Review by Booklist Review
This rather stately picture book opens in a beautiful city, built on water, where a prosperous glassmaker lives with his daughter, Daniela. Troubled by her melancholy, he offers an ornate glass palace to anyone who makes his daughter smile. Though scores of entertainers, craftsmen, and even pickpockets try and fail to amuse the girl, a young glassmaker enamored of Daniela creates a looking glass that piques her curiosity and, yes, makes her laugh. Affected by her peals of laughter, the glass palace quivers, falls, and shatters. No matter the citizens rejoice and join in with Daniela's irresistible laughter. Written with a narrative framework reminiscent of folktales, the story proceeds at a measured pace to its resoundingly happy ending. The artwork, created in watercolor, gouache, and ink, features richly detailed, imaginatively realized settings in sixteenth-century Venice. Shiny gold-toned foil on this picture book's jacket draws the eye to the title and certain decorative details. After opening with a historical note on Venetian glassmaking, mirrors, and masks, the book closes with a page designed to leave viewers smiling.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-The same team who wrote and illustrated Zeraffa's Giraffe has produced another small gem. An introductory note explains the importance of glassmakers in 13th-centruy Venice as well as the procedure for making a "looking glass." The glassmaker's daughter is always glum and gloomy-never smiling. The glassmaker builds a magnificant glass palace and promises it to anyone who can bring a smile to Daniela's face. Many take up the challenge. "Glove makers, tart bakers, trumpet players, dragon slayers, monkey trickers, pocket pickers, bell ringers, opera singers, even sausage stringers-all failed to make Daniela smile." One young glassmaker, however, is determined, and his simple gift does the trick. The story has a lovely flow and the language is lyrical. Ray's folk-art style paintings are a perfect match with her usual attention to artfully placed details. VERDICT A beautiful book that is suitable for group sharing or independent reading; deserves a place in most collections.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Venetian glassmaker's daughter resists attempts to cheer her up. Daniela, the fair-skinned daughter of a prominent glassmaker in 16th-century Venice, is melancholy. Her concerned father offers the reward of a glass palace to the first person who can make Daniela smile. Many try, and here the narrative amiably bounces along: "Glove makers, tart bakers, trumpet players, dragon slayers" try their best, but Daniela remains glum. Enter Angelo, a fair-skinned young glassmaker who fashions a looking glasssomething Daniela has never before encountered. He presents it to her, and as she looks into it, she sees a frowning face. She smiles, and the mirror smiles, then she laughs and the mirror laughs. Soon all of Venice is laughing along with Daniela's laugh. Hofmeyr's narrative conforms to the familiar, rescue-the-princess fairy-tale theme, but the addition of the looking glass lends it originality, and its ultimate message, that happiness lies within, is empowering if overt. An introductory note conveys information about historic Venetian glassmaking and the popularity of wearing decorative masks in Venicefacts that add considerable interest. Ray's luxuriant-looking, well-designed illustrations in gouache, watercolor, and ink evoke a lush, multiracial Venice. Rich illustrations, a familiar fairy-tale structure, and an upbeat message make this story a visually attractive, comfortable read. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
