The Enormous Turnip [Hardcover]

Kathy Parkinson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One of Grandfather's turnips grows to such an enormous size that the whole family including the dog, cat, and mouse try in vain to pull it up.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 An adequate retelling of the well-known Russian cumulative tale (although no credit is given to the author, Alexei Tolstoy). Aside from the names, the ruddy cheeks and the rather rotund stature of the various characters who lend a hand pulling up Grandfather Ivan's turnip, there is little in the text or the bright watercolor paintings to suggest their Russian setting. Also somewhat disturbing is a cutesy family of rabbits who appear throughout yet have nothing whatever to do with the tale. For it's Petya, the beetle, whose added effort succeeds in pulling up the stubborn turnip at last. He is, of course, pleased and quite satisfied with himself in the end. A good choice for story hours, longer and more appealing than The Great Big Enormous Turnip (Watts, 1969; o.p.) by Oxenbury. Luann Toth, Summit Free Public Library, N.J.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807520624
• ISBN-13: 978-0807520628
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #990,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loves this book!, March 24, 2010

By 

Kaz. Mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Enormous Turnip (Hardcover)

I found this book at the library and we read it a dozen times a day. I wish it were not out of print. My child is internationally adopted and of Russian decent.
I have read several versions of this story with more "traditional" Russian illustrations and they were too long and did not flow as well. We love all the perfectly chosen Russian names for the various characters. The simple pictures and words reveal much about their personalities and relationships as a larger "family" A new twist on the original tale is that a beetle instead of the usual mouse is the one to succeed. I agree that the illustrations are cute but not special. I collect children's books and sometimes what appeals to a child is so subtle as to be missed by even pickiest adult. There is something very endearing about this version.

3.0 out of 5 stars A So-So Book, November 13, 2007

By 

maryanntherese (Lockport, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Enormous Turnip (Hardcover)

This book retells the Russian folk tale of the Enormous (or Giant) Turnip. Grandfather can't pull the turnip up, because it is so big, so he enlists the aid of everyone around. The illustrations contain a bunch of superfluous bunnies standing around with goofy grins. They have nothing to do with the story and I can't see their point at all, except for artificially inflating the cuteness factor. While I like the story well enough, everyone pulling together to accomplish something, I'll look for a more visually appealing version.