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Jump to navigationJump to searchMagic Beans by Adele Geras, Anne Fine, Henrietta Branford, Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, Philip Pullman, Tony Mitton, Alan Garner, Berlie Doherty, Gillian Cross, Kit Wright, Michael Morpurgo, Susan Gates and Linda Newbery (view source)
Revision as of 10:27, 25 November 2011
, 10:27, 25 November 2011no edit summary
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I was attracted to this book because it features stories from [[:Category:Jacqueline Wilson|Jacqueline Wilson]], [[:Category:Philip Pullman|Philip Pullman]], [[:Category:Michael Murpurgo|Michael Murpurgo]], [[:Category:Alan Garner|Alan Garner ]] and many other prominent children's writers. I thought it might make a great Christmas or birthday present (and it would). There's a selection of stories from traditional sources such as Hans Christian Andersen, and Aesop, and I imagine that the authors were inveigled into writing for publisher David Fickling with a free choice of original stories. So don't expect a collection or compendium, but rather an anthology of tales that have entranced and inspired these writers in their own childhoods – magic beans indeed.
Now here's the funny thing. The stories read just like classic fairy tales should. Without looking, I couldn't distinguish the authors' normally very distinctive voices. It was as if they tracked into a collective traditionalism as they reached back to their own formative experiences with literature and imagination.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending this book.
Suggestions for further reading:
If you are looking for a similar present for younger siblings, [[Favourite Nursery Rhymes by Brian Wildsmith]] has a classic appeal. [[The Lion Storyteller Book of Animal Tales by Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy]] also appealed to the Bookbag reviewer.
