Singing to the Sun - Hardcover

Vivian French has written over two hundred books for children.
While she currently lives in Britain, she frequently travels and teaches around the world.

Grade 2–3—Thorfinn's parents don't believe in love; his father's sole interest is power and his mother's, money. Meanwhile, the King of the Golden Mountains has invited the bachelors of the land to determine which of his three daughters brings power, riches, or love to the marriage. The one who guesses correctly will have his choice of a bride and the way of life she embodies. Without delay, Thorfinn's greedy parents send their son to try his luck, hoping for him to win wealth or power. Thorfinn's jester, who journeys with him, helps him solve the mystery of the three princesses. But when Thorfinn chooses the princess of love, she denies him and, anticlimactically, runs off with the jester. This story had much potential, but it suffers from poor execution and an unsatisfying ending. Watercolor illustrations with an old-fashioned fairy-tale feel are detailed and handsome, but often fail to represent key plot elements and emotions in the story. Long-winded text with awkward placement makes the book needlessly difficult to read, even for an adult.—Madeline Walton-Hadlock, San Jose Public Library, CA
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