Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Reading saves the day in charming, mildly perilous tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Eleanor's Secret
What's the Story?
Nat's beloved great-aunt Eleanor has died and left the family her beach house. Nat cherished listening to her read stories to him, so it's no surprise that her final gift to him is the house's locked library, "ELEANOR'S SECRET," filled with valuable first edition fairy tales and children's books. The family doesn't know their value, and, needing money to make repairs, they agree to sell the books for a pittance to a canny junk dealer expecting to make a killing on the resale. At the same time, the books' characters explain to Nat that he has been selected to be Eleanor's successor as the new Great Reader, champion of the stories. The catch is that first he must read aloud the magic sentence that will keep them alive, a challenge since Nat still can't read aloud.
Is It Any Good?
This charming celebration of the imagination is a visual and emotional gem. The delightful animation in Eleanor's Secret is quirky and reminiscent of the vivid drawings of the Stinky Cheese Man illustrator Lane Smith. Although an ogre, a wicked witch, and mildly perilous adventures may worry smaller children, the idea that fictional characters from different stories are all friends who band together to save themselves so that more kids may enjoy them is something most kids can happily root for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Nat's struggle to read aloud in Eleanor's Secret. Did you believe that Nat would be able to overcome his fear of reading aloud? How do you handle reading aloud?
Does Nat believe the fairy tale characters are real? Can book characters be make-believe but also real inside your imagination?
How is this French animated tale similar to and different from American movies for kids?
How do the characters in Eleanor's Secret demonstrate courage? Why is this an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 23, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : August 12, 2014
- Cast : Paul Bandey , Pascal Berger , Lorant Deutsch
- Director : Domonique Monfery
- Studio : New Video Group
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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