The Jewel Heart

Rating:
Summary: a dancer's heart
Review: "The Jewel Heart" is not my favorite book by Barbara Helen Berger. It is the first book by her that I've read that has not blown me away. Still, I can see quite clearly how a book like this would move the heart of a dancer.

Both my wife and daughter have danced some ballet. So I was not surprised when my daughter really enjoyed this book.

This little tale about the relationship between Gemino and Pavelle is quite interesting. Like the rest of Berger's stuff, it is a clear enough story to read once to a child. At the same time, it is deep enough to bear some reflecting on by mature kids and mature adults.

I wish I could give "The Jewel Heart" three and a half stars. It is, like all of Berger's books, worth reading. It is just not my personal favorite. That said, I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: a dancer's heart
Review: "The Jewel Heart" is not my favorite book by Barbara Helen Berger. It is the first book by her that I've read that has not blown me away. Still, I can see quite clearly how a book like this would move the heart of a dancer.

Both my wife and daughter have danced some ballet. So I was not surprised when my daughter really enjoyed this book.

This little tale about the relationship between Gemino and Pavelle is quite interesting. Like the rest of Berger's stuff, it is a clear enough story to read once to a child. At the same time, it is deep enough to bear some reflecting on by mature kids and mature adults.

I wish I could give "The Jewel Heart" three and a half stars. It is, like all of Berger's books, worth reading. It is just not my personal favorite. That said, I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A Lovely Children's Book
Review: My 6-year old daughter and her friends are enthralled with this lovely book. We've read it many times and they never seem to tire of the story of the kind ballerina, Pavelle, and her dear friend Gemino. The illustrations are works of art and have a wonderful ethereal quality to them. Ms. Berger is a truly talented author and illustrator.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This is a delicate, gentle tale, with pictures so soft they're almost wistful. But the story of the lovely dancer and the one who weaves her music is quietly luminous and has a serene, pure joy at the ending, where the young musician's heart bursts into a beautiful rose. The shadows that whisper through the book are magical. All in all, a dream of a book.