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Moi & Marie Antoinette

by Cullen, Lynn.

Format: Print Book 2006
Availability: Unavailable 0 of 1 copy
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Unavailable (1)
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Bethel Park Public Library Picture Books IN TRANSIT
Location  Bethel Park Public Library
 
Collection  Picture Books
 
Status  IN TRANSIT
 
 

Summary

Marie Antoinette was one of the most celebrated queens in history...but she was once a little girl, too. As told by her vain but devoted dog, Sebastian, here is the story of the young princess's life--from her childhood in Austria, to the elaborate preparations leading to her marriage to Louis XVI; from her unhappy rise to power in turbulent times, to the birth of her own children. Lynn Cullen's spirited text sheds light on a side of Marie Antoinette few have seen--that of a vulnerable young girl thrust into a role much bigger than she could have imagined. Stunning illustrations by Amy Young capture the grandeur of life in 18th century Versailles and the touching intimacy of a child's lasting love for her pet.

Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "This picture-book account of Marie Antoinette, told from the perspective of her pug dog, Sebastien, highlights Antoinette's life from age 13 through her becoming queen of France and motherhood, with glimpses of eighteenth-century court life along the way. As Sebastien tells it, the queen's life leaves Antoinette unhappy, and with little time for Sebastien. But years later, after earning the affection of Antoinette's six-year-old daughter, Therese, Sebastien reminds Antoinette that happiness can be found through love, family, and, of course, dogs. The engaging, humorously vain pug delivers an animated narrative, which is whimsically illustrated in elegant, swirly, pastel-hued pictures, lavished with historical details. The dense prose and the focus on Antoinette as a teen and adult (Therese doesn't come in until the end of the story) suggest an older audience. Even so, the message is classic, and the royal pooch makes an enticing narrator, especially accessorized with period glamour. --Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright 2006 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "Loosely based on a true story, this picture book chronicles the French queen's journey from an Austrian girlhood to royal motherhood, as narrated by her beloved canine companion. Perhaps in an attempt to better the reputation conferred on Marie Antoinette, Cullen (The Mightiest Heart) puts a human face on this historic figure. S?bastien the pug, aka "Moi," peppers the tales of his mistress's adventures with witty asides. Upon learning that Antoinette (as her family calls her) will become queen, he jests, "This news was not as exciting as tender morsels of chicken, but I would have to make do." His self-centeredness is not unlike a child who demands 100% attention from his caretaker. While Moi maintains his presence throughout Antoinette's life, he is mostly left to his own devices, as his mistress becomes too caught up in her responsibilities to pay him much attention. Once Moi ultimately forges a relationship with Antoinette's daughter, he no longer feels like that forgotten child. As in Young's books about Belinda the ballerina, her portraits of the heroine here strike just the right balance between disciplined and playful, so Antoinette always seems approachable, and Moi's loss of playmate the more poignant. The detailed illustrations, especially of Antoinette's and Moi's faces, help convey the many emotions of the parent-child relationship in this rather lengthy read. The result is a softer picture of a queen whom many believe ruled with an iron fist. Ages 5-9. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved"
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Subjects Marie Antoinette, -- Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France, -- 1755-1793 -- Childhood and youth -- Juvenile fiction.
Marie Antoinette, -- Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France, -- 1755-1793 -- Childhood and youth -- Fiction.
Kings, queens, rulers, etc. -- Fiction.
Dogs -- Fiction.
Pets -- Fiction.
Publisher New York :Bloomsbury Children's Books :2006
Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck Publishers,
Edition 1st U.S. ed.
Other Titles Moi and Marie Antoinette
Contributors Young, Amy.
Language English
Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 28 cm
ISBN 9781582349589
1582349584
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