Nine at Carnival

by Errol Lloyd

A young Jamaican girl is without a costume for Carnival until a bigger girl, in the guise of a fairy godmother, makes some deft transformation.

Genres: Picture Books

26 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 1986

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the children are celebrating a carnival here in Lloyd's picturebook. The book's landscape format and long line of celebrants allow us to enjoy and be part of this long line of festival enthusiasts - expect for Nini who has nothing special to wear.
Lloyd shares a wonderful sense of community here as all children help each other get ready. The idea that Nini is helped by a 'fairy godmother' to help dress up and join the celebration was a nice touch, allowing us to pause in between the festivities and watch the parade of children. Lloyd purposefully hides from us the where and when of the festival instead asking us to focus on the innate, kindly nature of children and their joy in making their own music and dancing to their own tune.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nini at Carnival is an uplifting, joyous book. Nini doesn't have a costume for the holiday until her friend - in fairy godmother garb -wraps her in eye-catching cloth. Exuberant dancing children surround both girls, declaring Nini the Queen of Carnival, as they all celebrate together. Nini at Carnival's sparse text allows the happy children to take center stage. Lloyd's style conveys conviviality, sweeping the reader up in the movement and festivities. Readers will close this book smiling.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and rather timeless story that my two little daughters have always loved to hear. They sympathise with young Nini as she feels left out of the carnival celebrations and become totally enchanted when she suddenly gets her chance to join in. We love the very hand painted style of the illustration which makes a change from current more computer based artwork. My two love feeling that they are sharing in the secret at the end of the story. We'd definately recommend this story.