In this beautifully illustrated original fairy-tale, Alma Flor Ada presents the story of a sheltered young princess, whose life within the Malachite Palace is circumscribed by the expectations of her lady-in-waiting, governess, and mother, who all insist that the children to be seen playing, beyond the gates of the palace, are not fit companions for royalty. This leaves the princess in splendid isolation, lonely and unhappy. When a golden bird flies into her chamber one day, she is delighted, but her efforts to keep the bird with her lead only to silence and more unhappiness. Will she do what needs to be done, to hear the bird's song once more...?

I really appreciated the parallels between the bird and the princess in The Malachite Palace, and the way in which they each needed freedom, in order to sing. I can't say that the ending held any surprises - one sees it coming, almost from the beginning of the book - but that is no detraction, in a fairy-tale, since the journey to the end is often the point, rather than the end itself. I also appreciated the references, intentional or not, to Andersen's classic tale The Nightingale. The artwork, done by Leonid Gore in acrylic and ink, is just lovely, utilizing a gorgeous array of colors, and composed in a dream-like way that suits the story to a tee. All in all, a wonderful original story, much in the vein of traditional fairy-tales, and one which I heartily recommend to all fans of the genre, as well as to all readers who appreciate beautiful picture-books. ( )

This wonderful fairy tale will delight any young audience.

Classroom Use: 1.) Author Study 2.) Fairy Tale ( )