The Story of Queen Esther

Summary: The ancient story of Queen Esther has been told for generations as an example of wisdom and great personal courage. Her bravery is still commemorated each year in the Jewish festival of Purim. / Now this well-known story of the Jewish girl who became the queen of Persia and saved her people from death is retold for young readers. / Bold, colorful Persian-inspired illustrations bring new vibrancy to this old story, which will captivate and inspire its young audience. Quotes:Kirkus Reviews"The classic biblical story . . . is told with lucid intrigue, painting a picture of an evil rogue outwitted by the wisdom and courage of a loving Queen. Multiple scenes across full-page spreads, done in deep pastel colors of blues, purples and reds, portray an assortment of tall, handsome characters with lean, pointy-chinned faces, long, flowing hair and dark skin. A well-composed and aesthetic interpretation for the younger set."" Publishers Weekly"Koralek's telling is admirably brisk and dramatic, and she keeps sight of the core message: that Esther's faith and sense of responsibility give her the courage to do the right thing. Holderness's saturated, jewel-tone pastels, geometric lines and subtle patterning successfully meld once-upon-a-time with an exotic Far East. She also gives Esther star-studded raven tresses that reach all the way down to her calves—which, as any female member of the target audience will attest, is totally awesome." School Library Journal"The illustrations are the highlight of the book. Stylized, dreamy pastel spreads sing with deep color. Esther, whose name means 'star,' is portrayed with a moon and stars floating in her long dark hair, emphasizing her otherworldly beauty." Booklist". . . the nicely told story mostly follows the original and is made more child friendly by Holderness' chalky pastel illustrations. Incorporating celestial symbols, including stars and moons, as well as religious images such as Stars of David, the artwork also captures the Persian sensibility of the original tale. Unlike other picture-book versions of Esther's life, Koralek focuses on the queen herself rather than tying her story to the holiday, which adds appeal."Author Bio: Jenny Koralek has written many children's books, includingNight Ride to Nanna's (Candlewick), Mable'sStory (Olympic Marketing) and Message in aBottle (Lutterworth). A bookworm and music lover, Jennylives in north London.Grizelda Holderness has designed book covers for manypublishers, and her illustrations have appeared innumerous magazines. She has also illustrated thechildren's book When the World Began: Stories Collectedin Ethiopia by Elizabeth Laird. She lives in England.