BARBIE® AND TERESA star as best friends whose loyalty is put to the test when the evil muse Lydia tempts them with gems and jewels to reveal the secret of the Diamond Castle! The soon-to-be-classic Barbie™ & the Diamond Castle DVD movie is retold in this beloved Little Golden Book.
I find that the Barbie books are either very good or very bad. Unfortunately this was one that disappointed, and this time both my daughter and I found it lacking and usually she is much more forgiving than I. First, Slider the dragon- like creature is much more viscious and mean looking in the books than in the movie. Lydia is much harsher and even darker. And to be honest trying to do a full length movie in 24 pages is ludicrous. The story is somewhat fragmented and a little disjointed. My daughter and I were both left wanting with this book.
SPOILER ALERT: I knew this would be cheesy–but still! It's loaded with more castles, diamonds, magic mirrors, gowns and crystals than the plot can handle. Also hard to follow because there are two sets of princesses. Even so–I enjoyed the challenge of reading it out loud. And hammed it up generously. With all vocal inflection indicating that dreams really do come true.
Every little girl loves Barbie books! I would use this in my classroom at the reading corner, but not as a read aloud as the boys would be very distracted and not interested. This book would be a good book for children to read and look through quietly. I loved reading it to my little cousin and would give it a 5 out of 5.