Yvonne Lebrun Davis

This a folktale from Thailand. This story tells about a young girl who has been spoiled by her parents. They have given her the best of everything. When the young girls of the village are invited to a party Aree can’t decide which of her finest dresses, or beautiful jewelry to wear. She puts one dress on over another. The she puts all of her jewelry on. She thinks she will be the most beautiful girl there. She meets her friends outside. The hold their laughter in. As they walk along Aree can’t keep up and is left behind. Her friends come back for her twice. Both times when they try to help her she stops them because she doesn’t want her dresses messed up. She never makes it to the dance. The next morning her friends find her where she had sat down. She has no strength to move. They get her parents who realize and help her realize how wrong they were for giving her everything.… (mehr)

Young Aree’s parents have doted on her all her life. Now she has so many fine silk clothes and precious jewelry she can’t decide what to wear to the dance! So she puts on at least a dozen dresses, one on top of the other, and weighs down her neck and arms with too many bracelets, ring, and necklaces. After struggling for hours to even walk up the hill to the dance, Aree and her parents realize how her true beauty isn’t visible when she is spoiled with too many material things. I like that this story is simple, but the exaggerated quality makes this important lesson feel better than exciting to listen to and learn, rather than too didactic. The illustrations are gorgeous and fun.… (mehr)