Gina Kaminiski Rescues the Giant – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Confident, autistic, modern, original, cake.
Children’s book title: Gina Kaminiski Rescues the Giant.
Children’s author: Craig Barr-Green.
Children’s illustrator: Francis Martin.
Genre: Children’s picture book.
Published by: Little Tiger.
ISBN: 9781801046589.
Recommended for children aged: 3-6 year-olds.
First published: Hardback August 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: reading with children in KS1.
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Our review:
A hilarious, heart-warming story, this book made me smile throughout, and even laugh out loud with such sentences as; ‘Three magic beans for one cow is not a good deal. Everyone knows this.”
One thing that sets this book apart is on every page the main character ‘Gina’ explains their feelings for others with emotional faces from her ‘chart’. This will resonate with so many children. It’s not always easy to get a child to express their feelings, particularly when they are unable to do so in their own words.
This book shows, in the most delightful way, how visual aids can help children accurately communicate how they are feeling, as well as understand how others are feeling.
We begin the story with Gina on a school trip, which she feels is rubbish. Gina struggles to engage, so Anya reads her a story of Gina’s choosing. We learn that Gina is not happy with the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, there are mistakes that she decides to fix…
I won’t plant the beans.
There won’t be a beanstalk. So, the villagers can’t steal special things.
Problem solved…
Or is it?
Our verdict:
Gina Kaminiski Rescues the Giant is a smart delight and the illustrations are beautiful and really bring everything together. As a teacher and educator understanding the importance of visual emotions, it is a book I would read to children and recommend to teachers and parents ensuring that the emotions are highlighted. I would recommend this to all ages in primary schools from EYFS – KS1. Older SEN children would also benefit highly from this book. Outstanding!
Many thanks to Little Tiger for the review copy.
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If you like Gina Kaminiski Rescues the Giant by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin you might also like: our reviews of Mariana and the Merchild by Caroline Pitcher and Jackie Morris, Panda at the Door by Sarah Horne, Move, Mr Mountain! by Francesca Sanna and Peanut, Butter & Crackers: River Rescue by Paige Braddock.
Browse our Year 2 reading list.
