***WHO SUCKED ME IN***
Hey It's Shey in their YouTube video Beyond Disney: Princess Stories from Around the World published on 30 mei 2021

Forgiveness wasn't given easy and I adored that. Also the art looks gorgeous.

The Girl Who Spun Gold is a traditional literature piece that takes a spin on the classic Rumpelstiltskin. This is an example of traditional literature because there is an introduction to a mythical creature and a protagonist in an impossible situation, spinning wheat into gold. The situation the main character finds herself in is unrealistic and would never happen in reality. The author uses tone throughout to allow the reader to understand the underlying cynical nature of the story. The tone creates an atmosphere of potential danger. ( )

Anyone who has heard or read Rupelstiltskin tales will be familiar with the mischievous figure to whom Quashiba makes a bargain, in this case named Lit'mahn. In this he described as dancing with flecks of gold, glinting in the shade of trees, connecting him to to glittering promises of spun gold. After her mother says she can spin thread to gold and weave fields of cloth the King Marries Quashiba, all the white she remains painfully aware that she cannot spin golden thread and make fields of cloth.

When Lit'Mahn does appear to her they strike a bargain that she will either guess his name with three tries in three nights, or he will make her tiny and carry her off to live in his shade. The plot continues as expected, the mysterious little man spins and works while the Queen falls fast asleep, worrying that she will have to spend eternity tiny and in Lit'Mahn's shade.

Ultimately, it was her husband that stumbled upon Lit'Mahn while out hunting and brought his amusing song back for his wife. Using his dinner retelling of the little man with whom she is already familiar, Quashiba is able to name Lit'Mahn. While she remains Queen and her husband rejoices at the rooms full of gold, she is unable to overlook the work he required of her.

In an amusing development the King and Queen live "fairly happily ever after." The Queen, being rightly displeased that her King has padlocked her in rooms and required her to spin golden thread and cloth, does not speak to the king for three long years and three long long fields of him asking for her forgiveness.

This story has it all! The story comes from West Indian tradition and contains some dialect. Some of the phrasing or sounds would be unfamiliar to western readers, but the bones of the fairy tale would remain familiar. A simple peasant whose mother changes her fate, gorgeous and detailed illustrations contributing to the telling. The gold theme follows in the illustrations with gold leaf borders and incredible motifs displayed in the textiles and vegetation around the figures. I very much enjoyed the read! ( )

The style of this book is absolutely beautiful. The gold borders, dark colors and a few bright ones make the illustrations stand out. The writing style is done well, by keeping the oral traditions to the times of kings, queens, prince/ss, and peasants. For example, "there be this tale", "One day","You hear that, Queenie Quashie?" Great book! ( )

"The Girl who Spun Gold" is a fantasy folk tale that has been passed down from generation to generation. There were a few overlying themes within this picture book that are great to show children in third and fourth grade. One theme of respect or lack there of is throughout the whole book because Big King married Quashiba just because she would spin him gold thread. Once he married her the audience learns that Big King has no respect for her and after a year and a day of marriage locks her in a room and threatens that if she doesn't fill the room with gold thread that she'd be doing it forever. That's no way to treat any person and we learn in the end that Queen Quashiba didn't like the way she was treated either because she didn't talk to Big King for three years. Another underlying theme is that trying to trick or con people won't get you anywhere. When the shade man, Lit'ham goes to help Queen Quashiba, he doesn't do it genuinely, but rather does it to try and trap her in his shadow if she can't guess his name correctly. In the end she correctly guesses his name and he then basically explodes. This book sneakily showed how tricking people isn't the best idea because in the end the trickster is the one who will get into some big trouble. Respect and treatment of others are huge when around children so this book is another example to show them. The book has what appears to be an all African American family with a strong and confident young woman in Queen Quashiba. Due to this little girls can find themselves in this book and are able to see a strong character that they can also be. ( )