Children's Book- The Rainbow Goblins

The Rainbow Goblins By Ul De Rico

I was first introduced to this book back in Jr High when I was dancing at The Children's Dance Theatre at the U of U.  My dance teacher gathered us all around her and read this book to us as the pianoist played a beautiful melody to emphasize the points in the book.  Afterwards, we were all assigned a color and we Danced the book.  After, this class, this book became so very magical.  It started a lifelong love of this book.  I can still remember the way my body moved and stretched to the melodies and the satisfaction I felt afterwards. 

It is not just the memories or the story that totally engrossed me in this book,  It is the Illustrations.  Every page is a individual painting in bold bright colors and intricate detail.  It is almost Renaissance in style but with a lot more bright colors.  They are all oil paintings done on oak panels shrunk to a third of their size.  They are simply breathtaking.  Each one beautiful enough to want to frame and hang up in your house.  

 

Here is a brief peak of what the book is about...

"There once was a land that lived in fear of the seven Rainbow Goblins. Each had its own color, which was also its name, and they were led by Yellow, who was their chief because he was the craftiest. The goblins were feared because they lived on color and scoured the land looking for rainbows. Whenever they saw one they would catch it in their lassoes and suck the colors out of it so that they could fill their bellies with the bright liquids. However, one day the Rainbow Goblins came to a hidden paradise called the Valley of the Rainbow, the one place in all the land that did not fear the goblins."

The story does have some dark undertones as well. It has a very Grimm Fairy Tale type of feel. Where everything does not always fit into a beautiful,happy, pleasant little package. This is a story about how good triumphs over evil. And how every part of the earth works together to save the rainbow and it's color. And it explains now why a rainbow never touches the ground.

I adore this book .  I have always been fasinated with the Classic Fairy tales and this fits right in with all of them.  Sometimes we get out this book just to look at the pictures and name all the colors.  There is also another Goblin book called "The White Goblin" Bu Ul De Rico  that is also really good and a great companion to this one.  But the Rainbow Goblin is my favorite.