Folk tales give us hope. They show us that we can succeed in spite of apparent problems. And they entertain. Perhaps this accounts for their universal appeal and their amazing ability to survive. "The Enormous Potato" is one such story that has been around for generations. Retold by professional storyteller Aubrey Davis, it shows what can be accomplished when everyone lends a hand to solve a problem. The Enormous Potato begins with a farmer who plants an eye -- a potato eye. It grows and grows into an enormous potato. Harvest time comes, but the potato is so big that the farmer can't pull it out. So he calls for help, first to his wife, then to their daughter, then to the dog and so on. Energetic illustrations capture the growing determination of the family to free the potato from the soil and the celebratory feast that follows their success.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-A sunny retelling of Tolstoy's The Great Big Enormous Turnip in which the characters work together and share the rewards of their labor. A plump, pigeon-toed farmer plants a potato eye that grows into "the biggest potato in the world." Unable to uproot it himself, he calls for his wife's assistance. The stubborn spud remains firmly planted, even after his daughter, dog, and cat are recruited. It is only with the small mouse's one-handed contribution to the group effort that the vegetable is finally ripped from the ground. The family shares its harvest with the jubilant townspeople until the potato, like the story, is gone. With cheerful golden yellow backdrops, the humorous watercolor-and-pencil illustrations reveal the chubby characters grimacing as they struggle to free the fleshy root from the muddy ground and their pleasure in consuming it. An entertaining example of teamwork and cooperation, this simply told tale would work as a read-aloud and, with its short sentences, repetition, and large print, as an easy-reader.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Davis uses a potato instead of the traditional turnip in this retelling of a familiar folktale. When the eye of a potato grows into the biggest potato in the world, a farmer must call for reinforcements to pull the vegetable out of the ground. Help comes in the form of the farmer's wife, daughter, dog, and cat, and finally a mouse, who adds just enough extra muscle to get the job done. The potato, when it finally appears, is huge, taking up most of a double-page spread and almost burying the folks who pulled it out. It's big enough to feed all the people of the town, who completely devour it. The hilarious watercolor-and-pencil illustrations add a freshness and vitality to a classic tale of teamwork. Helen Rosenberg
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very fun book,
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This review is from: The Enormous Potato (Paperback)
My 2 year old son LOVES this book. What makes it even better is that I enjoy reading it too. The premise is simple - a potato grows so big the farmer can't pull it out so he calls his wife to help and then she calls the daughter and so on. After it is finally out, the family shares it with the town. We love the rythmic wording and watercolor pictures. Give it a chance, it's cuter than these descriptions make it sound.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Simple, compelling story for little ones,
By Jill Bredal (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Enormous Potato, The (Hardcover)
My young children loved this book. It has a simple, rhythmic story line that builds satisfyingly to an exciting conclusion, when the family finally pulls the huge potato out of the ground. The illustrations are lively and amusing. This book is just right for children under six. Personally, I even found the unembellished nature of the book refreshing, and I read lots of books to kids every day!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4-year-old loved it!,
By M. Villa "Abuela" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Enormous Potato, The (Hardcover)
Delightful illustrations combined with a silly text brought laughter to my 4-year-old grandson. Recommended!
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