This book was promising in many ways: beautiful illustrations, a surprising twist in the plot that revealed a unique perspective, and a nice tone for a bedtime story. But it ultimately felt underdeveloped: there were unanswered questions (why were Gemma's parents afraid at one point when they surely should have understood what was happening?), abrupt character development at the end, and despite the lovely sense of closeness illustrated in the last scene, no real explanation for it. The story feels like a draft, but a promising draft: I would likely buy this book if it went through some further revisions.

Thanks to Tundra Books + Penguin Random House Canada + NetGalley for this advance copy of "Gemma and the Giant Girl" by Sara O'Leary, illustrated by Marie Lafrance.

This is the type of picture book you will not want to let go of. It's the one you and your children will want to read and reread. It's the reminder of the things that matter and the sense of wonder that accompanies being little.
Truly, "Gemma and the Giant Girl" deserves a place on bookshelves and will earn a place in your heart.

While I enjoyed this title, I found myself wanting more. I missed having a moral to the story. There didn’t seem to be any conflict in the story, or a plot to move it along so I was expecting some sort of moral, like It’s fun to leave your home but even more fun to return or something like that.
The author kind of left the readers hanging in that way.

It is a beautifully illustrated picture book! It talks about being curious and being courages.
I enjoy this picture book very much.

This review contains spoilers. (I feel funny writing that for a kids book!)

This is a cute story to introduce the power of a change of perspective. The reader is first introduced to Gemma, her room, her family, her world - her repetitive world. Then with a surprise twist we realize she is a doll, in a doll house. When a new child inherits the toy things begin to change from clothing, furniture and hair styles (I cringed at the girl cutting her dolls hair). When the doll is taken from the doll house to see the girls world she realizes she likes her home and is ready to go back.

This book was simple but sweet.

The illustrate very lovely in this book. The story was reminiscent of my own childhood playing with toys! I would actually buy this book to add to my children’s book collection.

This was such a cute story about a girl and a doll. It gave me a cute toy story vibe. Short simple and beautiful

Let me begin by stating that I love this book. Gemma lives in a sweet little house where she sleeps in the same bed night after night and never changes her clothes. How can that be? Well, you see, Gemma is a doll that has been discarded and forgotten and resides in her dollhouse. She has resigned herself to never growing up and always will be her parent's little girl.

One day her whole life changes thanks to a girl who lives in the big house outside of her window. The giant girl revisits Gemma and her family and new things begin to happen.

" New things appeared in the house all the time.
Some were too big. Some were too small.
Some were just right.
Some of the new things were nice.
Some were less nice."

The whole family gets a new wardrobe and Gemma experiences the magic of books for the very first time . Suddenly the giant girl scoops up Gemma and takes her outside her dollhouse and outside her comfort zone. Gemma discovers the mysteries and beauty of the world beyond, and yet, she wants to go back home to its familiarity and safety. Will the giant girl grant Gemma her wish and take her back to her dollhouse where belongs?

This illustrations are gorgeous and the storyline pulls the reader into the plot immediately. It is a tale about being small in a huge world and yet being courageous enough to be who you are created to be. I highly recommend this book.

Cute story, beautifully illustrated. The story of a dollhouse little girl doll and her small world in the dollhouse. She eventually experiences the larger world, but returns to her small world where she lives. I'm not quite sure what the point of this book would be for a child--perhaps to realize the different perspectives that we all bring to our lives.

Gemma has lived in this same house for so long, worn the same clothes, and had the same experiences, but then one day brings change. Gemma wants to grow and experience new things. Will she still desire a change from the comfort of home when her world opens to a whole new "giant' change of scenery?
Thank you, NetGalley for sharing this creative picture book with me. As we have navigated a pandemic, lockdowns, and strings of days, weeks, months of monotony, understanding of Gemma's desires increase. I do believe when the world is open completely again, we will always yearn for home and the comfort and peace it should bring.

Gemma lives in a dollhouse and her life has always been the same until a giant comes and takes her out of her comfort zone.

The premise was interesting and I was really curious to read the book. Unfortunately, even if I liked the cute illustrations (except for the human girl who looked a bit weird), enjoyed seeing the life in a dollhouse and kinda appreciated the moral of the story, there was something missing. I was expecting a more unique, more detailed story.

Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, Netgalley and Sara O'Leary for the digital ARC.

This story was adorable, I loved how it was from the point of view of the doll. The illustrations in the book really help you visualize what is happening.

I didn't feel like the story went anywhere or said much of anything for this book, but the illustrations were gorgeous which saved it for me.

This story is super cute in how it is from the perspective of the doll in the dollhouse. It is great for how you get to see things from the doll and doll’s owner. The illustrations do a great job in helping to tell the story.

Sweet, beautifully illustrated picture book about a girl (a doll?) who lives in a dollhouse with her family, happily engaged in her own small life. When a giant girl (really, a human girl) begins to play with the dollhouse and its occupants their world grows in unexpected ways. Perfect for both solo reading and read aloud time.

Gemma and the Giant Girl
by Sara O’Leary

Sometimes a girl just needs a little change. When everything remains the same day in and day out, well. Change is longed for. Change is good.

On one eventful, changes-everything day, a giant (a nice one) shakes up Gemma’s world in the best ways, in funny ways, ways that make one think bigger, better thoughts. Ways that makes one see the world from a completely different point of view, helps one see that there is a world outside one’s own world. . . what?! Can it be ? Is there a larger metaphor afoot?? Perhaps.

The words and supporting illustrations wrap and unwrap whimsically to bring this book to life. Order, dollhouse jumble, and reorder – sort of, bring a new normal for Gemma. I’ve been straightening all the toppled dolls around my house since this read. You know, just in case.

A Sincere Thanks to Sara O’Leary, Marie Lafrance, Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

Gemma and the Giant Girl was only so-so for me.... I wanted to like it so much - mostly because my little girl is named Gemma! The story was sweet and very relevant to our own home life. The part that didn’t thrill me was the illustrations - they were delightful in some parts, but quite off putting in others. For instance, the giant girl looked like a balding, middle aged man, In every scene that showed her, it was all I could focus on.
So, a great story - just not illustrated in an appealing way, in my opinion.

I received an advance copy of, Gemma and the Giant Girl. I really loved the illustrations in this book. This is a cute story about life in a dollhouse.

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

4.5/5 - Really liked it.

This is a short and sweet story of a little doll naked Gemma being introduced to the real world. It translates well to the experiences of childhood - of being safe in your own little world only to be plucked up by the real world and sent off into the unknown.

The illustrations are whimsical and lovely. There is an attention to detail - for example, Gemma’s beautiful red braid becomes frayed as she is played with. The dollhouse fills with unusual objects over time. And the outfits the dolls are wearing change. There is a real problem which is addressed - Gemma is face with a scary world which is unknown. But by setting boundaries and growing curious, she is able to retain her sense of safety while growing, just as children must.

A great book for children as they learn to cope with change and the real world around them.

Things change when a child discovers an old doll house, and she makes things her way. The dolls have been living without a child, or giants, as they call them, and things are very different with the child calling the shots.

Told from the dolls point of view, she doesn't hate that everything has changed. If anything it is different, which she thinks is better than the same thing day after day.

I used to love thinking my doll houses had living things inside, so I think this will appeal to children of the age that like to play with miniatures.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>