The Selfish Giant

I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. :) Click here to go to my disclosure policy.

Do you remember the story of The Selfish Giant?  I don’t recall when I first read this story, but as I looked through all the new illustrations, I was brought back in time and I smiled.  Come along, I want YOU to smile too!  🙂

From the Back Cover

A beloved tale that has lasted for generations, The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, one of the world’s greatest writers, tells the tale of a very selfish giant, his wonderful garden, the curious and playful village children, and, of course, the little child who changes the giant’s heart. A beloved classic in English literature, The Selfish Giant may be Oscar Wilde’s greatest story of redemption and forgiveness.

Newly illustrated by renowned artist Jeanne Bowman, this fantastic edition of this famous tale showcases Wilde’s story in a pallet and composition that will delight and inspire both young and old and will become a family treasure to be read again and again.

What you get

This is a beautifully illustrated.   Jeanne Bowman has done an excellent job of showing the before and after in The Selfish Giant.

Before

The after

Don’t you just love the detail and colour in the pictures?   The cold of the snow and the anger of the giant, and then follow that up with the colour and life in the garden?   It’s just so lovely.   There is so much vibrancy in the illustrations, it draws you in. Really it does.   You just want to know in the cold of winter…why is there now a spot of colour in the garden?  What happened?

My Thoughts

I can just totally see sitting down with a child in my lap and reading the story, but also stopping to point out the angry giant, or ask how many animals can they see, or can you count the different flowers?  Learning about kindness and sharing, and what selfishness and angry hearts can bring.  A book filled with learning but also delight!  And the question: would you be the child who dared?

The Selfish Giant
Oscar Wilde
New illustrations by Jeanne Bowman
Familius
32 pages, 5-8 years, trade paperback
character, selfish, picture book
giving, good choices

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.