In the enchanting kingdom of Nimbasoy, Princess Popina is born to King Popee and Queen Mina in Popina & Slumberina by Irit Tal. To celebrate her arrival, the king and queen host a grand party at the royal palace, where guests present a variety of thoughtful gifts, including lemons, honey, a silver bell, and a rainbow. However, the gift that captures Popina’s heart is a soft green blanket from her Uncle Paul. She cherishes it so much that she names it Slumberina and takes it everywhere as her best friend. As Popina grows older, she reaches the age to attend preschool. Her parents assure her that she will learn new things and make friends. With Slumberina in tow, Popina embarks on this new adventure. However, she soon realizes that Slumberina is hindering her from engaging in fun activities and making friends. This realization makes Popina sad. One day, while walking home with her father, King Popee, Popina accidentally drops Slumberina in the dirt. At home, she begins to contemplate whether it might be time to leave Slumberina behind. Will Popina decide to go to school without Slumberina? Will she finally make friends and join in the activities?

One of the delightful aspects of this charming children’s story is its rhyming cadence. The rhythmic verses make the story enjoyable to read aloud and memorable for young listeners. The story beautifully addresses the theme of growing up and the process of becoming less reliant on comfort objects like blankets, teddy bears, or dolls. Popina’s journey resonates with children, encouraging them to understand that it’s okay to leave their security toys at home as they grow older and more independent.

The illustrations by Anat Davis are equally captivating. Children will easily fall in love with the characters, and the vibrant artwork draws readers deeper into Popina’s world. Each illustration enhances the narrative, making readers feel as if they are part of Popina’s growth and adventures. A heartwarming detail about this book is that the author and illustrator are sisters. Inspired by their daughters’ experiences with their cherished blankets, Irit Tal wrote Popina’s story to help her daughter, Shira, let go of her favorite blanket. After reading the story a few times, Shira decided she wanted to be just like Popina and began leaving her blanket at home.

Popina & Slumberina is a wonderful story that teaches children the importance of growing up and becoming more independent. It reassures young readers that it’s natural to outgrow their need for comfort objects. I highly recommend this story for its engaging narrative, relatable message, and delightful illustrations. Well done!

Pages: 32 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CHH3CST1