Sid Sharp

4.75 ⭐️

(English below.)

Sehr süß! Und teilweise sehr unerwartet, vor allem das Ende. Aber auch mal gut, eine andere Art von happy end zu haben!

Ich liebe, dass …:
• es mit Wasserfarben gemalt ist. (Auf Papier, denk ich?)
• die Spinnen zu den Guten gehören und eine eigene Stimme haben – zudem super knuffig sind, dass es Kindern oder Älteren sicherlich die Spinnenphobie nehmen kann.
• die dünnen sind die „Bösen“, die dicken die Guten.
• Beatrice so gutherzig ist und stets show more mit Neugier sowie Respekt durch das Leben stapft. Alle ihre Begegnungen mit Lebewesen nennt sie ihre Freunde, auch wenn manche sie nicht mal kennen oder sie gar als lästig betrachten.
• Nachhaltigkeit und Schutz der Natur gepriesen wird.
• (Anti-)Kapitalismus als Thema aufgegriffen wird und sich gut in die Story einfädelt. (Passendes Wortspiel. ;))

Mein einziger Kritikpunkt ist, dass Tierausbeutung dennoch unterstützt wird. Zum Beispiel töten und essen die Schwestern Ratten und Insekten (keine Pflanzen? In einem Wald?). Oder Beatrice, die in die Stadt geht, um Wolle zu kaufen. Wenn sie schon in einem Wald lebt und mit Tieren kommuniziert, kann sie doch eigentlich gleich ein Schaf nach dessen Wolle fragen? Letztendlich hat sie ihr Garn von jemandem bekommen, der es ihr freiwillig geschenkt hat, dennoch etwas fragwürdig bei den ganzen naturbewussten Punkten.

Im Großen und Ganzen dennoch sehr empfehlenswert für groß und klein.

~

Deutsche Übersetzung von “Bog Myrtle”, welche im Februar 2025 erschienen ist. Danke an den NordSüd Verlag auf Netgalley für ein digitales Reziexemplar.

-29.03.25

~~~

Very sweet! And quite unexpected, especially the ending. Although also nice to have a different kind of happy end for a change.

I love that …:
• it’s painted with watercolors (on paper, I think?).
• the spiders are on the heroes’ side and have their own voice – additionally are very cute; I’m sure it could help children or adults get over arachnophobia.
• the skinny ones are the “bad”, whereas the fat are the good.
• Beatrice is so kindhearted and always wanders through life with curiousness as well as respect. She calls all her relationships with individuals ‘friends’, though some might not know/remember or even dislike her.
• sustainability and environmentalism is praised.
• (anti)capitalism is a topic and has been woven well into the whole story. (Pun intended. ;))

My only critique: that animal exploitation/harm is still supported. For example, the sisters kill and eat rats and insects (no plants? In a forest?). Or Beatrice goes to the city to buy wool. If she lives in a forest and communicates with animals, can’t she just ask a sheep for wool? At the end, she may have gotten garn from someone who willingly gifted it to her, but still a bit odd with all the environmental points.

Overall recommended for young and old alike.

~

I’ve read the German translation “Moor Myrte und das Zaubergarn”, which was released in February 2025. Thank you to the NordSüd publisher on Netgalley for a digital review copy.

-29.03.25 show less

Cheery, optimistic Beatrice and permanently grouchy Magnolia are sisters who live together in an old, spider-infested house. Beatrice decides to venture into the forest to collect nature treasures so she can buy yarn to knit Magnolia a sweater; this plan doesn't work out, but Beatrice meets Bog Myrtle, who gives her some magic silk after they bond over their love and reverence for the forest. When the sweater is finished, ungrateful Magnolia only thinks of how she can force Beatrice to make show more more to sell for money. When Beatrice (and the spiders) go on strike, Magnolia marches into the forest herself, and meets exactly the sticky end she warned Beatrice about.

See also: Little Witch Hazel by Phoebe Wahl, Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan, Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Tucholke; The Talking Eggs by San Souci/Pinkney show less

We all know about the wolf in sheep's clothing, but this is a sheep in a wolf suit. I read this as a metaphor for acting tough because you're afraid of being perceived as weak or vulnerable. A world where we all pretend to be predators because we don't want to be prey is very troubling. But this has a mostly cute happy ending.

There is an illustration of Bellwether sleeping after eating berries, but when I was skimming through the book I thought it looked like he was bloody and dead. Maybe show more that's another reason I perceive this book as kind of dark.

My library has this in graphic novels, and while it has some panels, it seems like a very long picture book with many full-page illustrations. There are six chapters, so I'm tagging it as an early chapter book. show less

Bellwether Riggwelter dreams of picking berries in the forest unbothered by wolves; he hits on the idea of sewing himself a wolf suit.

*Spoiler alert*

In a fun twist, all the other wolves Bellwether meets are also other animals in disguise, trying to stay safe! Are there actually even wolves in the woods at all? The four new friends aren't sure, but there is strength in numbers.

"So this whole day I have been worrying and worrying and worrying
and it was all for NO REASON?
...
That's show more wonderful!"

See also: Brenda Is A Sheep by Morag Hood show less