Book Description

Strega Nona -- "Grandma Witch" -- is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.

In this retelling of an old tale, author-illustrator Tomie dePaola (whose middle names is Anthony) combines humor in the writing and warmth in the paintings as he builds the story to its hilarious climax. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A great old re-told tale!
This classic story by dePaola is wonderful. The way he illustrates books is my favorite part and his writing and humorous stories makes his re-tellings better than any other authors or illustrators. I am sure if you read this book you would feel like you were in the story. The funniest part is when Big Anthony uses Strega Nona's pasta pot it floods the whole town with pasta. I am not going to tell you anymore...I won't give anything else away.

Strega Nona and the magic cooking pot.
This children's book is based on an Italian folktale about a friendly Grandma Witch ("Strega Nona") who has a magic pot that makes pasta. A young man named Big Anthony gets into trouble when he tries to use it. This small volume serves as a prequel to a whole series of books about Strega Nona and children who enjoy Italian folktales will want to have this volume. This book was a 1976 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a children's book.

Bewitched by the best
It's like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" but without that annoying mouse. For many youngsters like myself, "Strega Nona", marks my earliest introduction to the delightful Tomie de Paola. To me, this story is pitch perfect. It has everything a classic folktale should have and it tells its story with a coy courteous eloquence. Few picture books are half as classy as "Strega Nona". It is perhaps the world's best.

Strega Nona lives by her lonesome in a small cottage in Calabria, Italy. A witch by trade, she cures the townspeople of their ailments, warts, and headaches. When Big Anthony is hired on as Strega Nona's servant she gives him very strict instructions on what he is required to do, and what he is forbidden to do. Quoth Strega Nona, "The one thing you must never do is touch the pasta pot". You can probably guess where this is headed. After seeing the witch conjure delicious cooked pasta fully formed from the pot, Anthony is eager to prove this miracle to the people of the town. When Strega Nona leaves on a trip, Anthony speaks her spell and feeds everyone in the vicinity delicious piping hot pasta. Unfortunately, Anthony didn't quite catch the way to make the pasta stop flowing. As the villagers attempt to prevent the growing pasta from destroying their town, Strega Nona arrives just in time to put everything right again. Anthony receives a just comeuppance and all is well in the world.

I can't pinpoint what exactly it is about this book that touches me so deeply. Maybe it's the imagery in the illustrations. Strega Nona has a prominent recognizable nose and a babuska's kerchief on her head. She is constantly surrounded by large rabbits and peacocks, setting the tone of the life she leads. Tomie de Paola's illustrations always contain an element of spirituality in them, and in this case it comes in the form of the priest and nuns living in the town. I also am greatly attached to the book's choice of words. There's not a syllable out of place in this tale. Not a wasted consonant or a superfluous adjective. It is a perfectly told tale with illustrations that verge on the sublime. All in all, a great book for kids and adults alike.

Grandma Witch
Most all kids love pasta and will also love Strega Nona. This Grandma Witch in Italy teaches Big Anthony (her big lug of an assistant) a few lessons in cooking pasta and about life. A beautifully told and illustrated story by Tommie Depaola. Kids and adults of all ages and ethnicities will love this Italian folk tale.

How Can You Tell What's Going On
Strega Nona, an old tale retold and illustrated by Tomie de Paola, is about an old lady and her magic pasta pot. In this award winning picture book, Paola uses several different frames to show the action of the story. Some pictures are divided into fourths, some into halves, and some take up two full pages. The quartered pages are used to show some form of a continuing action or behavior. The first time this occurs, Big Anthony, the hired help, is weeding the garden. In the next three quarters he is picking the vegetables, getting ready to milk the goat, and peeking inside the window when he hears Strega Nona's voice. In the second set of pictures, Strega Nona calls Big Anthony in for supper, and blows three kisses in succession to her magic pasta pot. That action is shown in quarters two, three, and four. Once again, the quartered frames tell a portion of the story in succession. In frame one, Strega Nona comes into town and sees the pasta overflowing. In frame two, she sings her magic song. In frame three, she blows three kisses at the magic pot, and in frame four the pasta finally stops boiling. Paola also uses just half of a page for the illustration in order to show that there is not much going on at this point. The first picture of the story is just a half of a page. It shows the townspeople whispering about Strega Nona, and it also shows them lined up at her doorstep in need of some help. Another picture shows Strega Nona hiring Big Anthony and explaining to him his chores. In the last half paged picture, Big Anthony goes into town and tells everyone about Strega Nona's magic pasta pot, but he gets laughed at. Paola also uses large pictures that cover two whole pages. These images cross the gutter, and show arising conflict, confusion, and disaster in the story. The first time this happens, pasta is flowing out of Strega Nona's house and is creeping towards the town. The pasta is split across the gutter to show that it is really a large amount of pasta. Big Anthony has sung the magic song and is confused as to why the pasta will not stop cooking. In the next scene, the town is emphasized as being the largest area and is in fact split across the gutter. There is pasta extending down from the top right corner of the page. Now there is a real conflict because the pasta is coming into the town and no one knows how to make it stop. The big disaster lies in the next scene where the pasta has gotten all the way into town and is starting to take over. The people are scared of it and are running away. The pasta has filled the whole left page and is crossing the gutter onto the next page. But down in the bottom right corner of the next page, Strega Nona appears. In the next scene, she stops the pasta and makes Big Anthony eat it all for disobeying her. Big Anthony still has one more corner of pasta to go. He has already eaten the whole left page because there are only small strands and remnants of the pasta left in the corner. Paola does a great job manipulating the pictures to show different amounts of action. In each different framing technique, there is a different approach. He uses the pages divided into fourths to show more continuous action. He uses pictures in halves to show one single action. And he also uses the large illustrations two at a time, to show more destructive actions. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

The Honorable Knights of the Round Table
The Knights of the Round went through numerous adventures in their time. In the book, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, the author, Sidney Lanier, illustrated some of the knights' quests. Written from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d' Arthur, this novel has eight mini books on the Knights of the Round Table. From the "Coming of Arthur" to the "Passing of Arthur" Sidney Lanier depicted Arthur's knights such as Sir Lancelot du Lake, Sir Gareth of Orkney, La Cote Mal Taile, and Sir Tristram. There wasn't much conflict between the different knights, except for when they decided to joust.
This medieval book, written in third person, concentrates on the Knights of the Round Table, not as much on King Arthur. I highly recommend not reading this book because it doesn't have much conflict, so it isn't very interesting. For this reason, the book, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, is unique (because of the fact it doesn't have much conflict). This book should be read by people 13+ because of its unique words and ideas, and by people who are interested in learning more about King Arthur and his Knights.

A great legend that everybody should read
The Legend of King Arthur is a book that everyone should read at least once in his life. The Legend actually consists of hundreds of stories passed down for generations orally. Then somebody wrote it down, someone else read different ones of those and wrote his own. This way there are many different versions. The one that I read, and this review is about, is written by Roger Lancelyn Green. Unlike the other ones, which are hundreds of years old, this book is written in modern English. Because of that you can read it pretty fast.

Every chapter in this book is a story for itself, which have only a little to do with each other. The only character which is mentioned in every of those stories is King Arthur. He is the famous King of Logres, the holy realm. The story takes place in the 400s, when the Saxons invaded Britain. God thought that Britain will fall if he doesn't support them. So he decided to establish the Realm of Logres, which should be ruled by King Arthur. As soon as he began to ruled Britain, most of the world's best knights were at his court. The most famous one is Sir Launcelot. He was the best knight at the Round Table, but Logres also fell because of him and the beauty of King Arthur's wife.

And when Britain is in need, the Holy Realm of Logres can be reestablished at any time.

Awesome tales in the truest sense of the word.
I really like Rosemary Sutcliff's books, including her Arthurian
trilogy; however, I prefer Green's King Arthur because, for me,
it captures the sense of dread and awe that hangs over the
legends so well. The illustrations are very nice, as well. For my money this is a first-rate rendition.

a little fantasy for a change - almost interesting
I am 14 years old. I had to read this book for school, and considering the school usually assigns boring books, this one was pretty good. I thought it was okay, because I like fantasy books, and this book has a lot of fantasy and love stories. It was rather interesting, but I never would have read it if I hadn't had to.

King Arthur and his Brave Knights
King Arthur and his Brave Knights
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, were a whole bunch of different stories. They were how Arthur was raised and became king, how each of the knights came apart of the round table and how each of the went on their quest for the Holy Grail, and the departing of King Arthur and his kingdom.
The author, Roger L. Green, emphasized some differences to the original tale. For instance, Launcelot never loved Elaine. Elaine loved Launcelot very much but she was sad because Launcelot did not love her back. So Elaine went to Brysen who was a sorcerer and she made Elaine appear as Guinevere (Launcelot's love). When Launcelot saw Elaine that appeared as Guinevere he asked her to marry him and she said yes. The next morning when Launcelot saw Elaine in bed with him instead of Guinevere he went mad and started to live in the forest. Another change in the story was that the author called the Lady of the Lake, Lady Nimue. This book took place in the 6th century and the narrator is in 3rd person. The themes of the book were basically stories of each knight on their quest for the Holy Grail.
I would recommend this book to avid readers and people who enjoy fantasies. This reason because it is hard to understand some of the words are difficult to understand. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In older versions of the classic tale Rapunzel, it always seemed improbable that a grown man could scale a tower using only his beloved's hair.Not so in Paul O. Zelinsky's Caldecott Medal-winning version of Rapunzel. Here, Rapunzel's reddish-blonde mane is thick with waves and braids, and cascades like a waterfall down the walls of her isolation tower. In Zelinsky's able hands it's easy to believe that a prince would harbor no hesitations about scrambling up our fair heroine's hair.

Of course, this is not the work of an amateur--Zelinsky's lush versions of Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, and Swamp Angel all earned him Caldecott Honors. His gorgeous, Italian Renaissance-styled illustrations are characterized by warm golden tones and the mesmerizing sensation of trompe l'oeuil. Not only does he have the touch of a world-class illustrator, Zelinsky has also proven himself a master storyteller. We are frightened when the sorceress demands to take the baby Rapunzel, we are alarmed when the flowing locks are cruelly shorn, and we rejoice when the prince and his now modest-haired love are reunited. The notes at the back of Rapunzel reveal his careful scholarship regarding the long history of the story (tracing its origins and transformations from Italy to France and finally to Germany and the Grimm brothers)--work that no doubt contributed to his clean, compelling version of the age-old tale. Children will be captivated by the magical story and evocative pictures and adults will delight in the fresh feel of a well-loved legend. (Click to see asamplespread. Illustration © 1997 by Paul O. Zelinsky, published by Dutton Children's Books, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.) (Ages 4 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A visually beautiful rendition of a timeless tale
"When I was a young girl, I had long braids, and always wanted to be Rapunzel," confided a colleague at a recent meeting. Paul Zelinsky's Caldecott award-winning retelling of this age-old tale of a mother-to-be's craving for the forbidden rapunzel, a possessive sorceress, a beautiful girl with an unending cascade of silky hair shut away in a remote tower, and a handsome prince just might reawaken those desires. In his informative "Note About Rapunzel ," Zelinsky relates how he drew on elements from the early French and Italian sources as well as from the better known Grimm version of this tale to create his own compelling version. Thus, some details of the story are less familiar. Rapunzel naively reveals that she has had a visitor in the tower when she asks the sorceress to help her with her dress for, "It is growing so tight around my waist, it doesn't want to fit me anymore." Other elements, retold in their familiar spare rhythm, such as "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" retain ther original power. Zelinsky uses the formal beauty of Renaissance art to evoke both the physical beauty of the characters and the Italian landscape. His large oil paintings overflow with softly muted colors, billowing folds of finely detailed period costumes, ornate architecture, and majestic landscapes. His masterful use of glinting and filtering light illuminates every page. Zelinsky's Rapunzel is a book to be treasured by anyone who appreciates a timeless tale and delights in an object of visual beauty.

Beautiful illustrations and a traditional retelling
Paul O. Zelinsky's "Rapunzel" is a delight of renaissance-like oil paintings depicting a delicately beautiful girl, a frightening witch, and a handsome prince. The illustrations are truly superb, and each page features a beautifully rendered painting rich with color and detail.

Zelinsky's retelling of the story is traditional yet satisfying, but the illustrations really steal the show. Children will get caught up in the fairytale landscapes and the magical locales. Readers will also appreciate the additional information provided by Zelinsky about his retelling of the story and his study of Italian Renaissance art. It's always nice to know why artists choose to illustrate stories in a certain way.

This book won the Caldecott Medal for its fantastic illustrations.

Provacative story line with beautiful illustrations.
"Rapunzel" retold and illustrated Paul O. Zelisky is a version of the fairytale more closely relating to its original form dating back to 1635 called "Petrosinella". The story of "Rapunzel" has been found all over the world and has transcended time and culture, with few minor changes in the detail of the story for instance Rapunzel's hair color. The most distinctive difference between Zelisky's version and more modern interpretations, beginning with the Brother's Grimm is whether or not Rapunzel's pregnancy is mentioned. I think the story is for a more mature audience but children are not likely to catch the fact that Rapunzel is pregnant because they will be enchanted with the illustrations. The illustrations are reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance and will transport any reader into the fantasy world. Having researched several versions of Rapunzel, I have found that Zelisky's version is the most real to life because it does raise issues of sex, the inability for some parents to take care of their children, stealing, and cruelty to others. This book is provocative and will make readers of all ages asked questions; I would recommend this book for both children and adults. I think that both age groups could learn from each other by reading this book together, just be ready to answer your child's questions honestly.

The rare non-Disneyfied fairy tale
The winner of the Caldecott Medal, "Rapunzel" is one of the most lush and beautiful stories ever created for children. Carrying many of the distinctive Zelinsky elements (staggered perspectives, reoccurring background characters, gorgeous lighting, etc.) the book is a joy to look at. Each picture evokes the spirit of the Renaissance, from the first tableau (the husband and wife feeling her pregnant stomach in contentment) to the last (the loving family poses with the cherubim-like children). The text is a little more racy than your average children's picture book. Zelinsky doesn't shy away from the fact that Rapunzel is pregnant when the witch learns of her illicit relations, though he does legitimize the girl's newfound glow with a hasty "marriage" of the prince to Rapunzel in her tower. Sans priest, no less. The book is also remarkable for the dramatic shift that occurs in the character of the witch. A scowling ghoul in one picture, she transforms into an almost nunlike character when receiving the little Rapunzel baby. One might well ask what happens to the witch after she casts Rapunzel and her prince into the desert, but Zelinsky doesn't feel this is worth discussing. A perfect book for storytelling, as the pictures are colorful and easy to see from a distance. Would pair well with his other oil painted fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin".

Gorgeous book
This book has a great story, but above all: the illustrations are AMAZING. They are like oil paintings, full of colour and detail. Very young and older child both will really enjoy this book. This book is essential to any home or school library.
Slight warning- Rapunzel gets pregnant with twins after 'letting down her hair' for the prince.....i was asked 'how did that happen?' :) Some parents might not want their kids to read that part. ... Read more

Book Description

In this retelling of the old French legend, a juggler offers to the Christ Child the only Christmas gift he has. “The full-color pictures with subtle tonal modulations are an integral part of the design of the lumious pages full of movement and vitality. The Italianate aspects of the setting are beautifully realized.”--The Horn Book ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Beautiful Kids Story: Reveals God's Love
This easy to read and beautifully drawn children's story shows the intensity and power of God's love. The book's vision is that God's love is simple, straight-forward and more powerful than we could ever expect.

My 3 and 5 year old children love the book and want me to read it again and again. They say "'Read God's Clown' again daddy ...".

The ending deals with death but it is not death in misery or emptiness. The Clown of God reaches God's heart and I think it will reach your heart and your child's heart too.

Beautiful Story for Children
Tomie de Paolo's The Clown of God is by far, one of the most beautiful stories for children around. I was read this story as a child and it still is one of my all time favorites. The beautiful, soft-colored prints throughout the book will delight children along with the story about Giovanni, the poor boy who becomes a juggling clown in a circus. Giovanni goes on to become a famous juggler, but towards the end of his life, he once again becomes poor. He finds himself back home in Sorrento on Christmas Eve and performs a miracle in his local church. A story that will delight both children and adults.

A good story, not just for Catholic children
I read about this book here on Amazon.com, and wasn't sure I'd like it. We are not Catholic, and just from the review here alone, I knew that Catholicism was almost presumed. How would I explain the multitude of differences in our faiths to my five year old son? A priest versus a pastor. What on earth is a "brother," or a monk? Offering gifts to a statue of the Christ child, when we don't believe in making any graven image of God?

I checked the book out of the library to see what I thought. Yes, its Catholic flavor cannot be missed, but the message was an excellent one. The lesson the brothers taught Giovanni was one that I took to heart, that everything we do should be done for the glory of God. Though Giovanni wrote it off at the time, he ultimately got the message, and gave the best gift that he could to the Lord Jesus.

The only reason why I didn't give it five stars, was that my son didn't like the ending. He thought it was sad that Giovanni died, and therefore didn't especially want to hear it again. I used it, however, as an opportunity to teach him about death. Giovanni came to love the Lord Jesus, and the Lord Jesus loved him, so he went to be with Jesus when he died. That isn't a bad thing; rather it is good! There is no need to be sad that Giovanni died, because he went to a place where things were much better for him.

Part of me wants to give it five stars for the teaching opportunity about death that it provided! But I guess I'll leave it as I did. Too bad I couldn't give it a 4.5!

The Clown of God written by Tomie de Paola
This story takes place in a town called Sorrento. There is really only one main character, and his name is Giovanni. Giovanni was a poor boy who didn't have any parents. he could juggle very well,and would juggle for food. He would juggle different kinds of fruit like zucchini, lemons, eggplants, oranges, and apples. Signor Baptista's wife gave him the food because he brought people in to buy her fruit.
Then one day a traveling circus comes to town. Giovanni enjoyed it so much, that he asked the Maestro if he could become a part of the performance. The Maestro agreed that he could join them, but doesn't get paid, just a place to sleep and some food. Then, later, the Maestro gives him a costume and lets Giovanni perform for the crowd. Giovanni would juggle sticks, plates, clubs, rings, and burning torches. Then he would do his most famous act; with a red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and then a violent ball. When he got all the balls going at a good pace, he would throw "the Sun in the Heavens" ball that was gold. The crowds loved this act the best.
Over the years, Giovanni got very famous performing for dukes and princes. Then when he was a teenager, he ran into two Brothers. They asked him if he would share his food with them. Giovanni said yes to them. They told him that with his juggling, he was bring God glory. Giovanni didn't reallt think so, and laughed. Then he told the Brothers fairwell and left.
Then, Giovanni got old and no one wanted to see him juggle anymore. They started to throw vegetables and stones at him, so he had to leave. He decided to go back home to Sorrento. Then Giovanni reached the church of the Brothers that he met years ago. The Church was filled with people who were carrying beautiful gifts. He asked someone what was going on and they said it was the Holy Child's birthday.
He decides that he will juggle for the stern Child sitting in his mother's arm, for that was the only gift he could give. He did this when everyone was gone. So, Giovanni does his usually acts; the clubs, the plates, and the flaming torches. Then he does his most famous act, "the Sun in the Heavens." A brother sees him and goes to get a priest. When they get to Giovanni, they see him lying on the floor dead. Then the brother turns around and looks at the statue of the Lady holding her Holy Child. Read the book to see what happens.

just MY opinion
A masterpiece in both story and pictures. It should have received Caldecott honors when it was eligible. DePaola will be remembered for several achievements in books...the 26 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE series, the BARKERS series, STREGA NONA, NANA UPSTAIRS & NANA DOWNSTAIRS, and others, and THIS extraordinary book. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Recreates an Illuminated Manuscript to Tell about St. George
This book was a Caldecott Medal winner as the best illustrated children's book in 1987. You will never see a finer set of modern simulations of a Middle Ages illuminated manuscript. The full range of the rainbow is vividly and brilliantly worked into almost every illustration. On text pages, the illuminations surround the words while on illustrated pages, they fill across the whole page -- border and all.

Unlike most children's stories, this one captures the full richness of the original tale as told by Spenser in the Faerie Queen. Without all the background of that story, some references here are not clear, so you'll want to explain them to your child.

The book features a ferocious three day battle between St. George and the dragon. For sensitive children, that battle in this book could encourage nightmares. I suggest that you either not share the book with children who might be frightened, or read it to them early in the day.

When a dragon terrorizes her father's kingdom, Princess Una escapes from the family castle to seek help. After an arduous journey, she finds the Red Cross Knight and calls upon him for assistance. He follows her back toward the castle. Along the way, he glimpses aspects of his future life.

Upon the plain surrounding the castle, a terrible and aggressive dragon waits to attack. The knight bravely attacks, but his weapon is no match for the dragon. He is gravely wounded and falls to the earth. It looks like the battle is over. Miraculously, the knight is restored to full strength the next day. The battle recommences, and the knight is again devastated by the dragon. But the knight has injured the dragon a little. Once again, the knight revives and the third day provides the titanic battle in which the knight slays the dragon.

The king and queen come out to welcome the knight, and offer him many riches. The knight modestly declines and pleads that the riches be given to the poor, instead. The king offers Princess Una's hand in marriage and his kingdom. The knight protests that he must serve the Fairy Queen for 6 more years. The king says that is all right, and the two are married. The knight comes and goes to serve his duty.

In time, he becomes known as St. George, the patron saint of England.

The story contains many worthwhile moral lessons such as being steadfast in one's duty, overcoming adversity through persistance and courage, and preferring to help others rather than seeking rewards for oneself. As such, the book is much more inspiring and heroic than most modern children's literature, and will become a favorite of those who like to take the challenges of the hard path.

After you and your child finish reading this story, on some occasions you should talk about what challenges face modern people. How can we serve others? How can we be modest in our pursuit? How can our lives provide lessons for others?

Pursue to the limits of potential and imagination!

I love dragons
Hyman won a Caldecott Medal for this book and there is no questioning why. The wonderful drawings tell the story with splendid detail. Bordering the text are more drawings that help to establish the setting and mood of the story. The text is even more exciting than the illustrations. A brave knight is summoned by a beautiful princess to slay the dragon that has been tormenting the land of the fairy queen. After several battles and assistance from magical entities, the knight defeats his foe and is granted the princess as a prize. There can be quite a lot of text on a single page causing it to be overwhelming in its lack of white space. The narrative is fast-paced enough that the reader will stay interested though. This book should be on an independent level for high second graders. Younger children will enjoy hearing it and seeing the pictures though.

Why 5 stars?:
I simply love the mythical magic of dragons. The illustrations included in this version are gorgeous. The story can be understood and enjoyed by children of all ages. Second graders should be able to read this book with just some slight assistance.

Best Introduction to the Genre
Adapted from Spenser's Faerie Queene, this is a highly literate children's tale. We meet the Red Cross Knight as he is heading into his first adventure. Princess Una has sought him as champion for her parents in fighting the usual terrorizing dragon. The plot is the usual one: boy meets girl, girl tells boy how royal parents are being terrorized by a dragon. Boy slays dragon, marries princess. Though this story does not stray from the formula, it is realized in a very fine fashion and richly illustrated. Each of some dozen pairs of facing pages has fantastic illustrations on one side with a few paragraphs of text on the other. The illustrations are among the best I've seen, they rank together with Child of Faerie Child of Earth and Fairy Wings. Each illustrated page is nicely framed and usually filled with thematic marginal drawings, which is a very nice touch.

I think this is probably the most literate children's book I've read. The first line of most pages always includes some brief alliteration, beginning with the opening lines.

>In the days when monsters and giants and fairy folk lifvind in England, a noble knight was riding across a plain.

>The dreadful dragon was the cause of her sorrow.

>After many days the path became thorny and led up to a steep hillside, where a good old hermit lived in a little house by himself.

>It is time for me to tell you that you were not born of fairy folk, but of English earth.

>Then they heard a hideous roaring that filled the air with terror and seemed to shake the ground.

>The knight brandished his bright blade, and it seemed sharper than ever, his hands even stronger.

There is just enough to create the effect without going overboard. Sometimes, at key points, the alliteration is stepped up to alert the reader to pay attention.

>In his tail's end, two sharp stings were fixed. But sharper still were his cruel claws. Whatever he touched or drew within those claws was in deadly danger. His head was more hideous than tongue can tell, for his deep jaws gaped wide, showing three rows of iron teeth read to devour his prey.

There are also instances of anaphora

>Once more the Red Cross Knight mounted and attacked the dragon. Once more in vain.

internal rhyme

>Yet the beast had never before felt such a mighty stroke from the hand of any man, and he was furious for revenge.

and Homeric similes.

>Like a sailor long at sea, under stormy winds and fierce sun, who begins to whistle merrily when he sees land, so Una was thankful.

These are all tropes I would have pointed out when I was teaching Medieval and Renaissance Lit. and are spread thinly enough not to be over done. They are in fact very appropriate to the material, being standard Anglo-Saxon techniques. The surrounding prose is also extremely well written. There were only three alliterations which I felt were overdone, but-hey-that's also true for equivalent portions of Beowulf!

I can't think of a better introduction to the dragonslayer genre.

Best Children's Book Ever
This is perhaps the first book I ever truly loved. At sixteen, it seems almost strange that I should find myself writing a review of a children's book, but it was just that good, that memorable, and that much a part of my childhood. As probably the only person to comment on this after having read it as a child, I think that this book is one of those children's books that is so very memorable; I would even compare this book to the famous "Goodnight Moon". The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the story is enchanting and enthralling. It is in essence the perfect children's book, and practically made me fall in love with reading.

Best Kid's Book I Know!
Now in tatters, its about time for me to replace this one. My kids and I first discovered it about 5 years ago. There is no other book that I have enjoyed reading with them so much. It has the best artwork of any storybook out there. It is a fun and exciting story that I also recognized as the story of the Red Cross Knight, from Spenser's "Faerie Queen." It is great that the language in this child's version is also very engaging, rhythmic, and dramatic. I recommend this book for everyone! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Ukrainian boy named Nicki wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. She warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow, but of course he promptly does just that!What happens next is the surprising part, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, then a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox.If you think the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait: "Then a big bear sniffed at the mitten. The animals were packed in tight, but the bear didn't care. He crawled in anyway." When a tiny mouse squeezes in, her whiskers tickle the bear's nose. He sneezes, and "Aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!" all the animals fly out of their crocheted cave. As the mitten sails through the air, Nicki spots it, reclaims it, and takes it home to show his smiling Baba.

Jan Brett is the illustrator of many well-known folktales, fairy tales, and poems, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Owl and the Pussycat, by Edward Lear. Her special signature in her detailed artwork is the intricate borders, seen in this book as birch-bark panels with embroidered details and mitten-shaped vignettes offering additional insights into the story line. Brett is at her best when she illustrates animals, and the expressions on the faces of her creatures are a delight. She carefully researched the costumes, furniture, and house in this traditional Ukrainian tale--all are authentic. A fine story to read on a frosty night with a cup of hot chocolate, and if you ever get your fill of The Mitten, you can always try its delightfully original companion book, The Hat, winner of the 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (31)

The Mitten
The story of the Mitten begins when a boy named Nicki begs Baba to sew him white, wool mittens. After she finished, the boy went to play with them. Baba said that when he got home, she would check to see if he was alright, then see if he still had the new mittens. Soon, Nicki dropped one of his mittens and lost it. Many different animals found the mitten to be a good place to rest. At the end, Nicki finds his mitten and returns home. The only thing, is that one mitten is four times bigger then the other.
I really enjoyed the book, The Mitten. It was always may favorite when I was a young child. The story really kept my attention, and I could follow it very easily. I liked all the different types of animals. I though the story was very good, and I'm sure you would too.

A real gem!
I was looking for ways to introduce our family's Ukrainian heritage to my son (now 18 months). I was very pleasantly surprised to come across this book. It shows both the young boy and his grandmother in traditional Ukrainian dress. They even call the grandmother Baba (the Ukrainian word for grandmother). But even beyond the Ukrainian stuff, this book is excellent. The illustrations are beautiful. There are small inset illustrations that tell more background of the story along with the larger, main pictures. So this book is both a picture book and a story book in one. My son loves to look at the animals and all but shrieks with laughter whenever we act out the big sneeze that shoots them all out of the mitten. I'm sure this book will be a treasure in our home for years to come!

Small, short and sweet
This is a small handy for the car sort of book. The story is short and a pleasure to read as it reviews the names of different animals found in the forest. This was given to my little one as present from my Ukrainian grandmother whom we call "Baba", I like that we can relate to a few of the books details, like the gramdmother shown an ethnic blouse like the ones worn in the old country, and the boy is called Nick like many Ukrainian boys making the book even more authentic.

A Great Book
This is another great retelling by Jan Brett. I read this book to my second grade class every year. You can download a mitten and the animals from the story at Jan Brett's web site. After I read this delightful story to my class, the children color the animals and cut them out along with the mitten. I read the story again and they act it out with their animals. They take the mitten and animals home to do a retelling with their families. The children absolutely love this story and the activities.

Beautifully illustrated book!
My 18-month-old sons love this book. I have to read this one to them over and over ~~ they love the bright colorful pictures. They love hearing about the animals. And I love reading it to them. It's fun and pleasurable on the eyes as well.

Nicki wants a pair of white mittens and his Baba agrees to make it for him. However, he loses one and a mole decided to rest in the white mitten lying on the snow. He soon is joined by a rabbit, a fox, hedgehog, badger, owl, a bear and a tiny mouse. It's hilarious to imagine all of them in one tiny little mitten ~~ and so fun to read too!

I recommend Brett's books for everyone. She's a wonderful story-teller and her art is beautifully-illustrated. She is an example of how children's books should be!

2-4-04 ... Read more

Book Description

First published in 1947, this picture book classic has remained one of Marcia Brown's most popular and enduring books. This story, about three hungry soldiers who outwit the greedy inhabitants of a village into providing them with a feast, is based on an old French tale. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The kindest con
It's funny how a single story changes with the telling. These days the classic tale of how to make stone soup has been told in a myriad of different tellings and versions. But if you harken back a little to Marci Brown's 1947 concoction, you see clearly that the story can be a little more sardonic than its alternate versions. In this tale, villagers are tricked out of their greed and fear into sharing and enjoying life with their neighbors. And it's all thanks to a soup that doesn't even exist.

Three soldiers make their way home from an unnamed war in an unnamed country. Passing a village, the men ask the townspeople for some food and warm beds. Unsurprisingly, the peasants (who, one presumes, have been violently scared into this state of distrust through years of misuse at the hands of soldiers such as these) feign a lack of food or room for the men. Thinking on their feet, the soldiers proclaim that there is nothing for it then but to make stone soup. The astonished town watches and aids the men in their task, providing them with a huge soup cauldron, water, and whatever ingredients the soldiers casually mention. By the end of the evening everyone sits down to a hearty meal and after a good night of carousing the men are given the best beds in town. "And fancy, made from stones!"

The soldiers in this tale are jovial fellows, just as comfortable fooling foolish peasants into acts of selflessness as they are dancing with pretty maids and drinking. That so much joy can come simply from sharing with your fellow man is a moral insinuated from the tale, rather than explicitly spelled out to the reader. Brown's accompanying illustrations encompass roughly four colors; red, black, white, and grey. Though a subtle palette, the figures readily express all the emotions, fears, and energy of the people and their soldier guests. I was charmed by the final throwaway line in the book, written below the peasants as they wave goodbye to the three men. "Such men don't grow on every bush". You could say the same for this book.

Stone Soup
The story is about three soldiers who are hungry and very tired and are looking for a place to stay.
Then, they come across a village one day. The people of the village have plenty of food and places to say, but they don't want the soldiers staying there so the people of the village hide there food and say their beds are all full. Well, that same day, the soldiers get an idea. Why! stone soup of course!

The message that this book sends is that even though you think that some people are bad, you should always try to see whats on the inside of them, not the outside. I think this book is fit for five to eight years of age.

I recomend this book to any child who has a judjment problem, and even to adults who want to show their children a lesson.

The captain and ten eels make soup
I just loved this book when I was a hooligan, I can remember Captain Kangaroo reading this one to the camera back in the day. There's many a valuable lesson lurking in here, and tricksterism galore. Coyote would be proud (as was Mr. Moose). Plus, you'll find a generic but decent recipe for vintage village stew...er, stone soup.

A Perpetual Favorite with a Good Message!
"Stone Soup" is a favorite folktale in our elementary school library. I just had a class of second graders beg me to read this Caldecott Honor book to them, and--of course--all our copies were immediately checked out.

I'm continually surprised--but pleased--that modern kids still enjoy these older illustrations by Marcia Brown, with their limited colors (see cover). This tale is a true classic, and this version has been around for many generations. It's part of the folk tradition in more ways than one. Let's hope we keep "sharing" this tale about sharing for generations to come!

A Timeless Classic That Children Will Always Enjoy
If this book has one downfall, it's that the story is a little long. But that is overshadowed by the fact that the story is so interesting for children and parents, and the illustrations are first-rate.

Watch the hungry soldiers use their cunning and imagination to make a meal out of nothing. They entice the local towns people to share their food in the making of stone soup.

Concepts include: sharing, imagination, the will to make things happen, etc. ... Read more

Book Description

A lovely princess, a brave prince, a wicked stepmother, evil enchantments, magic rowan wood, and an immense, scaly dragon. . . . Favorite fairytale elements sparkle in The Loathsome Dragon, a traditional English tale. Majestic, romantic paintings by two-time Caldecott medalist David Wiesner display the remarkable artistry and dizzying perspectives his work is known for.

Now available once again—with several new illustrations, revised text, and a brief source note—this picture-book classic will delight David Wiesner's many fans, and win him a generation of new ones. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Paul O. Zelinsky, 1998 Caldecott medalist for Rapunzel, also has three Caldecott Honor Books under his belt: Hansel and Gretel, Swamp Angel, and this fine edition of Rumpelstiltskin. Zelinsky's oil paintings are perfectly suited to the strange saga of the little man with the secret name who knows how to spin straw into gold. The golden light infusing the late medieval setting subtly reinforces the theme.

The visual characterization of Rumpelstiltskin is a triumph: an odd elfin man with bulbous eyes, a gigantic, flat black hat, impossibly skinny arms and legs, and long, pointed black shoes. This Rumpelstiltskin is not scary or horrid, but rather mischievous and weird. When the young queen finally guesses his name, and thus is able to keep her baby, he flies off on his huge cooking spoon (with a pout), true to the Grimms's 1819 version of the story. (Zelinsky provides notes on his text in the back of the book, indicating his careful research into various editions of the original Grimm tale.) Zelinsky's retelling is straightforward and smooth, with only a few lines of text on each page to complement the truly magnificent full-page illustrations. A delightful book worth its weight in gold! (Ages 3 to 7)

... Read more

Reviews (17)

Zelinsky Paints a Beautiful Picture of Rumpelstiltskin
The Grimm Brothers wrote one of their most famous tales,"Rumpelstiltskin", over a century ago and others havetranslated and retold it many times since. Paul O. Zelinsky retold"Rumpelstiltskin" based on one of the Grimms' earliest versions of the story. He was also the illustrator. The illustrations in Zelinsky's version are oil paintings. This allows him to create an exceptional antique setting for the story, as well as striking characters. There is such detail in each illustration that there is almost an individual story with in each picture. The intense use of shadowing combined with a kaleidoscopic amount of colors also makes this story's pictures peculiarly realistic. Zelinsky clearly portrays a distinct and more exciting way of seeing the classic tale, "Rumpelstiltskin". The first thing that makes these illustrations so life-like was the individual characters combined with the ornate and detailed backgrounds. The expressions on the characters' faces are drawn in such detail that the reader can easily see what they are feeling at a glance. The reader can also predict whether a character is good or bad from the detail of his/her face. The queen's (miller's daughter) large, gentle eyes and delicate, ivory skin demand the reader's compassion, even though she broke her promise to Rumpelstiltskin that saved her life. Rumpelstiltskin's tiny body accented by his pointy nose and chin gives off a sinister aura. The little details with in each picture make them all unique. An example is when the king is walking into the room where the miller's daughter is with all the spools of gold. There are rays of sunlight coming throughout the window reflecting off the spools that it hits. The colors used makes the room look warmer and more comfortable than when she had entered into it the night before. You can see some of the gold thread unraveling off various spools. The wrinkles in the miller's daughter's clothes shows that she is not in a very comfortable position as she sleeps one of the piles of gold. These are all such minor details that you might not even notice in a photograph. The title page and end papers even include detailed artistry. They show a petite village that is surrounded by a range of mountains and an ocean. The narrow, dirt road winding down to the tiny community gives out the idea that the village is relatively secluded from the rest of the world. I think that the title page and the end papers are a great way to covey the setting and atmosphere to the reader right away. The component of Zelinsky's illustrations in, "Rumpelstiltskin", that made them seem so life-like was his use of shadowing. A good example of this is when the queen sent her servant into the woods to look for Rumpelstiltskin. In this picture the only light the reader can see is from the servant's lantern and the few feet it shines on around her. The reader can also see the moon's reflection in the ocean. This use of shadowing makes these illustrations look not only life-like, but like photographs too. In Zelinsky's version of "Rumpelstiltskin", the illustrations were very realistic, because of his use of shadowing, complex use of colors, and phenomenal detail. Zelinsky's pictures are so effective that the words are practically unnecessary to tell the classic tale of "Rumpelstiltskin".

Beautiful, Complicated Tale with Magnificent Illustrations
As previous reviews have noted, the illustrations are exquisite and quite out of the ordinary; instantly captivating and magical at first glance. My daughter is 3 and 1/2 and is riveted by the book. I feel confused at how strongly some of the readers feel about the book's "message." Yes, many of the characters are "bad" and it is morally ambiguous, but the sheer flight of fancy and imagination captured by the tale has intrigued and fascinated readers and listeners since the early 1800's. It's like a child's version of a scary movie without the macabre details, and even though Rumpelstiltskin himself is ugly and frightening even though he is actually "saving" the queen, the book and story's power coem from the fact that he is such an unusual character; not whether he is good or bad. Furthermore, the additional magical ideas of straw into gold, being locked up in a castle, servants running off in the middle of the night, and a little elfen man riding around on a spoon are bizarre and fanciful and elements like these fill much of the fairy tale genre for centuries. I say, get over the p.c. messages and concetrate on the fantasy and magic of the story that is so compelling to readers, especially with Zelinsky's magnificent pictures. Life is complicated, and so is the story - it doesn't try to answer all the questions and make everybody good/bad/punished/redeemed. That is not the point of this particular story. If you only want a story with a moral, it's true that this is not the book for you. If creative ideas and concepts that you could never think of yourself are what your looking for in a book, then it is the book for you!

The most technically correct spinning wheel in kiddie lit
A rare book. Zelinsky tells the story of "Rumpelstiltskin", evoking a story most American children will know. Especially impressive is his tiny details. A good example of this is his spinning wheel. Many illustrated Rumpelstiltskin stories show the spinning wheel as something that Rumpelstiltskin throws straw towards, causing golden coins appear. In this edition the spinning wheel is technically correct. The miller's daughter is given empty bobbins, onto which Rumpelstiltskin spins golden threads. Zelinsky's accomplished paintings show the golden bobbins gleaming, one on top of another. The portrayal of Rumpelstiltskin himself was described in one review I read as "Rackhamesque". I don't know if this was the illustrator's intent, but he certain does seem culled from a classic European fairy tale book from the early twentieth (or even nineteenth) century. The oil paintings look Southern European, and though a story with an odd moral (if you can outwit your opponent by cheating, you're in the clear) it is an excellent book for children. Like its companion book, "Rapunzel", this too would be a promising book for storytelling.

Nice pictures, twisted story
This is a nearly verbatim rendition of the Grimms' story, and it's hard to understand why Zelinsky would use his talent to illustrate it for children. Even harder to figure out is how the American Library Association could award its Caldecott Medal for distinguished American picture book for children to any rendition of this dreadful tale: The king threatens to kill the miller's daughter if she can't spin gold from straw. Rumpelstiltskin saves her life by spinning gold for her, but extracts a necklace, a ring and, on the third night of spinning, a promise of her firstborn. She then marries the king, whom Zelinsky depicts as young and handsome. When it comes time for the queen to hand over her newborn, Rumpel agrees to relent if the queen can discover his name. She sends a servant to follow him into the woods and discover the name. So the king, though he looks good, is greedy and brutal. The queen is a victim who agrees to give over a future infant to save her own life, and then depends on an anonymous, unrecognized "servant girl" to save the child. And Rumpelstiltskin, shown as physically unattractive and (the message seems to be) therefore bad, is the one who saved the future queen from execution and then relents on the payment he bargained for. A weird, twisted story that offers nothing for kids, illustrated with Renaissance-style pictures that accentuate the perversity by making the bad guy look good and the guy who saved the damsel in distress look bad.

A great classic
The illustrations helped support and great tale. My daughter loves it. I know that there are many different versions but I was slightly disappointed that the ending was different from the version I remembered as a child. In this version Rumpelstiltskin flies off on a spoon. The version from my childhood is where Rumpelstiltskin is so mad that he jumps so hard he goes through the floor. Even w/the slightly updated version it's still a classic and must have for nay household. ... Read more

Book Description

Between the pages of these delightfully illustrated books are the classic stories of magic, imagination, and inspiration that will delight children again and again. From the hard-working Red Hen to the foolish Gingerbread Man, these tales will capture children’s interest and spark their imagination page after page, inspiring a love of reading that is vital to success in school and life. Fresh, captivating illustrations enliven each tale.

Reviews (3)

Great version of a classic
There are so many things I like about THIS version in particular of the classic Little Red Riding Hood.....I like the lessons taught (don't talk to strangers and listen to what Mom says for example) and I like the way the story begins with the Grandmother making the red cape....the detail of Red Riding Hood loving the cape so much she did everything in it - even she slept in it - is SO true for many toddler /preschoolers, my daughter included, who have slept in everything from a Tutu to a Buzz Lightyear costume cuz they couldn't bare to part with it....nice touch....
The illustrations are very nice and I like that the wolf is not drawn in a scary way.....nor is he killed or hurt badly at the end...he falls out the window accidentally, tumbles down a hill and runs away..... I also like how Grandma comes out of the closet at the end (she is not eaten by the wolf) and the story ends with them having a picnic....

My 3 year old, who HAS been scared by wolf illustrations in other books, loved this one! I found it enjoyable to read to her...

wonderful story for delayed or autistic kids to reenact
Good rendition of a classic story..perfect if you are looking for stories that your speech delayed or autistic child can learn to "reenact" during floortime. We go to the park now and ask the other kids if they want to play "red riding hood" and they usually all say YES! So the book is really just the beginning of a fun play activity.

Classic Tale Emphasizes Family Closeness and Moral Values
This is such a wonderful version of the classic story.

When I was looking for a copy of this classic tale, I wanted to know about the ending. Thankfully, this is NOT the more gruesome ending where the wolf eats Little Red and Grandma and the woodcarvers chop the wolf open. My daughter is only 2, and aside from this not making sense that the victims are still alive after the wolf eats them, it's a little inappropriate for this age group (the part about chopping the wolf open). Instead, the wolf puts grandma in the closet to "save her for later". The best part is that the cape almost seems to represent a super-hero type or magical properties ("She leaped away, light as a leaf in her cherry red cape").

This version has a more elaborate, sweeter beginning than the version I grew up with, which merely jumped right into Little Red Riding Hood leaving for the path to Grandma's house. It begins with Grandma sewing the red cape for Little Red Riding Hood because her Grandma enjoyed her visits with her granddaughter. It then goes on to explain how she wore the cape so often that this is how she got her nickname. This emphasizes the importance of special family relationships.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, yet simple enough for the very young child. One element that I especially enjoyed is that the nightgown the wolf wears (Grandma's nightgown) has sheep print on it. Besides adding humor, this adds the element of foreshadowing (hint, hint!).

Of course, the moral of the story remains the same. Leaving the path will always lead to trouble. ... Read more

Book Description

Collected here in a contemporary translation. With these tales we meet witches, trolls and ogres, sly foxes and mysterious bears, beautiful princesses and country lads turned heroes. Includes illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One for the Desert Island Library
I'm a middle-aged English professor, but I love this book now, as I did when I was a kid. If I had to whittle my personal library down from its present size (maybe 3000?) to a hundred books, I'm sure I'd still keep this one. I read these stories now to my children and remember how I loved the stories when I was their age. When I'm a senior, I'll remember how I shared this book with my kids, as well.

You speak Norwegian like an American ...
I lived near Oslo from Aug. '85-Jan. '86. One fall Saturday, at the checkout counter in a bookstore across from Slottsparken, I said to the clerk in Norwegian "You speak English like an American!" Her sharp tongue shot back "You speak Norwegeian like an American!" She responded to my questions why she (American) was there with "I was married to one of them" and couldn't "go back" because she didn't fit anymore. She recommended a book and also told me she'd translated some Norwegian Folk Tales into English. My host told me later it was Pat Shaw.

My daughters (then 8 and 12) read the book from cover to cover many times. Without the availability of an English grade school library filled with teen and preteen romances my daughters read pretty much whatever was placed on the coffee table. They enjoyed Shaw's translation very much, although I also occaisonally translated directly (with effort) from Asbjørnsen and Moe. This translation gives us in English a look at 'the soul of the Norwegian people', as a good friend describes the folk tales.

Marvelous stories for children and adults
My 9-year old was enthralled with the stories in this book, begging for more every night until we finished it. I disagree with his Freudian interpretation, but Bruno Bettelheim is right that folktales touch something wired within us, fulfilling an innate need children have to comprehend the adult world.

Although not as well-known as the German Grimm's collection in the United States, this book is widely revered in Norway. Both are teutonic cultures, but these stories are different in character and feel from the Grimm Brother stories. While they contain elements common to all european fables, this book is filled with trolls, and the reformation seems like a recent event. Norsk tales have a unique and compelling charm.

My favorite fable is in this collection--the one about the mill that explains why the sea is salty. Read it yourself--I don't want to spoil the ending.

From a purist point of view, drawings detract from stories such as these, but two of Norway's most most well-known illustrators are represented, and the artwork is compelling.

This paperback is a reprint of the original English-language translation from 40 years ago. I have that original text packed away somewhere lost, so it was a real treat to be able to buy a new copy to share with my son. ... Read more

Book Description

Join young Jack as he climbs a giant beanstalk to a magic castle in the clouds. Meet a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that sings by itself. And don't forget the ogre. A classic fairy tale with a vigorous look that will leave you chanting "Fee-fi-fo-fum!"

Reviews (5)

A classic tale
Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic tale that will never be forgotten. It has withstood countless attempts to be revised and rewritten. Tales such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Cinderella" have evolved greatly since their first versions. "Jack and the Beanstalk" unlike these other tales has kept its' original message and is still able to be a fairy tale that children of all ages can read and enjoy. After reading this fairy tale the message that I got from it is that from poverty can come great wealth it just depends on how you get it. I believe that this story is a magical story not being impressed on the minds of young children. Most children read this tale as a unrealistic journey that Jack has with the beanstalk and the enormous land above it. To me it is very unikely that a child would think it is okay to steal from others or run away from their problems as Jack did. Personally I think that the childs actions from this story are a result of the parents direction. If a parent does not show the child how this is wrong then the child may think that it is okay.
"Jack and the Beanstalk" serves to portray an ideological perspective similar to that of a liberalist view. That is being more outspoken, and not taking into account that little children may be reading the story. In no way would a conservative story display the rhyme of "I'll crush his bones to make my bread". Or the idea that stealing is okay. Many critics point out how stories can have a lasting impression on the minds of young children. Jack steals the objects in the story, an activity which could be teaching children that it is okay to steal. Perhaps it is a good idea that Jacobson put the fairy at the top of the beanstalk to let children know that stealing is wrong. The story also tells children that it is okay to run from their problems the same way Jack ran away when he stole the giants' belongings. Running away is not the proper way to deal with problems. Rather one should face them and deal with them accordingly.
"Jack and the Beanstalk" definately displays an oppresive matriarichal view. In modern versions Jack is controlled by his mother who nurtures him and directs his every move. In the Giant's case he is also controlled by a woman, his wife. Both of the women fix the dinner and tell the men what to and what not to say. This is possibly a reflection of the time period that this version was written in. At that time women were oppressed and men were in control so it seemed to the eye. In actuality without the women the men would be lost and unable to deal with the common tasks of everyday life.

Good story, but a little too scarey for small children
I originally brought this version of Jack and the Beanstalk home from the library to see if my 4 year old grandson would like it--he loved it so much I purchased it. This version is similar to the one I remember growing up with, however, when I read it to him I eliminate/improvise over the sentences that I think are way too scarey for a small child (eating boys on toast for breakfast, broiling calves, etc.). Even tho I think the illustrations can be a little frightening for smaller children, he doesn't seem to be bothered by them. And, all children love "fee fi fo fum, etc." and like to be scared just a little bit.

Good version of this fairy tale
I thought this version of the fairy tale was very well written. This is probably my favorite version out of the ones I have read before. It has been my favorite fairy tale since I was just a young little boy. I always liked to hear my mother and school teacher read the story out loud. My favorite part used to be when the ogre said, "Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum!" I remember when my kindergarten teacher used to walk around like a monster when she read that part. The pictures in this version are also a couple of the better ones I've seen in other versions of the fairy tale. I thought the author of the book was one of the best because he was pretty good at telling the tale and he also used detailed pictures. The pictures would be enough to scare little ones and make them laugh at the same time. The pictures were probably some of the better ones you will see in other versions of this fairy tale.

A good version of a traditional fairy tale
I read this book to my Pre-K class and they ask for it over and over again. The illustrations are good, kind of comical and scary at the same time. I enjoy reading this version because it stays true to the original language of the story :"Fee Fi Fo Fum, etc." You don't find this in every version.

Deliciously scary read-aloud!
Kellogg's traditional tale interpretations are among the best. His illustrations take on the old-time feel of classic tales and seem to magically glow, as they do in all his books. I read this book to my Kindergarten class and they ask for it again and again. It is great to see them cover their eyes and ears at the scary moments--they are frightened, but smiling from ear to ear. ... Read more

Book Description

This classic story is a favorite with toddlers, who will cheer on the three clever billy goats who outsmart a mean troll. With plenty of repetition, this adventure is perfect for reading aloud and for joining in, and a satisfying ending provides a reassuring touch.

... Read more

Reviews (5)

When My mother Read it to us
I chose The Threee Billy Goats Gruff by Stephen Carpenter because it was my Mom's favorite story book growing up. The day I brought it home she sat down and read it to me and my sister. My favorite characters are the three billy goats because there funny and can play tricks on the troll. The troll was foolish to let the small and middle size billy goats go across the bridge, and then have to fight with the big billy goat. He ended up falling off the bridge and all three billy goats enjoyed the grass on the other side of the bridge. Now they will be able to come and go whenever they want. There is a lesson to be learned in this book. Don't let someone influence you by saying that something is bigger and better if you wait for awhile. Overall the book is alot of fun to read. I would definitely share this story with my children.

The Stephen Carpenter version is outstanding for little ones
Many of the reviews listed here are for other versions of this story. I have checked out all seven versions of Three Billy Goats Grufff available from our library just to see which was best for a three year old. This one by Stephen Carpenter has large, clever, uncluttered pictures and tells the story in simple language. The troll is not too scary and, all in all, this one seems just right for little ones. Another version, the elaborately illustrated one by Janet Stevens, uses a colorful, imaginative vocabulary and would have more appeal to adults and older children (5 or 6 and up?).

Three Billy Goats Gruff; What a great childrens book!!!
This book has brought great joy to my daughters life. She is 2 1/2 years old and she just loves this story. I highly recomend this book to any parent who enjoys seeing their children envolved with a book.

Superflenderious!
I Loved this book!!! Robert Bender is a witty, compassionate, wonderful writer slash illustrator. He rules

A great bed time book.
Our little grandson (3) loves this book. We could read it to him multiple times per day. His other grandmother, said it was her favorite book when she was little. A must buy! ... Read more

Book Description

In these rebus storybooks, pictures replace some of the words sothat pre-readers can help to "read" the story. Attached to the front and backcovers of each book are color-coded, removable picture and word cards. When thecards are removed, a fold-out dictionary remains to help the young "reader". Aschildren match each picture to its color-coded word, they learn to read the wordand discover that reading is fun! In this book, Grandfather plants a turnip seed and waits for it to grow. Whenthe turnip grows to be the biggest turnip he has ever seen, he needs help topull it out of the ground. The unexpected help of a little creature ensures thata delicious meal is eventually had by all. This retelling of Tolstoy's folk taleis loved by children everywhere. Gaily illustrated with humor that captures theessence of the tale. Ages 3-6. ... Read more

Book Description

Between the pages of these delightfully illustra