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School Library Journal
Reviewed on April 1, 2010
Gr 2-4 In 1827, when the pasha of Egypt sends a gift giraffe to the king of France, the tall, silent animal stirs up considerable excitement all across the country. Borrowing from French sources of the time for information and visual material, this fictionalized retelling follows the journey of Belle by sea and land from Africa to Paris. The trip is narrated by Atir, Belle's Egyptian caretaker, who stayed on in Paris for the exotic n...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
Horn Book Guide
Reviewed on January 1, 2010
This fictionalized story is told from the perspective of real-life Sudanese attendant Atir, who accompanied el...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
Junior Library Guild
Reviewed on June 1, 2010
The fact that the tale is based on a true story makes details of Belle’s pilgrimage especially captivating. Atir’s narrative is imagined, but the story, the captioned illustrations, and the...Log In or Sign Up to Read More