Growing up in a family of umbrella-makers, who live in a village of umbrella makers, young Noot longs for the day when she will be allowed to paint umbrellas of her own. After pestering her parents, she is finally given her chance, and her skill as a painter impresses everyone. The elders of the family are less than pleased, however, when she takes the first opportunity to begin painting elephants on her umbrellas, rather than the customary flowers and butterflies. Quickly set right, Noot dutifully returns to more traditional themes, but when the King comes to pick the village's best umbrella, thereby naming that year's Umbrella Queen, something very unexpected occurs...

Featuring an engaging and ultimately heartwarming story about the tensions between personal choice and creative independence on the one hand, and family and community obligations and economic reality on the other, The Umbrella Queen avoids making anyone the villain - Noot's parents aren't unsympathetic to her desires, it's just that they rely on the umbrellas they make for their living - and presents an ideal ending, in which an outside authority solves the problem. The story, although not the equal of author Shirim Yim Bridge's Ruby's Wish, is sweet, and the accompanying artwork by Taeeun Yoo is colorful and appealing. Recommended to those looking for children's stories affirming young people's own creative choices. ( )

I like this book for numerous of reasons. The illustrations are elegant and the colors create a soft tone. I also like the author's purpose for writing which is for children to follow their heart and do what they feel is right. But the innocence that Bridges creates in the main character is what really makes me like the book. Children are innocent when they do the opposite from what they are told. Sometimes they just want to feel like they are of importance or maybe they want to be recognized. I really like reading this book. ( )

Just lovely-- the language, the way Noot blossoms as a painter, and is both bold and respectful of her elders. Very sweet and satisfying. ( )

Every year in a village in Thailand, a king chooses an umbrella queen, or a girl who has painted the best umbrella. When a young girl named Noot is finally allowed to paint umbrellas like the other women and girls in the village, she does something different and paints elephants on the umbrellas. After being told not to paint elephants and go back to the old ways of painting butterflies and flowers, she does as she is told. In the end, the king likes her umbrella the best and she is named umbrella queen. ( Story of a girl learning a time-honored craft in her village, but taking some risks in breaking tradition.