Reviews for “Rainbow Sheep” by Kim Chatel
What do you do to cure a bored, lonely rainbow? In Kim Chatel’s latest book, Rainbow Sheep, Genevieve the shepherdess tells him tales that tickle him into happy tears. Those colourful tears transform her flock from grey and dirty brown, into rainbow sheep.
The delightful illustrations in this picture book come from Chatel’s own fiber art. There is a section Felting for Fun, after the main story, where Chatel explains how children can make a rainbow sheep of their own. What a great idea to combine the fun of reading with the joy of craft!
In a recent interview with Mayra Calvani of Blogcritics Magazine, Kim Chatel said “Sometimes it's hard to pick one voice out of the noise.” With Rainbow Sheep, Chatel has proved she’s one writer whose voice can rise above the flock.
Chatel has an instinctive understanding of what makes a picture book work. From the muted colours of the felted art work, to the gentle humour of the text, Chatel has presented the reader with a satisfying package. She uses simple, yet expressive, language – the clouds were heavy and grey, like the belly of a sleepy kitten, with her own deft touches of humour – the sheep were pleasantly steaming in the sun.
Quirky and delightful, Rainbow Sheep will be an asset to any school, library or home bookshelf. As a gift for a special child, it could begin a fascinating hobby. If you purchase Rainbow Sheep from Chatel’s own web site, www.kimchatel.com , you receive a signed copy of the book and a felted sheep of your own. You can also link to a movie about felting and enter a children’s short story contest.
Review by Susan Stephenson (www.coffscoastwriters.com)
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Genevieve, the shepherdess sees the world through a wonderful imagination and positive attitude. Her sheep are the typical color of many sheep, grey and dirty brown. Until the day she happens upon a sad rainbow after she tickles the rain clouds away. To her bewilderment the rainbows colors have begun to fade. What can Genevieve do to awaken the rainbows happy thoughts and outlook on life?
“Look. She pointed to the ocean that gleamed in the distance. That’s the kingdom of the mermaids. Mermaids? asked the rainbow. A bit of its color returned.”
Genevieve soon discovers her stories about the places below brighten the world of the rainbow and make it happy. Genevieve continues on with her stories until the rainbow becomes so thrilled it laughs and cries at the same time. What happens next is simply magical, but you’ll have to read the book to find out.
Rainbow Sheep is accompanied with magnificent fiber art illustrations created by the author, Kim Chatel. For further enjoyment Felting for Fun Activities for Kids, a glossary, and fiber art information are also included.
Reviewed by Donna McDine http://www.donnamcdine.com for the National Writing for Children Center http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com
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Genevieve is a shepherdess who keeps her sheep out on a flowered hillside overlooking a green forest with a gleaming ocean in the distance. The sheep include Gertie the trickster, Martha the good mother, Betty who jumps, and Tessa with the temper. One day, after a whole week of rain, when the sheep are grey and dirty brown instead of white, the rainbow appears, but it is very sad because it is lonely and bored. However, Genevieve has a big imagination, so she begins to tell the rainbow funny stories. Will she be able to make him happy?
Author Kim Chatel was born in Canada and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and an assortment of animals. In addition to being a writer, she is also a photographer and a fiber artist. Rainbow Sheep has nine full-page fiber art illustrations that are warm and soft. Children will enjoy them. It also includes four full pages of "Felting for Fun" with instructions on how to make your own "rainbow sheep." Thus, the book gives two ways for parents to interact with their children. They can both read and craft together. I found this cute book really enjoyable and highly recommend it to parents with young children.
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker for Stories for Children Magazine http://storiesforchildren.tripod.com
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Rainbow Sheep by Kim Chatel is a great book for young readers!
Genevieve is caring for her sheep on a rainy, yucky day. When a pale, sad rainbow comes to hang over her hill, Genevieve's imagination, and a few monkeys, mermaids, and seahorses make the rainbow smile and cry tears of laughter, turning her sheep into a herd of colors.
My daughters and I loved this book! Chatel adds the right amount of description and imagination to create a perfect children's book. The reader is immediately drawn to the story of Genevieve and her sheep as they slip and slide in the mud up to her hill where she tickles a cloud. Because Chatel chose to use words like "tattered", "sighed", and "shimmered" the entire story and its emotions are brought to life and felt by the reader.
A fiber artist, Chatel used 11 fiber art illustrations in Rainbow Sheep, which make for a unique and beautiful way to bring this story to life. And this book becomes interactive when the reader and her parents journey to the last few pages of the book, where they find information about felting and fun felt crafts to do together.
Every young reader will find something to love in Rainbow Sheep.
Reviewed by Cheryl Malandrinos at The Book Connection. http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2008/05/rainbow-sheep-by-kim-chatel-book-review.html
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Rainbow Sheep by Kim Chatel is a fantastic book! The story is creative, wonderfully unique and fascinating for children. The felt pictures are beautiful, and also very unique. I love this book and highly recommend it!
Reviewed by Marilyn Peake, Author of Adult and Children's Literature http://www.marilynpeake.com
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This is the cutest little book! A sweet story about a sheep herder who tickles the clouds away and convinces a rainbow to cheer up--and gets a herd of rainbow colored sheep as a result. I'm lucky enough to have one of the author's felted sheep sitting right by my computer to cheer me on, and you can learn how to make your own--she's included instructions right in the back.
You will wonder at Ms. Chatel's felted illustrations--I never knew felting could be so versatile. From a hill-top view to a jungle scene to seahorses sporting in an underwater kingdom--it all jumps to life in full felted color.
This would be the perfect book for children, of course, but also for anybody who has a "crafty" side--the kids (or adults!) you buy all those tie-dye and beading kits for.
Reviewed by Melissa Bach
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Rainbow Sheep is a wonderful book that children will want to read over and over again. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. The colorful fiber art bring the story to life. I am looking forward to reading more of Kim Chatel's books in the future!
Reviewed by Carol Pash