The Sugar Child

by Monique De Varennes, Leonid Gore (Illustrator)

Matine was not exactly like other children. Her skin was cool and a bit hard, like a fine sugar crust, and so thin you could nearly see through it. She was made of a kind of fairy candy...

Matine is different from every other child in the world -- she is made from marzipan Sweet as sugar, fragile as a flower, she must never cry...or walk in the rain...or play under the hot sun, for she could melt away. And when Matine's best friend falls ill, her parents decide not to tell her, for fear that her tears might make her melt away forever.

How the power of love saves both Matine and her friend makes for an original fairy tale filled with wonder and poignancy in the spirit of classics like "Pinocchio" and "The Velveteen Rabbit."

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Family, Childrens, Friendship

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2004

Reviews

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls and I LOVED this book. As a child, when I complained about going out when it was raining or snowing, my mom would always tell me: "You aren't going to melt." I wonder if she got the idea from this book. Probably not, but it was a beautiful story of a little girl made of marzipan and how she sacrifices herself for her friend.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sugar Child shows wonderful persistence and caring. It is a warm story that can be related to various feelings and morals. Although it is fantasy, many children would enjoy the fun and creative story, and wish to make their own friend like the Sugar Child. Would recommend for 2-4 graders.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story of a lonely couple who wanted a child, so the father made a child out of marzipan. The story can be compared to the story of Pinocchio.

[skcocnaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

But, WHAT HAPPENED TO JEAN-PAUL?!?

[Alexis Tesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sugar Child was a book about a little girl, made originally from sugar by her two parents who were bakers. They had always longed for a child, until one night, his sugar candy turned into a sugar child. The Sugar Child, Matine, was not like other children, and met another boy, Jean-Paul, who also had differences, he was very ill. In the end, her sugar skin turned to real skin and she became a normal little girl. The story line of this book was phenomenal, and the illustrations were gorgeous, which is why I gave this book five stars. The theme of the book was care because of the care that was shared between all the characters of the book, but especially Jean-Paul and Matine.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age: Grades K-4th

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book, the pictures are soft and gentle just like the tone of this wonderful story. It tells of a child made of marzipan that her parents made, she makes a great friend, and when she learns of him getting sick she can't help but cry. This story has a great happy ending. Geared towards kids who are in elementary school. The theme is being sweet and kind to others really does pay off. I think the genre would be fairytale and fable.

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet.
good lesson about friendships!

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

French bakers create a little girl out of marzipan and do not tell her that her best friend is ill for fear of having her own tears cause her to melt.