Review by Belle Cole
Tundra Books at Penguin Random House of Canada Limited, 2023
21 pages. Ebook. $11.99 CAD. 20220443165.
Picture book, Ages 5-9
Historical fiction
This is the story of the little Brontës, who lived in a house on the edge of the wild moors — and also in a world of their own imagining.
When it comes to the Brontë children, toy soldiers offer the best inspiration. According to them, toy soldiers can be dukes and emperors and common folk – their uniforms need not dictate who they can be! It is their love for these toys combined with their love for books that inspires the Brontë children to begin making their own miniature books that tell illegible stories only they can recite. The Little Books of the Little Brontës draws upon the history of the Brontë family to tell an informed fictional story about the lives of the children, full of imagination and creativity that leads them to construct these tiny books and their tiny stories.
As I opened the first page, the first thing to strike me was the illustrations. They are so beautiful and delightful to admire. It took me longer than I expected to finish reading the book because I was so transfixed by them. The illustrations provide a lovely aesthetic that enhances the story and setting of the book, breathing life and character into the Brontë children. The images tell their own story, and could stand-alone without any text at all as they find creative ways to picture the narrative, like illustrating the stories running through the children’s imaginations.
The story itself brings out a sense of calm and compassion for the children. It is written with clear, descriptive language that I expect most children will be able to understand. The plot is simple but engaging and sweet. I was especially delighted by the inclusion of the toy soldiers that hold significant meaning to the Brontë children historically. The author’s note provides the history that inspired The Little Books of the Little Brontës, presenting a letter from 1829 in which Charlotte Brontë references the toy soldiers. O’Leary takes these small pieces of history and runs with them to create a lively story, imagining happiness in the childhoods of the Brontës. The book is engaging and provides an interactive element at the end, inviting its readers to make their own little book with a step-by-step process of how to create a little book and maintain a narrative voice that makes it feel like an extension of the story.
The Little Books of the Little Brontës celebrates the joy of imagining, curating a positive message for children and adults alike. It is a book whose sweet story and stunning illustrations are sure to fascinate all ages, including adults who are fans of the Brontë sisters’ literature.
Belle Cole is a English Literature and Creative Writing student at UBC from San Antonio, Texas. She is passionate about learning new things and proclaims herself a chronic “hobby-hopper,” regularly jumping from one hobby to the next. No matter her current obsession, her spirited love for reading, writing, and traveling remain ever constant.
YOUNG ADULTING 