Product Description

This hilarious retelling of the classic Russian tale about a farmer whose turnip is impossible to pull from 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #433942 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 40 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781905236725
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From 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. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 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.
Sally Bates Goodroe, Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Sharkey's illustrations call to mind Brian Karas's work, offering a lot of quirky visual details.... The pictures are big enough for a small storytime and kids will find plenty to look at in one-on-one sharing." --School Library Journal

"Sharkey's illustrations call to mind Brian Karas's work, offering a lot of quirky visual details.... The pictures are big enough for a small storytime and kids will find plenty to look at in one-on-one sharing." --School Library Journal

"So, how many great big enormous turnips do you need on the library shelf? Make room for this one, because Niamh Sharkey's drolly comic illustrations are going to make this version the new storytime favorite. The 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." --The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books (starred review)

Up-to-the-minute illustrations and graphic design serve as the new-fangled foil to the well-known Russian folktale.... Sharkey's pacing creates circular balance: the story begins calmly and ends calmly, with plenty of fun in between." --Publishers Weekly

Up-to-the-minute illustrations and graphic design serve as the new-fangled foil to the well-known Russian folktale.... Sharkey's pacing creates circular balance: the story begins calmly and ends calmly, with plenty of fun in between." --Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews

A Teacher Loves the Gigantic Turnip!
This is a wonderful book, with beautiful illustrations. I teach preschool and use this book whenever I get a chance...it can be used to teach about counting, animals and planting...as well as having a wonderful moral. Every little bit helps!

My Favorite Version of this Classic Story Time Favorite
I love how the text reads, even more so than the brilliant illustrations. I love to read this text first and then play Heather Forest's musical adaptation of this story (see Heather Forest's Sing Me a Story).

Wonderful repetition and illustrations
I was unaware this was a classic tale retold by many and thought this copy was so cute I searched out other versions. All others paled in comparison to the both the easy repetative text and quirky illustrations, others were not nearly as well done IMO. DD asked for this one to be re-read so many times it became a companion to our home library.

The story is of an old husband and wife who plant a garden and tend it through the seasons. At harvest time one turnip has grown soooo large they can't pull it out of the ground. They utilize the help of all the farm animals one by one to heave and tug but still it won't come up. The wife thinks of a creative solution that does the trick and everyone enjoys the "fruit" of their labors in the end :).