The Tale of Charlotte & Christien The Curious Deer: Gemini

The Zodiac Tales #3

by Charis Papalas, Ana Joldes (Editor), Mousam Banerjee (Illustrator)

A charming twin adventure that celebrates curiosity, friendship, and the joy of learning — perfect for ages 4–8.

Charlotte and Christien are twin deer who do everything together—but they’re far from identical. One is thoughtful and dreamy, the other bold and bursting with questions. Together, they explore the forest, meet new animals, and uncover the magic of seeing the world from different perspectives.

This Gemini-inspired story captures the spirit of discovery, duality, and deep connection. With lyrical language and enchanting illustrations, it gently shows children the beauty of curiosity, communication, and embracing different sides of themselves.

This delightful tale explores:

• Gemini traits: inquisitiveness, adaptability, and twin-like duality

• The value of asking questions and expressing ideas

• Sibling dynamics and learning through play

Whether your child is a chatterbox, a thinker, or a blend of both, this story will spark their imagination and remind them that wonder is a gift worth sharing.

Perfect for:

• Gemini children (May 21 – June 20)

• Families with twins or siblings

• Encouraging thoughtful conversations and big questions

Let Charlotte and Christien take your child on a woodland journey full of laughter, learning, and light.

39 pages, Paperback

Published June 24, 2022

Reviews

[Kaidence Rayne B-H]

This was SO cute!! I can’t wait for the rest to come out! I want to get them all

[J]

I honestly mistook this for another child's deer book and upon finding it wasn't the same I chose to read it just to get it out of the TBR.

The Tale of Charlotte & Christien is a story that focuses on a chosen set of Gemini twins who are set apart from the rest of the herd - not only because of their zodiac associations but also since of their Gemini traits that allow them to bypass even their elders, which is a bit disrespectful.

Anyway the story continues to mention they, along with the rest of the herd, feel a calling to proceed even further into the forests but it is only the young Geminis who heed the call.

At this point the tale is a bit vague as it mentions the fawns are 6 (months, years?) when they set off. There is no true adventure nor explanation as to what they find, which is compounded by the fact I think the author meant a waterfall instead of a cave. At the same time the plot behind the discovery should have been expanded including why no one tried to leave but instead waited for these two fawns on either side.

The illustrations are basically digital and showcase a collection of roe deer with human expressions while from the start Christien has spike antlers, which normally means he's older than he is or maybe it's a Gemini thing.

And finally the book ends on the same spot as it started with a portrayal of the Gemini constellation. Added to this second portrayal is a listing of Gemini's trait for a quick overview.

All in all it was cute and a decent idea of a good story origin for those who are into the zodiac signs.

[Angie]

This is a really neat picture book about the zodiac sign Gemini, and is the third instalment of the Zodiac Tales series. It tells the story of two fawns named Charlotte and Christien who were the first gemini twins to enter the world. The story brings in some elements of greek mythology as well as the ideas related to the zodiacs while telling a fun story for kids about the forest, nature and life. It also explores symbols and constellations and how they relate to the zodiac signs. As a grade 3 teacher (and a lover of astrology) I would definitely choose this book for my classroom library. It is a fun story that can also teach about a belief system and Greek culture and history. I would recommend this book to teachers and families of children in the 5-10 age range. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book! I also look forward to checking out the future books in this series soon!

[Susan]

Charlotte and Christien are twins. They learn from their grandparents of a wonderful hidden forest for deer called Compiegne known to hold the secrets of their origin. The twins decide to find this mysterious hidden forest. When the other deer find out what the twins intend to do, they tell the twins not to do it. It is too dangerous. It doesn’t change Charlotte and Christine’s minds. They are on their journey. Will they find Compiegne? Will they discover that it is only a myth?

The author has written a story that is the third zodiac tale of his series. The artwork is beautiful. The story is amazing. It exceeded my expectations.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Donna Maguire]

This is book 3 of the Zodiac Tales but it can be read as a stand alone as the stories are not linked. I thought that this was such a great story to read! The story was well written and it was easy to read and understand. Charlotte & Christien The Curious Deer are twins Gemini's who follow their curiosity and trust their instincts to go exploring and they make a wonderful discovery. The illustrations in the book were wonderful and they really made the book come to life. It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

[Daniel Roberts]

Such a sweet and imaginative story! Charlotte and Christien are instantly lovable characters, and their sense of curiosity and adventure is contagious. The illustrations are beautiful and really brought the forest to life. I loved how the story encourages kids to explore, ask questions, and appreciate their unique strengths. It’s quickly become a favorite at bedtime in our house—highly recommended for little animal lovers and anyone who enjoys gentle, thoughtful stories.

[Kayla Solbach]

Very cute story with beautiful pictures. My daughter really enjoyed reading it and wanted more in the series.