Ella's Umbrellas

by Jennifer Lloyd, Ashley Spires (Illustrator)

Ella has every umbrella under the rainbow: spotted, striped, aquamarine, even jellybean green — so many that they fill up the entire house. Aunt Stella from Katmandu is coming to visit and Ella’s mom demands Ella get rid of her umbrellas. But Ella wants to keep her precious possessions. Will she realize that opening up one’s heart during a downpour is more important — and more gratifying — than opening up an umbrella? Brought to life through rhythmic text and watercolor illustrations, Ella's Umbrellas is the perfect book to cheer up anyone on a rainy day.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this featured at Borders and decided to get it from the library. Glad I didn't buy it! The cover is so cute, but the story just kind of fell flat for me. It starts out with some very fun poetry, then lapses into prose (I am so annoyed when kid's books aren't consistent!) Also, the "message" seems so blatant. Ella must give up all of the umbrellas in her collection to those more needy--it's hard, but she does it and, in the end, something good comes to her. Also, I was annoyed at a few minor details--like the postcard the mailman delivers to Ella. It says only "To Ella" in the address section. Come on! I know it's a kid's book, but why dummy down like that? Give kids a chance to see what real mail looks like and write a fake address in there. Anyway, overall it's not a bad book, just not a really good one. I'd probably only recommend it to those who really love umbrellas as there are lots of fun illustrations of various kinds of umbrellas.

[Anny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3 children (ages 6, 4, and 18 months) love this book. It is so sweet and beautifully illustrated.

As a parent, I love the story for what it teaches my children about helping others.

A total delight!

[Hag of the Dribble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a fondness for pretty umbrellas so I think I liked the illustrations most of all! Perhaps that made me look past the inconsistent rhyming. It started out great and then the rhymes just fell away. The story is very one dimensional and the message is very obvious - but a fun read nonetheless.

[Mala Ashok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about giving and receiving. Ella loves umbrellas so everyone gives her umbrellas as gifts. She keeps them all over her house till it is time to clean up and make room for Aunt Stella. Ella gives all of them away during rains even her special blue one. This makes her sad till aunt Stella gives her a ...

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella loves her umbrellas but she has so many there is no place for her Aunt Stella to sleep when she arrives for a visit. Ella has to figure out a way to fix that problem. Sweet story, lovely illustrations.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and my 2nd graders loved it. I love the illustrator!

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves umbrellas, too. She is most creative and finds all sorts of ways to use her umbrella. She wants a canopy over her bed so I laughed heartily when I came into her room one night to make sure she was snug in her covers and spied her wee head underneath her umbrella canopy.

Cute story.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute. Especially if you have someone in your life named Ella!! :) I do wish the author would have made up her mind whether or not she wanted things to rhyme or not. It's so close to being consistent it's annoying. The storyline (and namesake) makes up for it though! Plus I love that Aunt Stella is from Kathmandu!

[Boni · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has a sort-of silly premise (and a slightly predictable ending), but the writing and illustrations are simply charming.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun children's book.