Once Upon a Time

I want to give this five stars. The specific setting of the Little Karoo, South Africa, is a vibrant character in its own right. Every character is authentic, even the non-speaking poultry and old car. It's a very original take on a popular theme.

But I'm a bit concerned that all Sarie needs to be able to learn to read is extra motivation and practice at home... how did she fall behind in the first place? Is it realistic, is it helpful to other struggling children? Or do those who struggle need more specific support?

I don't know. I never taught developing readers; I never met anyone like Sarie. If you say that her challenge and triumph are depicted realistically, and inspirationally, I will bump this to five stars.

In any case I still do show more recommend the book, and the author. Why hasn't anyone told me about Daly before?! show less

Niki Daly focuses on an aspect that many children struggle with, which is reading. This is a really good book for children to read and actually gain confidence to read aloud after reading this book. I really enjoyed this book because the little girl reminds me of myself and how I use to be the same way when it comes to reading aloud. The moral of this story is everything takes time and with practice you'll get better. Self confidence in children is extremely important as they grow up, and Daly made this book well relatable and encouraging. I loved it.

Again, my daughter really likes how Daly illustrates in all of his books. I felt like this book had a soul. A sweet story of how one person can make a difference for another.

Niki Daly focuses on something many children struggle with, which is reading. He writes about a young girl named Sarie who is terrified of reading aloud. When she does so, she stumbles over her words and all of her classmates make fun of her except for Emile. This causes her to struggle with self-confidence. On Sundays, Sarie visited her Auntie Anna. They often spend their time together in an old car. This is where Sarie pretends to drive and go “far, far away.” One Sunday, Sarie finds an old book in the car. Her and Auntie Anna read it together. This book is what eventually leads to Sarie becoming more comfortable with reading. By the end of the story, Sarie gets praised by her principal for reading so well. Many people, including show more myself, can relate to this book! I remember being extremely afraid of reading aloud for similar reasons. Niki Daly made this book relatable and also encourages readers to become confident and comfortable with themselves. show less

The story of a little girl who feels shame and embarrassment over her inability to read. She is helped by an elderly neighbor who introduces her to the magic of stories. A sweet story and beautiful pictures of semi-arid Africa.

Sarie has trouble reading in class out loud. She trips over the words and it makes her nervous. One day she finds the "Cinderella" book in her aunt's old car, and the more they read it together, she finds that reading is not that bad. The readers will watch Sarie gain confidence about finding her voice in reading out loud. This is a great story for young children to hear because it teaches that things you may find hard now, will become easy with time and practice.

Niki Daly tells the reader the story of a young girl in South Africa having trouble reading. It is a great way to introduce a different culture to your preschooler.