When Noot is finally allowed to paint umbrellas like the other women and girls in her village, she secretly hopes that she might be chosen as this year's Umbrella Queen. Carefully, she creates serene flowers and butterflies exactly as she has seen her mother and grandmother do for years. But soon her imagination takes over, and Noot finds herself straying from the old patterns, to the dismay of her family, who depend on the traditionally painted umbrellas for their livelihood. Her parents tell her she must go back to the old designs and Noot obeys, knowing that the King is coming soon to name the one who has painted the most beautiful umbrella. After all, the King would never choose a queen who breaks from tradition . . . would he? Kindergarten-Grade 3—In a village high in the hills of Thailand, the people make umbrellas decorated with flowers and butterflies. Finally allowed to paint one, young Noot quickly demonstrates her talent to copy her mother's example, but when she's left on her own, she fills her umbrellas with fanciful elephants having fun and "being silly" instead of the expected designs. Her parents remind her that they earn their income by selling the traditional flower-and-butterfly umbrellas, and she knows that she must follow her mother's directions. But late at night, Noot continues to depict elephants on doll-size umbrellas, proudly arranging them on the windowsill. When the King arrives to choose this year's Umbrella Queen, the woman who has created the most beautiful design, he notices the miniatures and bestows the title upon Noot, because she "paints from her heart." Yoo's orange, green, and black colored linoleum prints wonderfully establish the tone for the story, which is related through gracefully told text. The delicately detailed images convey the characters' expressions as well as the loveliness of their creations. Narrative and artwork combine to tell a universal tale about individuality and following your heart to develop your talent.— Susannah Richards, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Noot and her family live in a small village in Thailand that is noted for making beautiful umbrellas. Her father constructs the frames; her grandmother makes the paper to cover them; and her mother paints beautiful flowers on the umbrellas. Noot longs to paint, too. Her first attempt at duplicating her mother’s work is excellent, but, left on her own, she paints elephants instead of flowers, an innovation that could mean less income and less food for her family. Though children will understand Noot’s dutiful return to painting floral patterns, they will quietly cheer when she finds another outlet for her creativity and receives an unexpected honor. Told with clarity and sensitivity, the story reads aloud well. The distinctive linoleum-print-and-pencil illustrations feature varied compositions, lively line work, and an eye-catching palette. The setting may be unfamiliar to many, but the emotions are universal and the story well worth sharing. Grades K-3. --Carolyn Phelan When Noot is finally allowed to paint umbrellas like the other women and girls in her village, she secretly hopes that she might be chosen as this year's Umbrella Queen. Carefully, she creates serene flowers and butterflies exactly as she has seen her mother and grandmother do for years. But soon her imagination takes over, and Noot finds herself straying from the old patterns, to the dismay of her family, who depend on the traditionally painted umbrellas for their livelihood. Her parents tell her she must go back to the old designs and Noot obeys, knowing that the King is coming soon to name the one who has painted the most beautiful umbrella. After all, the King would never choose a queen who breaks from tradition . . . would he? Shirin Yim Bridges's first picture book, Ruby's Wish , won the Ezra Jack Keats Award and is on several state reading lists. She lives in Chicago, Illinois. Taeeun Yoo received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts. She is the author illustrator of The Little Red Fish . She lives in New York City.