The Gullfoss Legends - Brossura

Buttons, Billy Bob

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0957476701 ISBN 13: 9780957476707

Casa editrice: The Wishing Shelf Press, 2012

Riassunto

Over a century ago, a twelve year old girl walked 120 kms to Reykjavik to persuade the King to help her. Her journey lasted two weeks; two weeks of wild snow storms, skin-blistering winds and deadly clouds of volcanic ash. This is her story. The British plan to put a dam on Gullfoss, a magnificent waterfall in Iceland, but Sigríður plans to stop them. Setting off to see the King, she must face scalding pools of hot mud, a scary wolf-man and the most evil of assassins, the ruthless Scarecrow, who must stop her at all costs. Based on the Gullfoss Legends, this is a story for anybody who has battled but refused to give up. Billy Bob Buttons was a finalist in the Rubery Book Awards and a runner-up in this year's prestigious UK People's Book Prize.

Su questo libro

Recensione

'Dazzling!' --kidzbookclub.com

This beautifully presented children's book tells a tale of a young girl who travels through blizzards, volcanic ash and scalding pools of hot mud to reach Reykjavik, Iceland.She wishes to seek help from the King of Reykjavik, to prevent the British from building a dam on Gullfoss, a waterfall on her homeland. During her difficult journey, she makes some good friends and outwits some nasty assassins, making this tale truly magical, heart-warming and full of adventure. Each chapter starts with an Icelandic phrase or saying, some of which are humorous and add unique charm to the book. There s a phonics page and glossary at the back, which explain what the Icelandic words/phrases are and their pronunciation. The author s descriptive language jumps out of the page, grabbing the reader so they can almost imagine they re there in Iceland with Sigridur, the main character. The story is well-researched and would provide a welcome challenge for children of 9-12 years. It contains a few black and white drawings and actual photographs of Iceland, creating more interest. --SP Magazine

It tells the story of Sigridür Tómasdóttir, a 12 year old girl who flees her father's farm to talk to the king and try to save her beloved waterfall, Gulfoss. The author had the help of Professor of History Helgi Skúli Kjartansson to recriate the legend, even if it isn't followed exactly, since Sigri was around 30, not 12, years old when she went into her adventure to save Gulfoss. Sigri, as she is called all during the story, is an emotional 12 year old girl who loves her waterfalls, Gulfoss. When she finds out her dad is going to sell it to the energy company, who will put a damp on it, because he needs more money to support his two daughters, she complains and goes against it - how can he sell her beloved waterfall? She then gets the idea, from the waterfall, actually, that she should go see the king and ask him to help her save Gulfoss, but she doesn't know exactly where the city is, and just walks there. All 120 kms. She meets, along the way, a man who travelled around the world, a boy with a kind heart, a wolf-man, geisers, a volcano, thiefs, murderers and, of course, the king. SThe Gulfoss Falls are amazing and I totally agree with Sigri, they are worth saving. The story is full of magic and Icelandic - words, foods, landscape, traditions. It's a tale about a land and a people we don't hear much about and it's real, at least as real as it gets. It's a tale of love and friendship, with some funny bits and beautiful illustrations. Billy Bob Buttons is a great author who manages to write well for children and amazes and enchants grown ups as much as the little ones. Don't hesitate in buying this for your little ones or for yourself. --Brazilian Bookworm

L'autore

Billy Bob Buttons is a young talented author. On top of being a secondary school English teacher, he is also a pilot. Born in the Viking city of York, he and his wife, Therese, a true Swedish girl from the IKEA county of Småland, now live in Stockholm and London. Their twin girls, Rebecca and Beatrix, and little boy, Albert, inspire Billy Bob every day to pick up a pen and work on his books. When not writing, he enjoys tennis and playing 'MONSTER!' with his three children. He is the author of the much loved, The Gullfoss Legends, Rubery Award finalist, Felicity Brady and the Wizard s Bookshop, UK People Book Prize runner-up, TOR Assassin Hunter and TOR Wolf Rising. 'I think I murdered Miss!' is his ninth children's novel and will be out in September.

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: The Wishing Shelf Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0957476701
• ISBN 13: 9780957476707
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Lingua: Inglese
• Numero di pagine: 188
• Disegnatore: Smyth Teri