Review: A Magical, Imaginative Story That Conveys A Good Message ...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2014
“Emily & the Rainbow Umbrella” is a magical, imaginative book that deals with the effects of “watch what you wish for” … and the lessons learned from the consequences of having everything exactly as you wish.  Lisl Fair and Marybeth Gabot have given parents an excellent story that children will find engaging and to which they can relate.  Nina de Polonia’s colorful, whimsical illustrations enhance the message the book conveys and will delight little ones to whom you may read this book.Emily is a little girl who loves pink.  When her grandmother gives her a rainbow colored umbrella for her birthday, Emily discards it.  Her birthday wish is that everything be pink.  Upon waking the next morning, Emily is delighted to discover her wish has come true.  However, her family and friends are not nearly as pleased with their pink world.  Only when Emily experiences the consequences of her wish does she realize having everything you wish for may not be as desirable as she first imagined.I liked the message “Emily & the Rainbow Umbrella” conveyed – that of having everything your own way may not be the best for those around you or for yourself.  I would like to see a variation of this book with a boy as the protagonist and his wishing everything blue.  His rainbow gift might be a ball.  Although adults may desire stories for boys and girls to be “gender neutral”, toddlers and preschoolers still prefer their stories to be about someone like them.  This also helps when discussing the “lessons” learned from reading the book.