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The Goat-Faced Girl: A Classic Italian Folktale
Like many good fables, this story opens with a found-ling left rather inconveniently, if not surprisingly in the woods. A large lizard, ever conscious of tripping hazards, picks up the infant and takes her home, where she soon grows into a pretty, pampered, and generally useless young woman named Isabella. Despite her adoptive mother's efforts (for the lizard is really a witch in disguise) to shape her up, the girl prefers the alluring life offered her by the charming Prince Rupert, a world of cooks and servants, palaces and jewels, luxury and indolence. Luckily, the lizard woman is a canny, concerned parent. She does not suffer fools lightly and is not about to let her daughter's too-easy transition to palace life go unchallenged. And so she arranges a surprise transformation for her daughter one that puts the prince's marital plans on hold and gives the witch just enough time to hammer home a few lessons about the downside of idleness, the inanity of vanity, and the satisfactions of self-reliance. In this witty, modern interpretation of a classic Italian folktale, Leah Marinsky Sharpe has crafted a light-hearted mother-daughter fable with a moral that is sure to strike a chord with readers of all ages. The illustrations by Jane Marinsky glow with rich color and playful humor. Together, words and pictures provide a zesty treat for parents and children alike.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 12, 2025
Loooove this classic
March 9, 2010
Author: Leah Sharpe
Title: The Goat-faced girl
Publisher: David R. Godine
Edition: Trade
13 digit ISBN: 978-1-56792-393-3
Price: $16.95
Number of pages: 32
K - 5
**** (4 stars)
Using modern language and a comical tone, Leah Marinsky Sharpe retells an old Italian folktale about laziness. After saving an abandoned baby that no one knew what to do with in fairy tale land (she is “even too young to interest the witch in the gingerbread house”) the lizard-lady realizes she has raised a smart, beautiful, but very lazy daughter. When the lizard-lady offers to teach her daughter, Isabella, her sorcery, the daughter just bats her eyelashes and answers “But dear mother, you will always be here if I need magical help, won’t you?” Needless to say, this mother cannot let do-nothingness ruin her daughter’s life. When Isabella decides to marry an equally idle prince, the lizard-lady makes the daughter appear to have the head of a goat that only others can see. This she hopes will finally teach Isabella the value of learning to do things for herself. When Prince Rupert sees the goat-headed Isabella he can not imagine marrying her. He quickly comes up with a task for her to do before the marriage can take place, hoping this would discourage anyone as lazy as Isabella. He even tells her “But, uh, if you don’t want to you can always give up and go away, er, home.” At first Isabella thinks the lizard-lady will come to her rescue, but that is not happening. This already intriguing story comes alive in Jan Marinsky’s bold, full-page illustrations, reminiscent of Italian frescos. Painting lush and colorful scenes, using bright reds, blues, and yellows, Marinsky successfully depicts Isabella first as the lazy daughter, and then as the goat-headed girl determined to succeed at the tasks given out by the prince. (“She figured this was the standard ordeal all girls in these parts were put through before they could marry princes.”) An especially delightful scene is Isabella pondering her prince’s strange behavior as she strokes her goat’s beard. This first-time author/ illustrator team have produced a story that will satisfy any reader.
Beth Trumper
Title: The Goat-faced girl
Publisher: David R. Godine
Edition: Trade
13 digit ISBN: 978-1-56792-393-3
Price: $16.95
Number of pages: 32
K - 5
**** (4 stars)
Using modern language and a comical tone, Leah Marinsky Sharpe retells an old Italian folktale about laziness. After saving an abandoned baby that no one knew what to do with in fairy tale land (she is “even too young to interest the witch in the gingerbread house”) the lizard-lady realizes she has raised a smart, beautiful, but very lazy daughter. When the lizard-lady offers to teach her daughter, Isabella, her sorcery, the daughter just bats her eyelashes and answers “But dear mother, you will always be here if I need magical help, won’t you?” Needless to say, this mother cannot let do-nothingness ruin her daughter’s life. When Isabella decides to marry an equally idle prince, the lizard-lady makes the daughter appear to have the head of a goat that only others can see. This she hopes will finally teach Isabella the value of learning to do things for herself. When Prince Rupert sees the goat-headed Isabella he can not imagine marrying her. He quickly comes up with a task for her to do before the marriage can take place, hoping this would discourage anyone as lazy as Isabella. He even tells her “But, uh, if you don’t want to you can always give up and go away, er, home.” At first Isabella thinks the lizard-lady will come to her rescue, but that is not happening. This already intriguing story comes alive in Jan Marinsky’s bold, full-page illustrations, reminiscent of Italian frescos. Painting lush and colorful scenes, using bright reds, blues, and yellows, Marinsky successfully depicts Isabella first as the lazy daughter, and then as the goat-headed girl determined to succeed at the tasks given out by the prince. (“She figured this was the standard ordeal all girls in these parts were put through before they could marry princes.”) An especially delightful scene is Isabella pondering her prince’s strange behavior as she strokes her goat’s beard. This first-time author/ illustrator team have produced a story that will satisfy any reader.
Beth Trumper
March 5, 2010
The classic Italian folktale (no sources given)about a lazy young woman who has the good luck to be adopted by a very smart witch has an updated, tongue-in-cheek feel, with such details as illustrated cookbooks and chocolate-frosted cupcakes, but the language manages to keep the somewhat formal flavor of old-fashioned fairytales. The just-right ending will please lovers of fairy tales with spunky heroines.
March 3, 2020
When a young baby is abandoned in a forest, none of the inhabitants are sure of what to do. If she had been old enough for quests, or knew how to speak to animals, that might have been a different matter. Finally, a sorceress disguised as a lizard adopts the infant, raising her as her own daughter. But though Isabella grows up to be very beautiful, she is also lazy, and when an equally lazy prince happens by and falls in love with her, the lizard-sorceress fears she will never learn how to do things for herself. Casting a spell that will change her daughter physically, the sorceress hopes that a deeper transformation can also be effected...
Although Leah Marinsky Sharpe does not give any attribution for this tale, save for the sub-title of "A Classic Italian Folktale," it is clear that is based upon the tale of Renzolla, also recorded by the great Giambattista Basile in his marvelous Pentamerone . Basile happens to be the collector of my all-time favorite Rapunzel variant, Petrosinella , so I was curious to see how another of his tales would fare in modern adaptation.
Sharpe's The Goat-Faced Girl is a "modern interpretation" of the tale, or so the dust-jacket flap informs us, and her narrative omits some of the more disturbing elements of the original - rather than having the heroine bought by the lizard-sorceress, she is abandoned and then adopted - and substitutes laziness for ingratitude, in its depiction of the heroine's shortcomings. It also creates an alternative ending in which goat-face does not marry the prince. Despite (or because of) these changes, the tale reads well, and will satisfy fairy-tale lovers. The illustrations by Jane Marinsky are also quite appealing - full of motion and color. All in all, a lovely little book for fairy-tale readers.
Although Leah Marinsky Sharpe does not give any attribution for this tale, save for the sub-title of "A Classic Italian Folktale," it is clear that is based upon the tale of Renzolla, also recorded by the great Giambattista Basile in his marvelous Pentamerone . Basile happens to be the collector of my all-time favorite Rapunzel variant, Petrosinella , so I was curious to see how another of his tales would fare in modern adaptation.
Sharpe's The Goat-Faced Girl is a "modern interpretation" of the tale, or so the dust-jacket flap informs us, and her narrative omits some of the more disturbing elements of the original - rather than having the heroine bought by the lizard-sorceress, she is abandoned and then adopted - and substitutes laziness for ingratitude, in its depiction of the heroine's shortcomings. It also creates an alternative ending in which goat-face does not marry the prince. Despite (or because of) these changes, the tale reads well, and will satisfy fairy-tale lovers. The illustrations by Jane Marinsky are also quite appealing - full of motion and color. All in all, a lovely little book for fairy-tale readers.
January 14, 2019
Not sure I like much the premise that it's necessary to "punish" the girl with pretend monstrousity to teach her a lesson on how to be a proper girl; otherwise the story is interesting though preachy and not really memorable.
August 3, 2010
AWESOME for read aloud, great illustrations, and a smart, funny retelling of a folktale.
September 30, 2026
The Goat-Faced Girl is a picture book written by Leah Marinsky Sharpe and illustrated by her mother, Jane Marinsky (2009).
Isabella is a young woman who's lovely but lazy. Prince Rupert proposes to her, adding that he too loves to be served. Isabella's mother, the sorceress known as the lizard lady, is horrified: "If she marries him, she will never stop being lazy! She will never learn to do anything for herself!"
So the sorceress casts a spell turning Isabella's head into a goat's head (and preventing her from realizing it). Shallow Rupert is repulsed, so he pretends that Isabella must pass a series of tests: grow turnips, prepare a feast, and make her own ball gown. Isabella contacts her mother asking for help, but all she receives is the ingredients and tools to DIY. So Isabella rises to the challenge, putting in the hard work and gradually gaining skills.
The sorceress, seeing that her daughter has overcome her laziness, undoes the spell. Rupert is pleased: "You're beautiful again, so now we can be married." But Isabella is horrified: "You only care about how I look? Not who I am?"
She sends the prince packing and asks her mom to teach her to be a sorceress. The last page shows Rupert on a throne but with a bird's head.
The Goat-Faced Girl is subtitled A Classic Italian Folktale, but that's a misnomer. Only a few elements remain from the original tale (summarized here). But I'm not complaining – the picture book is much better than its source!
When Meghan Cox Gurdon retired from the Wall Street Journal in 2024 from being their children's book reviewer, she made a list of the best children's books of the previous 20 years. On this list, she calls The Goat-Faced Girl one of the best fables of the past 20 years. I thank her for the recommendation.
Isabella is a young woman who's lovely but lazy. Prince Rupert proposes to her, adding that he too loves to be served. Isabella's mother, the sorceress known as the lizard lady, is horrified: "If she marries him, she will never stop being lazy! She will never learn to do anything for herself!"
So the sorceress casts a spell turning Isabella's head into a goat's head (and preventing her from realizing it). Shallow Rupert is repulsed, so he pretends that Isabella must pass a series of tests: grow turnips, prepare a feast, and make her own ball gown. Isabella contacts her mother asking for help, but all she receives is the ingredients and tools to DIY. So Isabella rises to the challenge, putting in the hard work and gradually gaining skills.
The sorceress, seeing that her daughter has overcome her laziness, undoes the spell. Rupert is pleased: "You're beautiful again, so now we can be married." But Isabella is horrified: "You only care about how I look? Not who I am?"
She sends the prince packing and asks her mom to teach her to be a sorceress. The last page shows Rupert on a throne but with a bird's head.
The Goat-Faced Girl is subtitled A Classic Italian Folktale, but that's a misnomer. Only a few elements remain from the original tale (summarized here). But I'm not complaining – the picture book is much better than its source!
When Meghan Cox Gurdon retired from the Wall Street Journal in 2024 from being their children's book reviewer, she made a list of the best children's books of the previous 20 years. On this list, she calls The Goat-Faced Girl one of the best fables of the past 20 years. I thank her for the recommendation.
July 24, 2017
Genre: Picture Book of a classic folktale
Copyright: 2009
Age level of interest: 6-9 years old
Reading level: 1st - 4th grade
Brief Description:
A traditional Italian fable with richly colored paintings tells the story of a lazy girl who meets a lazy prince. Through her three trials to win the prince she discovers her own empowerement and a desire to not be judged by beauty alone.
Two Characteristics:
Theme and Style: The messages around laziness, female passivity and appearance is a modern twist in princess stories. The writing and the paintings feel classic which makes the moral feel ageless instead of contemporary.
Characters: The main character, Isabella, is introduced to the reader as a bright eyed baby left in the woods. She grows into a beautiful but slothful young woman depicted several times reclining on a red velvet couch. Her adoptive mother is a witch and curses her with the head of a goat that only others can see. Her prince is horrified and the royal court is shown jeering and laughing at Isabella. As a reader, we might not identify with the characters, but we certainly cheer for Isabella as she "wakes up" to find that she is capable and worthy in her own right.
Serving it's audience:
It would be great to have this feminist tale on the shelf with other princess stories. Although it might not immediately appeal to 6-9 year old readers looking for Disney princesses, the larger than life paintings of lizards and goat heads will definately appeal to others.
Awards:
None found.
Review:
November 1, 2009
Copyright: 2009
Age level of interest: 6-9 years old
Reading level: 1st - 4th grade
Brief Description:
A traditional Italian fable with richly colored paintings tells the story of a lazy girl who meets a lazy prince. Through her three trials to win the prince she discovers her own empowerement and a desire to not be judged by beauty alone.
Two Characteristics:
Theme and Style: The messages around laziness, female passivity and appearance is a modern twist in princess stories. The writing and the paintings feel classic which makes the moral feel ageless instead of contemporary.
Characters: The main character, Isabella, is introduced to the reader as a bright eyed baby left in the woods. She grows into a beautiful but slothful young woman depicted several times reclining on a red velvet couch. Her adoptive mother is a witch and curses her with the head of a goat that only others can see. Her prince is horrified and the royal court is shown jeering and laughing at Isabella. As a reader, we might not identify with the characters, but we certainly cheer for Isabella as she "wakes up" to find that she is capable and worthy in her own right.
Serving it's audience:
It would be great to have this feminist tale on the shelf with other princess stories. Although it might not immediately appeal to 6-9 year old readers looking for Disney princesses, the larger than life paintings of lizards and goat heads will definately appeal to others.
Awards:
None found.
Review:
November 1, 2009
June 16, 2024
This is one weird little story, a variation on a classic Italian folktale. Even one good look at the cover will show immediately you how strange this story is.
Characters include a witch. Only she's a nice witch. And so it's fine for her to play tricks on Isabella, the heroine of this tall tale.
The witch is also a lizard, have I mentioned?
And it's okay for the witch to "play tricks" on Isabella, because ultimately the witch is trying to help Isabella.
Yes, this is one tall tale. With one wicked plot twist on the final page.
FIVE STARS for the inventiveness, and for the beautiful illustrations, but not because I personally found this story the least bit relatable or appealing.
Characters include a witch. Only she's a nice witch. And so it's fine for her to play tricks on Isabella, the heroine of this tall tale.
The witch is also a lizard, have I mentioned?
And it's okay for the witch to "play tricks" on Isabella, because ultimately the witch is trying to help Isabella.
Yes, this is one tall tale. With one wicked plot twist on the final page.
FIVE STARS for the inventiveness, and for the beautiful illustrations, but not because I personally found this story the least bit relatable or appealing.
October 3, 2017
When a beautiful but lazy woman marries an equally lazy prince, the sorceress gives the girl a goat face. The moral of the story and the reason behind the goat face is that you need to learn to do things on your own. Life is not always going to be handed to you and there isn't always going to be somewhere there to do everything for you. Children will find this story humorous, but will also learn the importance of being independent and doing things on your own.
November 12, 2020
Published in 2009
Not my favorite folktale however I did enjoy observing Isabelle's experiences and laziness as she, a queen, experienced and continues to act such away with a face resembling a goat. It was interesting that her mother, A witch demanded to have her and tried to raise her without corruption.
I would use this story within my classroom as a read-aloud and guiding questions for critically thinking. It's a fun, light different read and teaches about seld-resilience.
Not my favorite folktale however I did enjoy observing Isabelle's experiences and laziness as she, a queen, experienced and continues to act such away with a face resembling a goat. It was interesting that her mother, A witch demanded to have her and tried to raise her without corruption.
I would use this story within my classroom as a read-aloud and guiding questions for critically thinking. It's a fun, light different read and teaches about seld-resilience.
February 10, 2018
Loved this story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
A Retelling of a Classic Italian Fairy Tale that teaches beauty isn't meant to be the only important thing when me meet other people.
March 28, 2022
Read for my Storytelling class.
Read
June 8, 2022Me
October 2, 2009
"Rich storytelling and intricately imagined artwork make this debut a standout. Marinsky's paintings, in the chalky, sun-bleached colors of the Italian renaissance, contain many small pleasures: the woods and flowers of medieval tapestries, the goat-headed princess licking cupcake batter off her goat nose, and a portrait of the shallow prince's just fate. A must for anyone who would rather be a sorceress than a princess."
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Sharpe has made changes in theme (that goat's head was originally punishment for being ungrateful) and language, but this version, the story's first separate appearance in this country, will make a popular gift from parents and caregivers afflicted with similarly slothful younglings."
— Kirkus
"The cast of characters in this reinterpretation of an Italian folktale includes a lizard and witch, deserted baby, and a lovely, lazy girl troubled by a bout of goathead-itis. Not to mention a finicky prince who is shocked to discover a faun-like face on his girlfriend's body. The story is rich with subtle reminders to be self-reliant, productive, authentic, and watchful of the motivations of others. Marinsky's rich, renaissance-inspired artwork captures just the right imagery."
— Foreword Magazine
""The Goat-Faced Girl," a witty and richly illustrated retelling of an old Italian tale that will probably be new to most young American readers. Children ages 5-10 will relish Jane Marinsky's colorful, naïve-style paintings of Isabella learning to persevere, especially the image of her determinedly stirring a bowl of batter, unaware of the dab of chocolate on her goaty nose."
– The Wall Street Journal
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Sharpe has made changes in theme (that goat's head was originally punishment for being ungrateful) and language, but this version, the story's first separate appearance in this country, will make a popular gift from parents and caregivers afflicted with similarly slothful younglings."
— Kirkus
"The cast of characters in this reinterpretation of an Italian folktale includes a lizard and witch, deserted baby, and a lovely, lazy girl troubled by a bout of goathead-itis. Not to mention a finicky prince who is shocked to discover a faun-like face on his girlfriend's body. The story is rich with subtle reminders to be self-reliant, productive, authentic, and watchful of the motivations of others. Marinsky's rich, renaissance-inspired artwork captures just the right imagery."
— Foreword Magazine
""The Goat-Faced Girl," a witty and richly illustrated retelling of an old Italian tale that will probably be new to most young American readers. Children ages 5-10 will relish Jane Marinsky's colorful, naïve-style paintings of Isabella learning to persevere, especially the image of her determinedly stirring a bowl of batter, unaware of the dab of chocolate on her goaty nose."
– The Wall Street Journal
April 7, 2016
1) No awards received.
2) Appropriate for 2nd through 4th grade.
3) Isabella was abandoned as a baby and was found in the forest to fend for herself. Luckily a sorcerers found Isabella and raised her as her own. She is beautiful and smart but extremely lazy. A Prince one day stumbles to their home in request for food and water. The Prince himself is just as lazy as Isabella. Both agree their the perfect match and are off to be wed. Isabella's mother does not want her daughter to be lazy forever, so she puts a spell on her daughter to change her appearance as goat. The Prince is disguised and throws her in a cottage by herself. Isabella confused, asks why and the Prince decides to give her 3 tasks; hoping she'll give up and leave. Going through all the tasks Isabella learns to be responsible for herself and learns a valuable lesson about self-responsibility. In the end her mother removes the spell and the Prince immediately what's to marry her but with a twist to the ending when Isabella learns he only loves her because of her outer appearance.
4) The story teaches a valuable lesson to care for yourself and be responsible. Aside from responsibility, the story shows the importance of the inner personality in people and never to judge a book by its cover.
5)
- Children can create their own animal face.
- Think-Pair-Share
- Incorporate themes into the lesson with the story
- Think and share a different ending. If you were the author what would your ending be?
2) Appropriate for 2nd through 4th grade.
3) Isabella was abandoned as a baby and was found in the forest to fend for herself. Luckily a sorcerers found Isabella and raised her as her own. She is beautiful and smart but extremely lazy. A Prince one day stumbles to their home in request for food and water. The Prince himself is just as lazy as Isabella. Both agree their the perfect match and are off to be wed. Isabella's mother does not want her daughter to be lazy forever, so she puts a spell on her daughter to change her appearance as goat. The Prince is disguised and throws her in a cottage by herself. Isabella confused, asks why and the Prince decides to give her 3 tasks; hoping she'll give up and leave. Going through all the tasks Isabella learns to be responsible for herself and learns a valuable lesson about self-responsibility. In the end her mother removes the spell and the Prince immediately what's to marry her but with a twist to the ending when Isabella learns he only loves her because of her outer appearance.
4) The story teaches a valuable lesson to care for yourself and be responsible. Aside from responsibility, the story shows the importance of the inner personality in people and never to judge a book by its cover.
5)
- Children can create their own animal face.
- Think-Pair-Share
- Incorporate themes into the lesson with the story
- Think and share a different ending. If you were the author what would your ending be?
June 5, 2016
Initially, I immediately thought of Beauty and the Beast when reading this Italian folktale. The tale begins with a father who meets a serpent who says he needs to give her his youngest child or he will have misfortune. He does, and the little girl is then raised by a fairy who gives her everything she could ever want or dream. Once she is grown up, she runs into the king who immediately falls in love with her beauty and asks for her hand in marriage. The fairy allows the marriage and gives them money to start off their marriage. The girl is completely ungrateful for what the fairy has done for her, and unbeknownst to her, she turns her face into that of a goat. The king then treats her differently because she no longer has her beauty. She is confused as to why the king is being so awful to her until a man shows her a mirror and she sees her goat face. She then goes to the fairy and begs for forgiveness and she turns her back into the beautiful woman she once was. This book is a critique on beauty and how vein/arrogant our society can be. It teaches us to be humble about our looks and material belongings. I loved the message of this fairy tale, and I feel like it would be a great one to teach to children.
October 31, 2013
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: None
Grade Level: 3-4
How to Use In Classroom:
This traditional tale tells a story about Isabella and how her laziness at times got the best of her, this she learned the hard way. In grades 3rd and 4th, students are beginning to test academic boundaries. If an assignment is boring, they don't want to do it. If it takes too long, they want to forget about it and avoid it at all costs. In this story, it is shown that Isabella's laziness only ended up making her do more work in the end because she had to make up for all the work she didn't do before. I think this is a great book to read to a 3rd or 4th grade class because it will help instill that thought in their mind that laziness is something to be frowned upon, and will only end up giving you more work in the end.
Awards: None
Grade Level: 3-4
How to Use In Classroom:
This traditional tale tells a story about Isabella and how her laziness at times got the best of her, this she learned the hard way. In grades 3rd and 4th, students are beginning to test academic boundaries. If an assignment is boring, they don't want to do it. If it takes too long, they want to forget about it and avoid it at all costs. In this story, it is shown that Isabella's laziness only ended up making her do more work in the end because she had to make up for all the work she didn't do before. I think this is a great book to read to a 3rd or 4th grade class because it will help instill that thought in their mind that laziness is something to be frowned upon, and will only end up giving you more work in the end.
March 9, 2015
This book was not like any fairytale I have seen or read before. It was an unpredictable story which made it really enjoyable to read. This is an Italian folktale and categorized as a trickster tale. I believe it is a trickster tale because the prince tricks the goat faced girl to do unnecessary tasks in order to become a princess. In reality he didn't want to marry a goat faced girl. You could use this story for learning plot structure. This is more appropriate for 2nd-4th graders. Teaching the children beginning middle and end or with higher level learners, setting, time, theme, climax, resolution etc. Then when you have read aloud to them and talked about plot have them try it on their own. Having them create a silly story and making sure they have those ideas using a story plot guide for each task in the plot structure.
June 8, 2016
This is a beautifully illustrated tale of an orphaned baby who was raised by a sorceress. The baby grew to be a very beautiful but lazy young woman. Her mother believed it was so important to teach her a lesson. Just when the beautiful young woman was to wed an equally lazy prince, the sorceress gave her the head of a goat. The young woman was turned away by the prince because of her looks. The young woman realized that what's inside you and your actions matter more than looks and realizes she must change. She asks her mother to teach her sorcery and changes the "bird-brain" prince into a bird.
The moral of valuing yourself for what you do and how you act instead of what you look like and having others do the same is a powerful one.
The moral of valuing yourself for what you do and how you act instead of what you look like and having others do the same is a powerful one.
October 20, 2015
A very interesting read... and a twist on the "classic beauty" fairytales that many of us grew up with due to Disney. In the book a baby is discovered in the forest and raised by a sorceress in disguise. The baby (our protagonist) is pampered, and has everything handed to her prompting her sorceress adoptive mother to transform her image. The story is interesting, but what kept me reading was the illustrations (surprise, surprise). They are unique and almost look like over dried paint, or chalk.
August 25, 2010
Are you shocked by your child's obsession with princesses? In the tradition of The Paper Bag Princess, a lazy girl learns to do things the hard way, gains some inner beauty and some useful magic along the way. Non preachy feminist tale. Adoptive parents, italian (english) fairy tales, self esteem, you-can-be-more-than-a-princess tale.
December 28, 2011
I don't think anyone can change a lazy person and make them un-lazy for life
But the Lizard-Lady had and idea that worked well and changed the lazy pretty Isabella into active pretty Isabella...but will that help her marry Prince Rupert?...I'm not telling, read for yourself.
it's a good fairytale about how to make a lazy person active but it does not help them in real life :(
But the Lizard-Lady had and idea that worked well and changed the lazy pretty Isabella into active pretty Isabella...but will that help her marry Prince Rupert?...I'm not telling, read for yourself.
it's a good fairytale about how to make a lazy person active but it does not help them in real life :(
February 16, 2012
This book is a treat. It's funny but still feels like a traditional fairy tale, just one with a more modern outlook on life. IThe young woman becomes self-sufficient in the end, partly thanks to books, I should add. She doesn't need the prince, she is capable and imaginative and powerful in her own right.
February 22, 2015
This story is about a girl who is raised by a lizard sorceress, and grows up to be vain and lazy. The mother sorceress gives her a goat head to try and teach her a few life lessons. This story is funny and also teaches great lessons about how looks are not everything and the importance of doing things for yourself. This story has great illustrations and will be enjoyed by young readers.
June 16, 2010
Not only is this a beautiful story - but it is written and illustrated by a mother and daughter team from Buffalo NY. A traditional moral folk-tale. Created a good discussion after reading. We will be buying a copy of this one!
August 12, 2010
An Italian folktale about a lazy girl whose sorceress mother turns her beautiful head into a goat head to teach her a lesson about hard work. This is a very funny and clever folktale with some good lessons.
July 22, 2014
What a wonderful find! This will definitely be shared with my students as we read European folk tales. I had not heard this tale before, so it likely will be new for them, too, which means the surprise at the end will be fun to read aloud.
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October 10, 2016This is a book about a young girl who is beautiful but very lazy. Her mother then gives her the head of a goat when she accepts the engagement of a very lazy prince. She then learns how to work herself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews