The Talking Eggs: A Folktale From the American South
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sally Snyder
Children are satisfied when Blanche is rewarded for her goodness and hard work, and Rose receives her just desserts. A class of second-graders responded to the story by enthusiastically demanding, "Read it again!" Robert D. San Souci captures the reader's attention with simple language that brings the country setting to life: "They lived on a farm so poor, it looked like the tail end of bad luck."
But there's more to this tale of magic and treasure--it's about a girl who retains her humanity under difficult circumstances. Her reward is more than jewels and earthly goods; she earns the satisfaction of being a good person. Readers will enjoy Blanche's quiet, thoughtful approach to dealing with her mother and sister, and her efforts to keep a straight face at the sight of rabbits dancing the Virginia reel.
Jerry Pinkney's watercolors convey the sharp contrast between Blanche's difficult home life and the hilarious celebration at the old woman's home. Children will especially enjoy the two-page spread illustrating the varmints chasing Rose and her mother. The art is most effective in setting the mood of the mysterious backwoods and the old woman's home. The cover illustration, which shows Blanche and the crone on a forest path, gives a hint of this tone--and those who look carefully will see trees with faces and wide-open mouths.
San Souci and artist Jerry Pinkney also teamed up to produce Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella.
Plot Summary:
Children will be enthralled by the cow that brays like a mule, a magical pot that produces stew from a bone, and eggs that hatch jewels. Along with the humor and magic found in this down-home Creole tale is a lesson in humanity.
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ViolenceAn old woman removes her head to brush her hair, and a character steals the head to blackmail the woman. Snakes, wasps, and a wolf chase wicked characters. |
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