Date: 2021
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library
This unicorn-friendly twist on “This Is the House that Jack Built” will charm readers young and old
This is Jack, all sparkly and white, whose magical horn shimmers bright, day and night.
Inspired by the beloved rhyme “This Is the House that Jack Built,” this is the whimsical tale of Jack the unicorn and the magical glade where he lives! Full of fantastic creatures from fairies and mermaids to gnomes and trolls—even a dragon—this sweet and silly book is a wonderful read-aloud for creatures big and small.
(synopsis from Goodreads)
This is kind of a goofy take on "This Is the House That Jack Built" that's populated by whimsical creatures. The cumulative nature of the story means that it's repetitive, but the illustrations keep the interest level high as gnomes, mermaids, trolls, and goblins keep joining in. When a cranky dragon is aroused from her nap, though, it's up to a unicorn to set things right.
I kind of wish that the blurb didn't give away the unicorn as Jack, because it's not immediately obvious when you start reading. I wondered who Jack was the whole time, and I was pleasantly surprised when we were introduced to the unicorn. But then I saw the blurb on the back, which kind of blows the surprise. Oh, well. Chalk it up to a weak marketing decision.
The illustrations are colourful and detailed, and there's plenty to examine in each spread. Each fantasy character is rendered with their own personality, and the whole thing is quite pleasant to look at.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. If you're looking for variations on "This Is the House That Jack Built", you might want to take a look at This Is the Glade Where Jack Lives.
Quotable moment:
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Overall: 3.57 out of 5
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