The Gigantic Turnip
A retelling of the classic Russian tale. The old man and his wife tug and heave at the giant turnip, to be joined by various animals and birds, until it finally comes up.
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This hilarious retelling of the classic Russian tale about a farmer whose turnip is impossible to pull out of the ground uses simple vocabulary and is ideal for reading aloud. Its cumulative theme will soon have young readers gleefully joining in, and Irish artist Niamh Sharkey's wonderfully quirky illustrations will delight and fascinate all ages.Publishers Weekly"Up-to-the-minute illustrations and graphic design serve as the new-fangled foil to the well-known Russian folktale," said PW. Ages 2-5.
\ Publishers Weekly\ - Publisher's Weekly\ "Up-to-the-minute illustrations and graphic design serve as the new-fangled foil to the well-known Russian folktale," said PW. Ages 2-5.\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalPreS-Gr 2-There is no shortage of versions of this popular Russian folktale, including Jan Peck's recent variant, The Giant Carrot (Dial, 1998). However, this retelling is more complex, so it won't work with very young audiences. The cumulative action centers on an old man and old woman and all of the animals who try to help them uproot a gigantic turnip. In the end, it is a tiny mouse that swings the balance, and all enjoy a hearty turnip supper. Sharkey's illustrations call to mind Brian Karas's work, offering a lot of quirky visual details shown in earthy browns, greens, and yellows on scratchy solid backgrounds. The round old man has spectacles precariously perched on his nose, the old woman sports elfish shoes and striped stockings, the rounded rectangle of a cow chomps on delicate flowers, and the potbellied pigs trod on tiny hooves. The pictures are big enough for a small storytime and kids will find plenty to look at in one-to-one sharing.\ \ \ Bulletin of the Center for Childrens BooksThe retelling itself is a rollicking rendition of Tolstoy's original, with a rhythmic accumulation of helpful farm animals . . . A fine combination of illustration and text, this turnip is going to be the new staple crop for the storytime crew.\ \
