Tashi by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Illus. by Kim Gamble. 25th Anniversary Edition. Allen & Unwin,
2020. ISBN: 9781760525446.
(Age: 5-9) Since the first Tashi book was published in 1995, the
series has sold over one million copies around the world. This
special edition of the original Tashi book celebrates
Tashi's 25th anniversary, and includes Tashi and the Silver Cup,
and Kidnapped! from Tashi's Storybook. There are
four stories included here: Tashi and the Silver Cup, Tashi,
Dragon Breath and Kidnapped! Tashi and the Silver
Cup details Tashi's birth and first birthday in the old
country and introduces us to his family. The original stories Tashi
and Dragon Breath tell of how Tashi came to Jack's world, was
nearly taken back by a War Lord and how he tricked the last dragon
of all. Kidnapped! is about the time Tashi's uncle sold him
to General Zeng. These illustrated stories provide a nice
introduction to Tashi and Jack but the four stories don't flow on to
one another particularly well. In fact, young readers may become
confused because of the unclear timeline. Perhaps as an introduction
to Tashi the original books may be preferable. Regardless Tashi is a
great fantasy adventure series for newly independent readers or for
reading aloud to children that still has a valid place on every
library shelf. What keeps these stories so enchanting is that good
and evil are not portrayed as black and white; there are good people
who do horrible things (his parents sell him), family members who
are despicable but still part of the family and Tashi just takes it
all in his stride. Tashi's out of this world adventures are sure to
enchant a new generation of fans. Themes: Fantasy.
Nicole Nelson