Yokki and the Parno Gry
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Booklist Review
*Starred Review* This beautifully illustrated gem of a storybook begs to be read aloud. A Romani folktale, it tells of a magical horse, Parno Gry, that swoops in and takes children on trips to faraway, welcoming lands. Yokki is a young boy who tells stories about Parno Gry, and he gets more inventive as reality gets harsher. When all seems lost his Traveler family has traded away all of their possessions and cannot find work anywhere Parno Gry actually arrives and whisks the entire family to a lush, verdant land with abundant resources. Adults will want to practice reading this aloud before sharing it with young audiences, as the text includes many Romani terms, which are defined in a brief glossary on the title page and, in context, should create no problems for sophisticated readers but might confuse neophytes. Most important, storytime presenters will want to build in time to allow young audiences to pore over the wonderfully detailed illustrations. The combined ink, gouache, watercolor, pen, and crayon pictures create a wistful, otherworldly feel that transports readers to an enchanted place. The text seamlessly weaves in Romani customs and philosophies, and the illustrations provide additional details about Traveler life. This unique and engaging tale will delight young audiences and would be an elegant addition to any folk literature collection.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2017 Booklist
Publisher's Weekly Review
O'Neill, a Romani storyteller from the U.K., imagines a Traveler family saved by a magic horse. Yokki's family fixes things and does odd jobs, but a wet year is their downfall: they're forced to sell almost everything they own, and food is scarce. Young Yokki's stories about Parno Gry, a flying white horse, comfort hungry family members but infuriate his Grandfather Elijah: "You are filling their heads with dreams of a made-up future." Though the story seems headed for a solution congruent with the realistic setup, the ending offers a dream come true as the Parno Gry carries the family to a paradise of food, free for the gathering. O'Neill and Quarmby (Fussy Freya) highlight Traveler children's contributions to the family and their dependence on the generosity of non-Travelers, such as kind Farmer Tom, who will keep their lame horse, Bessie, until she heals. Nellisen's warm, folk-art-like illustrations engage and inform, with images of Traveler clothing, wares, and-of special importance-storytelling around the fire. A rare voice from a culture that isn't always well-known or understood, especially in the U.S. Ages 4-7. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This traditional story introduces readers to Yokki and his Traveler family, who live a normal Romani lifestyle-moving along familiar routes throughout the year as they sell and trade their goods and services. "Yokki loved to sell the spoons he had made. It gave him the chance to talk to all sorts of people, Traveling Folki and settled folk, and to listen to their stories." Yokki, embodying the cultural value of oral storytelling, entertains the family with his tales. When the boy and his happy, industrious family hit a string of bad luck, money and food grow scarce. Yokki lifts people's spirits by making up the tale of the Parno Gry, a white horse that would fly into the camp and carry them away to a place of plenty. As things continue to worsen, the child's grandfather scolds him, telling him to stop spouting nonsense, but Yokki's grandmother, the Phuri Dai, counsels that dreams are all they have left. That night, Yokki's dream horse actually appears, bringing them to a place full of new possibilities and teaching them the value of a child's imagination. An introduction covers the basic lifestyle and values of Romani and Traveler culture. The copyright page includes a glossary of Romani terms, but it is easily missed as part of the front matter. The soft, open watercolors portray endearing figures, and the Parno Gry is beautifully patterned with birds. Its sweeping tail and fetlocks evoke feathers as the horse speeds across the sky. VERDICT A unique and gorgeously presented read-aloud for one-on-one and small group sharing; a must-have for most collections.-Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
A traditional tale portrays the resilience of the Romani, or Travelers, of England. Yokki is a storyteller (like the Romani author O'Neill), and he relates the story of the Parno Gry, a white horse that carries a whole family from an impoverished place to a land of rich resources. Soft paintings complement the story, which includes a note on Traveler culture. Glos. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Reviews
*Starred Review* This beautifully illustrated gem of a storybook begs to be read aloud. A Romani folktale, it tells of a magical horse, Parno Gry, that swoops in and takes children on trips to faraway, welcoming lands. Yokki is a young boy who tells stories about Parno Gry, and he gets more inventive as reality gets harsher. When all seems lost—his Traveler family has traded away all of their possessions and cannot find work anywhere—Parno Gry actually arrives and whisks the entire family to a lush, verdant land with abundant resources. Adults will want to practice reading this aloud before sharing it with young audiences, as the text includes many Romani terms, which are defined in a brief glossary on the title page and, in context, should create no problems for sophisticated readers but might confuse neophytes. Most important, storytime presenters will want to build in time to allow young audiences to pore over the wonderfully detailed illustrations. The combined ink, gouache, watercolor, pen, and crayon pictures create a wistful, otherworldly feel that transports readers to an enchanted place. The text seamlessly weaves in Romani customs and philosophies, and the illustrations provide additional details about Traveler life. This unique and engaging tale will delight young audiences and would be an elegant addition to any folk literature collection. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.
PW Annex Reviews
O'Neill, a Romani storyteller from the U.K., imagines a Traveler family saved by a magic horse. Yokki's family fixes things and does odd jobs, but a wet year is their downfall: they're forced to sell almost everything they own, and food is scarce. Young Yokki's stories about Parno Gry, a flying white horse, comfort hungry family members but infuriate his Grandfather Elijah: "You are filling their heads with dreams of a made-up future." Though the story seems headed for a solution congruent with the realistic setup, the ending offers a dream come true as the Parno Gry carries the family to a paradise of food, free for the gathering. O'Neill and Quarmby (Fussy Freya) highlight Traveler children's contributions to the family and their dependence on the generosity of non-Travelers, such as kind Farmer Tom, who will keep their lame horse, Bessie, until she heals. Nellisen's warm, folk-art-like illustrations engage and inform, with images of Traveler clothing, wares, and—of special importance—storytelling around the fire. A rare voice from a culture that isn't always well-known or understood, especially in the U.S. Ages 4–7. (Mar.)
Copyright 2017 Publisher Weekly Annex.School Library Journal Reviews
PreS-Gr 2—This traditional story introduces readers to Yokki and his Traveler family, who live a normal Romani lifestyle—moving along familiar routes throughout the year as they sell and trade their goods and services. "Yokki loved to sell the spoons he had made. It gave him the chance to talk to all sorts of people, Traveling Folki and settled folk, and to listen to their stories." Yokki, embodying the cultural value of oral storytelling, entertains the family with his tales. When the boy and his happy, industrious family hit a string of bad luck, money and food grow scarce. Yokki lifts people's spirits by making up the tale of the Parno Gry, a white horse that would fly into the camp and carry them away to a place of plenty. As things continue to worsen, the child's grandfather scolds him, telling him to stop spouting nonsense, but Yokki's grandmother, the Phuri Dai, counsels that dreams are all they have left. That night, Yokki's dream horse actually appears, bringing them to a place full of new possibilities and teaching them the value of a child's imagination. An introduction covers the basic lifestyle and values of Romani and Traveler culture. The copyright page includes a glossary of Romani terms, but it is easily missed as part of the front matter. The soft, open watercolors portray endearing figures, and the Parno Gry is beautifully patterned with birds. Its sweeping tail and fetlocks evoke feathers as the horse speeds across the sky. VERDICT A unique and gorgeously presented read-aloud for one-on-one and small group sharing; a must-have for most collections.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal.