The Farmer's Wife
PreS-Gr 2-While the folk art illustrations are boldly attractive, this cumulative tale falls short of the mark. While picking apples, a farmer's wife drops one down a hole in the ground. She asks a bird to get it for her, but the bird refuses. She asks a cat to jump at the bird so it will retrieve the fruit, but it refuses. She continues to seek help to no avail. Finally, she returns to the bird, who sets off the sequence of events readers have been waiting for. Oddly, though, it is the wind that finally blows the apple out of the hole. This story lacks the simple, effective rhythm of tales such as "The Old Woman and Her Pig." The striking pictures of golden hills, brilliant blue skies, and the woman's Middle Eastern dress are the highlight here.-Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VACopyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.