Where Giants Hide

by Mij Kelly, Ross Collins (Illustrator)

A young girl has lost all the enchantment in the world, and goes on a journey to reclaim the fairies, mermaids, giants, and other mythical creatures she used to believe in.

Genres: Picture Books, Magic, Storytime, Animals, Humor, Childrens, Travel

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

What could be more beautiful than the laughter of children? That's why I write. You can find out more about me and my books, and read essays for children - and adults - on imagination and the craft of writing at my website.

For notifications, give-aways and competitions, like "Mij Kelly's children's books" on Facebook.

Look out for The Bump, which will be published on 6th October. I wrote it when my daughter was expecting my first grandchild - now four years old and starting school! I was so aware, when I was writing it, of what a journey pregnancy is, and how women throw their all into it to help their babies grow. It seemed to me that the boundless love and hope and courage of the mum-to-be wasn't very often celebrated. So that's what I set out to do. But I've got to say, words aside, Nicholas Allan's illustrations make this book. They're so soft and sweet and funny. He hits just the right note.

Reviews

[Nancy Jo Lambert]

In this book, a young girl has lost the "enchantment" from her life and her world. She goes searching for all the magic that used to be there, but has gone. Throughout the story, the magical creatures that make up her "enchantment" are still there, she just can't see them. It is only after she realizes that she can dream her own magic and make her own dreams come true, that the "enchantment" returns.

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The premise is very creative, and the illustrations are good. I just felt that the writing was too ambiguous for young kids to inference all that the book implies.

[Tricia]

It's not often that a book is so "out there" that my 4-year-old and I turn to each other at the end and say "what the?" That was our reaction to a girl's offbeat, bolder than life journey through magical things.

[Christine Turner]

A young girl has lost all the enchantment in the world, and goes on a journey to reclaim the fairies, mermaids, giants, and other mythical creatures she used to believe in.
www.hcpl.net

Great illustrations. Would work well for storytime.

[Heather Richard]

I love the idea, but the ending was so sad that I really couldn't cheer up - the resolution was too chort in comparison to the rest of the book.

[Gabby]

I love the idea that the girl thinks all the magical things have disappeared but she’s just looking the other way, I think this is a great life lesson. I also loved how she started understanding that when you dream you build your own enchantment. Such a lovely book with fantastic illustrations and talking points.

[Daisy Wildman]

this brilliant book depicts a young girl complaining about how there is no magic and how fairy-tale creatures aren't real all the while all the creatures she mentions are following her.

[Jordan Krasniewicz]

"Where Giants Hide" by Kij Kelly is a book about a little girl who is searching for where giants live. The book talks about how the little girl is not sure if the place where giants live are real, because if it was, she would have seen it. Along the way she begins to question all fairytales, if mermaids have turned into fish, or why frogs do not turn into princes when she kisses them. The little girl searches to see if fairytales and the stories from her imagination are true.
The theme of this book is even if fairytales are not real, they are still a fun way to create stories in our own minds.
I thought this book was a great story for children who are starting to realize that the fairytales they grew up with are not real. It questions most of the basic fairytale stories, but emphasizes that even if they are not true, they can still be true in our own imagination, which is a sweet message to carry onto older children. I liked that this book could be read to both older and younger children as well, depending on their maturity.
I would recommend this book to classrooms that have children who are starting to question fairytales and are lacking the use of their imaginations. This book inspires kids to restart that fairytale world they once had in their own minds, and create that spark of imagination that some children can lose as they begin to get into upper elementary school.

[Kelsey]

Where Giants Hide, written by Mij Kelly and illustrated by Ross Collins, surrounds a young girl who's lost sight of the magic and enchantment in her life. She searches so far and wide for signs of magic in the world that she fails to notice the magic taking place directly behind her. All the magical creatures that the girl lost faith in, mermaids, giants, goblins, unicorns, dragons, and genies, engulf the page in all their fire breathing, death defying, broomstick riding glory. At the end of the book, the girl realizes that the magic is within her - her imagination.

A major theme in this novel is the process of growing up and realizing the difference between fact and fantasy.

When I read Where Giants Hide, I felt myself realizing the power of MY imagination. It stresses the importance of keeping your inner child-like imagination alive, no matter how old you get. It also encourages children to be aware of their surroundings, as they never know who or what might be lurking in their path.

I recommend this book to anyone. In fact, I encourage one to read it repeatedly from childhood into adulthood because the truth of the content never disappears. Where Giants Hide embarks on a great journey and provides many lessons about growing up and coming to terms with fact over fantasy. However, it doesn't discourage magic, but rather reminds readers of the power of fantasy within the imagination!

[Amanda]

Do you believe in fantasy creatures? Have you ever seen a giant? Have you ever flown on a broomstick? What about having a wish granted by a fairy? No? Have you ever kissed a frog and had it turn into a prince? The doubtful girl in this picturebook has also never seen these things, but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't true, right? While she recounts her doubts of fantasy creatures, magic and fairytale occurances, the accompanying illustration proves her wrong. As she disbelieves that pixies exast, they are cleaning her dishes. Finally, she finds where giants hide. The whimsical illustrations are full of vibrant red and sea foam blues that give it great zip. The pictures are the perfect complement to the tale of magic, fantasy, and the power of belief.

[Dolly]

This is a story about a child's disbelief in magic and mythical creatures. She seems so sad to come to the realization that those things don't exist, while in the story, they are all around her and she's just not seeing them. The rhyming narrative and bold, colorful illustrations are wonderful. And the oblivion that the girl lives in is funny, as the magic is everywhere. This book is a great one to read with that wise youngster who establishes that they are too old to believe in magic, fairies, and the like. The end of the story, when the little girl realizes that "I can dream it alive" makes for a very satisfying ending.

[Susan]

Awwww. This made me think of my teenager. When she was about 10, she asked me if fairies were real. I said, "Why do you ask?" and she said, "I really want to believe in fairies and Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, but I just don't see that kind of magic in the world around me". So sad. I think kids in upper el would appreciate this picture books, but not younger kids, especially if they still believe in magic.

[Shelby Usrey]

"There is magic all around you if you look hard enough." In this book it talks about a girl who starts looking hope in fairy tales because her imagination is fading but near the end she realizes she can dream about anything! It's a great story to read I children to help them remember to never lose their imagination! The illustrations go perfectly with the storyline! I wasn't expecting this book to be like this but it turned out to be better than I thought!

[Guen]

Be careful! If your child still believes in magic you may not want to read this one to them. It implies that magic only exists in our imaginations and dreams. If your child is a skeptic and you want some help stretching their imagination muscle then my all means, read away.

[Christine Turner]

young girl has lost all the enchantment in the world, and goes on a journey to reclaim the fairies, mermaids, giants, and other mythical creatures she used to believe in. www.hcpl.net

[Anne Beier]

A young girl wants to find the magic of life in her world. She searches to find believing in herself and following her dreams is where it is.

[Deborah]

Lively rhyming text about magic and imagination.

[Autumn]

An adorable, story about a girl who's lost faith in magic and fantasy until she realizes it's always in her power to believe.

[Danielle]

A great nod to imagination.

[Megan]

This is a really, really cute book. #ImaginationWin

[Tina]

A book for people who want to teach their children that magic doesn't exist except for inside your head.

[Sarah Threlkeld]

Cute rhyming story about a girl who is oblivious to all the magical things around her, despite the fact that they are practically in her face.

[Kirsty Cabot]

First read to Ivy 16/11/16

Love this, when you think there's no more magic left in the world, there's only one last place to look.

[Amanda]

Simple and sweet story about imagination and dreaming. Nice rhyme and flow.