Jo Jo The Melon Donkey - Hardcover

Morpurgo, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1405263520 ISBN 13: 9781405263528

Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

`Melons. Melons for sale!' Every day, Jo-Jo brays the same message and carries the heavy melons through the streets of Venice. Bullied by his master and plagued by flies, Jo-Jo is loved by nobody. But one day, somebody notices Jo-Jo. The famous Doge's daughter herself! And when danger looms, the Venetians need a hero to save them . . . From the master storyteller himself comes a story about an evolving friendship between Jo-Jo and the Doge's daughter, who loves the donkey despite his lowly position. A real feeling of of warmth and hope is created in this timeless, classical tale.

About this title

About the Author:

Helen Stephens has sold over one million books worldwide and The Big Adventure of the Smalls has already had a great reception in the UK, France and the US. Her book Fleabag won The Dundee Picture Book Award, was commended at The Sheffield Picture Book Award, and won Silver at the Norfolk Libraries Children's Book Awards. Michael Morpurgo's skill as a storyteller is uncontested and his latest picture book It's a Dog's Life has sold has sold over 10 000 copies since publication in 2010. His bestselling book War Horse has been translated into 33 languages and has recently been made into a film by Steven Spielberg. Michael describes himself as "oldish, married with three children, and a grandfather six times over."

From School Library Journal:

Gr3-5 Jo-Jo, a donkey in 16th-Cen tury Venice, is bullied by a cruel mas ter and belittled by the elegant people who laugh at him as he stands beneath handsome golden horses. It is only when the Doge's daughter takes one of his melons and pats his head that the snobbish people will buy. The story combines aspects of The Ugly Duck ling, Cinderella, and The Little Hero of Haarlem. First the little donkey, who so wishes for more than his hum ble station in life, is championed by the daughter of the Doge, and then he saves the people of Venice by braying loudly enough to warn them that the sea is coming in. The writing style fol lows that of the literary fairy tale, be ing at once simple and elegant. The il lustrations fit the story perfectly. Vivid colors (mostly watercolors) fol low the rich palette of Venetian paint ers of the era, with bright golds, reds, and greens that seem to reflect the strong light of the Mediterranean. The impressionistic style suggests an opera or ballet set. A pleasant addition to picture book collections for older chil dren. Amy Spaulding, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1405263520
• ISBN 13: 9781405263528
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40