Product Description

First recorded in Russia in the 19th Century by Aleksei Tolstoy, "The Gigantic Turnip" has all the ingredients of a truly hilarious folk tale for children and adults alike. Watch out for the special surprise at the end! This title comes with free story CD.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1696341 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Up-to-the-minute illustrations and graphic design serve as the new-fangled foil to the well-known Russian folktale. The text has a familiar, classic cadence; the publisher says that Tolstoy was the first to record the story, in the 19th century. The eponymous turnip, as many readers will already know, grows to colossal size and won't budge from the ground, forcing an elderly farmer couple to seek assistance from a succession of barn animals in order to pull it out. Working in a style reminiscent of Yumi Heo's for its flatness and angularity, Sharkey (Tales of Wisdom and Wonder) produces figures with beady eyes, spindly limbs and small, delineated smiles. They toil against a stark, elemental landscape that is mostly sky. The text itself takes on visual prominence, displayed centrally in large type, sometimes curving, sometimes magnified for effect. The animals (e.g., the two pot-bellied pigs, the three black cats, the four speckled hens) caper acrobatically, while the turnip itself is depicted as monumentally spherical as a planet. Two recent versions of this tale, Jan Peck and Barry Root's The Giant Carrot and Vladimir Vagin's The Enormous Carrot, build momentum right up to the ending, when all the animals share in a boisterous feast; here, the climactic moment comes earlier, when the turnip is finally dislodged. Sharkey's pacing creates a circular balance: the story begins calmly and ends calmly, with plenty of fun in between. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1999 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.

From AudioFile
Even with the familiarity of this beloved tale, the anticipation of the story's outcome brings much pleasure. When September rolls around, just which of the assorted farm animals will make a difference as the farmer and his wife toil to extract an enormous turnip from the garden patch? Ellen Verenieks provides just enough personality to differentiate the two main characters. More importantly, she maintains a leisurely pace, which is perfect to help young listeners focus on the action, appreciate the repetition and humor of the unfolding harvest event, and enjoy the tension of the story's climax. Sigh deeply, relax, and enjoy this fine serving of turnip stew. A.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine