Some Friends to Feed: The Story of Stone Soup
PreSchool-Grade 2–While versions of the story abound, most notably Marcia Brown's 1947 Caldecott winner (S & S), this lovely picture book is a truly worthy addition to most collections. The familiar plot plays out with only one soldier this time and it is the children of the town who are willing to help him. As the youngsters become more involved in the making of the soup, the soldier transforms page by page from a spear-carrying warrior to a man who looks very much like everyone else in town. The addition of a song will make interactive reading a pleasure as everyone can join in the catchy refrain, Stone Soup is what you need/When you have some friends to feed each time a character adds a little something to the pot. Hays's acrylic illustrations create a village that appears quite worn down, and the details are particularly effective. The artist's palette of muted greens and blues gradually takes on more color and life as the story–and soup–progresses. A note from the authors explains that this version of the story is set in 17th-century Germany.–Laura Eckley, Bronxville Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.