*****=
An all-time favorite
**** =
Outstanding
***
= Above average
**
= Enjoyable
*
= Good, with reservations
****Sense Pass King
A Story From Cameroon
retold by Katrin Tchana
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
Reviewed February 17, 2003.
Holiday House, New York, 2002. 32 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (E TCH).
Sense Pass King is a delightful folk tale of a little girl
who is so smart, she has more sense than the king. The story is
a tall tale--“By the time she was two she could speak the languages of
all seven villages and communicate with animals. When she was three,
she could prepare dinner for her parents.”
Of course, once the king hears about this child being called Sense
Pass King, he’s quite angry. He tries to capture her more than once,
but she outwits him every time. Finally, he decides to use her as
a counselor. Finally, when Sense Pass King saves the king and all
his soldiers but the king tries to take credit, the soldiers rebel, and
make Sense Pass King their queen. And they all live happily ever after.
The story is fun and entertaining. The pictures are outstanding.
It all adds up to a book that’s sure to please.
Book Reviews by
Sondra Eklund