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A sweet story about a magical friendship between a girl and a baby almond, but also a story about growing up and learning to let go.
Alma’s life changed when she discovered an adorable tiny creature inside an almond. She named her Almondine and it became her secret. But as the curious and funny little girl grew, something strange and magical began to happen.
I love children's books - there is a kind of magic one can only find in children's books and Almondine: The Girl from the Almond Tree by Gabriele Zucchelli definitely reminded me of this type of magic that makes childhood special.
Alma is on vacation at her grandparents and while snacking on green almonds, she stumbles upon a stubborn almond that's not opening up - until it does and inside she finds something unexpected: a little baby. Alma names the baby Almondine and takes care of her, even though that sometimes means getting in trouble with her own parents.
This was a sweet little book, with a peculiar story, but full of beautiful lessons about friendship, growing up, freedom and more. I really appreciated how the relationship between Alma and Almondine evolved as Almondine was growing up or always getting Alma in trouble. The two have a special connection - and this is was probably my favourite part of the book.
The one thing that bothered me was Alma's parents and how even though they notice some peculiar behaviour on Alma's part, they still don't try harder to get to bottom of it. I think they were worried at times, yet took no action, and that made the reading experience less believable. There's also something that could be said about keeping secrets and I was hoping for a different outcome when it comes to the parents.
But the illustrations were gorgeous and that makes up for everything. I loved the monochrome choice and I think that elevates the illustrations and fit the story better. I loved the cuteness of the girls (and the cat) and all the details in the big full page illustrations. No children's book should be complete without adorable illustrations.
Children will enjoy the magic in this book and will learn a lot about respecting others and their wishes. I think the little ones will really enjoy following Almondine's adventures, especially since there are more books in this series.
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Synopsis
Alma’s life changed when she discovered an adorable tiny creature inside an almond. She named her Almondine and it became her secret. But as the curious and funny little girl grew, something strange and magical began to happen.
About the author
Gabriele Zucchelli is an animator, whose work includes cartoon characters, realistic animals and fantastical creatures. He has contributed to several hand-drawn productions and several blockbuster CGI movies including Harry Potter, Disney’s latest Lion King and the Oscar-winning Jungle Book. view profile
Published on January 22, 2021
Published by
20000 words
Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆
Genre: Children's
Reviewed by
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