New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing List

Sophisticated yet accessible, Imai’s elegant illustrations use color sparingly but to good effect….beautifully composed scenes. A fresh take on an old story. – Booklist

…references Charles Perrault’s classic tale while adding a few fresh twists. – School Library Journal

The streamlined approach to the familiar plot keeps the action focused and quick, and it also places the gorgeous art front and center. A minimal palette of muted creams, browns, grays, and golds, contrasts pleasingly with eye-catching red and leafy green accents. Small details are very carefully rendered but edges are slightly blurred and softened, giving a dreamlike quality to the pictures. As in Imai’s version of Aesop’s Fables (BCCB 1/14), intriguing surreal touches add to the otherworldly tone, as tiny clouds “rain” into the monster’s teacup and flowers grow out of cracks in the floor. The streamlined narrative presentation makes this accessible to younger kids, while the sophistication of the art ensures that older ones will be equally enthralled. – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred

Friendship trumps greed in this satisfying tale. – Kirkus Reviews