Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty's Little Sister

$40.00
by Bob Graham

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The world needs more quiet heroes! With whimsy and warmth, Bob Graham tells the lesser-known tale of a shy little soul who saves the day. What happened to Humpty Dumpty is the stuff of legend. But how many know of his brave little sister? While the Tumbling Dumpties, the family traveling circus troupe, is doing acts of spectacular daring, Dimity stays far from the spotlight, playing tunes on her tiny flute. But when Humpty falls off the wall where he's writing graffiti, it's Dimity who finds her voice and brings help that even the king's soldiers can't provide. With a wealth of humorous visual details — the egg-carton caravan drawn by a chicken, the bandaging of Humpty's "leakage" after his fall — Bob Graham pays tribute to a famous nursery rhyme figure and brings smiles to his readers once again. Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2–Everyone knows the story of Humpty Dumpty. Not so many know the story of his little sister, Dimity. So begins the tale of his quiet, diminutive, and painfully shy sibling who prefers the background to the limelight of her circus family's acrobatics. The perfect foil to her reckless brother's antics, Dimity finds solace and meaning in her flute music. But when Humpty takes his proverbial fall while spray painting graffiti, it is Dimity who comes to his rescue. She runs to the big top and, finding her voice, mobilizes everyone to save her brother. After the rescue, she remains her timid self, but those around her come to appreciate her quiet center. The full-color watercolor illustrations are a delight–from the egg carton mobile home pulled by a hen to the emotional expressions Graham can pull out of an eggshell. The language is lyrical (the spotlight pushed like a bright finger across the tent, gentle as a beetle's breath, high notes fly like swifts on a summer's morning) and makes a perfect read-aloud. This story of a quiet child who shuns attention and remains true to herself will resonate with children and their parents, who know that everyone has special gifts and talents.– Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Perhaps you didn't know that Humpty Dumpty had a sister. Young Dimity (and all the Dumpties) are part of a circus, traveling the highways and byways in an egg carton hitched to a horse. Humpty is a "rascal," but Dimity is timid, preferring to play the flute rather than be part of the Tumbling Dumpties. Children will wait to see how Humpty has his great fall--unexpectedly, he is tagging, spray painting his name on a wall. Despite a grim prognosis, he is saved by Dimity, who comes out of her shell (figuratively) to get the help he needs. The story rambles, but Graham, whose books often turn on understated wit, tweaks out every bit of humor in both the story and the enticingly detailed ink-and-watercolor art. Much of the fun comes from the diminutive egg family interacting with the rest of the world (the "king's soldiers" are British troops), and a lot of the pleasure derives from watching a quiet little sister use her strength and smarts. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Bob Graham is the author-illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including "LET'S GET A PUP!" SAID KATE, winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award, and OSCAR'S HALF BIRTHDAY, an American Library Association Notable Children's Book. He lives in Australia.

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