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Trudi & Pia
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From: dlh
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:23:59 -0500
I just read Ursula Hegi's new book, Trudi & Pia. This picture for children ages 4-9 is adapted from her best selling adult novel, Stones from the River.
Trudi a young dwarf goes to sleep at night hoping only to wake up the size of other girls her age. During the daytime she hangs from door frames and tree limbs hoping to stretch to a normal size. Trudi even ties her mom's scarf around her head and neck in hopes of preventing her head from growing anymore so the rest of her body can catch up to it. She cannot reach the coat rack at school and her feet dangle from the chair.
Other children look at Trudi with curiosity.
One day Trudi sees a welcome sight at the circus... The animal tamer happens to be a female dwarf also. When the animal tamer asks for a volunteer from the audience Trudi jumps up to the ring. When the animal tamer, Pia, sets eyes on Trudi she relates that the both of them came from the same place...the Island of the Little people. Together they weave a beautiful pretend story of the island from which they came.
Trudi seeks Pia out after the show and wants to join the circus with her. Pia relates to Trudi that she must stay where she belongs and gives her advice not to look up to people and to talk in a soft voice so that others must bend down to her level.
Trudi learns to accept herself as she is.
I read Stones from the River a few years ago and was thrilled when I saw the picture book version which was published in Feb of 2003. I was amazed at how Hegi could tell her story in so few words without losing it's punch. I did notice though, that in the picture book she did not mention the pain she felt growing up but referred to life's cruelty as curiosity. I think that she walked carefully in this area because it was a children's book, however I believe that each child can relate to ridicule. Overall, I though the adaptation of the adult novel was marvelous.
Has anyone had a chance to view the picture book? Has anyone read any adult novels that were adapted to the picture book format?
Deb Hiett
Received on Tue 25 Feb 2003 04:23:59 PM CST
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:23:59 -0500
I just read Ursula Hegi's new book, Trudi & Pia. This picture for children ages 4-9 is adapted from her best selling adult novel, Stones from the River.
Trudi a young dwarf goes to sleep at night hoping only to wake up the size of other girls her age. During the daytime she hangs from door frames and tree limbs hoping to stretch to a normal size. Trudi even ties her mom's scarf around her head and neck in hopes of preventing her head from growing anymore so the rest of her body can catch up to it. She cannot reach the coat rack at school and her feet dangle from the chair.
Other children look at Trudi with curiosity.
One day Trudi sees a welcome sight at the circus... The animal tamer happens to be a female dwarf also. When the animal tamer asks for a volunteer from the audience Trudi jumps up to the ring. When the animal tamer, Pia, sets eyes on Trudi she relates that the both of them came from the same place...the Island of the Little people. Together they weave a beautiful pretend story of the island from which they came.
Trudi seeks Pia out after the show and wants to join the circus with her. Pia relates to Trudi that she must stay where she belongs and gives her advice not to look up to people and to talk in a soft voice so that others must bend down to her level.
Trudi learns to accept herself as she is.
I read Stones from the River a few years ago and was thrilled when I saw the picture book version which was published in Feb of 2003. I was amazed at how Hegi could tell her story in so few words without losing it's punch. I did notice though, that in the picture book she did not mention the pain she felt growing up but referred to life's cruelty as curiosity. I think that she walked carefully in this area because it was a children's book, however I believe that each child can relate to ridicule. Overall, I though the adaptation of the adult novel was marvelous.
Has anyone had a chance to view the picture book? Has anyone read any adult novels that were adapted to the picture book format?
Deb Hiett
Received on Tue 25 Feb 2003 04:23:59 PM CST
