![BALZEMINA BLAH AND HER BRAND NEW SHADES cover image BALZEMINA BLAH AND HER BRAND NEW SHADES cover image](https://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/images/db/titles/213109.jpg)
The theme is quite clever and creative. I don't think I have ever seen this message portrayed this way. The dark shades representing the unhappiness and gloom and the rose colored glasses and the glasses at the end with no glass in them at all are really quite an original concept. It's an interesting way to also get the message across that things aren't better on the other side of the fence or as in this film, across the colorful and bright border.
The writer has cleverly and creatively taken the subject of how a young child may feel right before (and when) a new baby arrives. In the beginning, I wondered why this young girl is so unhappy and why everything is gray. Then, in the middle, it all starts to come together when she goes to the land of Rosenia. She meets another young girl, Flo who also experiences jealousy of Balzemia because the Rosenians all seem entranced by Balzemia. It is too bright and happy to the point where it seems forced and unnatural. She wears the rose colored glasses but it still really isn't as it appears to be. The end has closure because the young Balzemia returns home and no longer wears dark or rose colored glasses. She has glasses with only the frames and sees how things really are. At first, the character of the Glassmaker is a little confusing and may not be easy to see what he represents. But, basically he just represents the different glasses since he gives Balzemia the shades.
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