Full Belly Bowl [Hardcover]

Jim Aylesworth (Author), Wendy Anderson Halperin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Dear Friend, the tiny note reads,

In appreciation of your kindness and generosity,

I leave you this Full Belly Bowl.

You need never know hunger again.

Use it wisely or it will be a burden.

To empty, pour it out.

When not in use, store it upside down and out of reach of children.

"What on earth is a Full Belly Bowl?" the very old man wonders -- but he soon finds out. No matter how much he eats from it, the bowl magically refills itself. For the first time in a long time, the old man isn't hungry. Then he discovers that the bowl can refill itself with other things -- even his one copper coin -- and now it looks like he'll never want for anything again!

His excitement makes him careless, however, and as he hurries off to spend some of his new wealth, he leaves the bowl right side up. And who can say what might get into the Full Belly Bowl in his absence?

Fully realized in Wendy Halperin's beautiful and intricate illustrations, Jim Aylesworth's whimsical folktale will delight readers while striking a note of caution.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Halperin's (Hunting the White Cow) sprightly, elaborately paneled illustrations set a light-hearted tone for this variation on a classic folktale motif. When an old man who lives in a cozy but meager home saves a "wee small man" from a fox and then helps him recuperate, he receives the gift of a "full belly bowl." An accompanying letter explains the rules: "When not in use, store it upside down." At first all is well, as the magic bowl multiplies whatever is placed in it, feeding the old man and his cat in grand style. Then the old man decides to use the bowl to multiply coins, and, excited at the prospect of untold wealth, he forgets the rule. The cottage is overrun first by mice (one crawls into the bowl), then by cats (the man multiplies his own cat to catch the mice)Aand in the mayhem, the bowl breaks. Aylesworth's (Through the Night) nimble story keeps the action going, transcending cautionary tale to deliver an amusing lark. The softly shaded and meticulously drawn images have a homespun quality that underscores the story's domesticity. Multiple panels unfold the plot in a series of airy, intricate vignettes; their borders are alight with elements that echo each scene, from fruit and flowers to birds, cats and mice. Aylesworth and Halperin make a wonderful team: like the magic bowl, their talents runneth over. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Beautiful design enhances this delightful cautionary tale. Told in a folkloric style, it tells of a poor old man living a spartan existence in the forest with only his beloved cat for company. While foraging for wild strawberries one day, the man hears a cry for help. Alarmed, he grabs a stick and runs in the direction of the voice. There he spies a "wee small man" caught in the jaws of a fox. He hurls the stick at the beast and the little fellow drops to the ground, injured. The old man tends the sprite for several days and the two get on famously. Then one morning, the little man is gone, but a few days later a beautiful bowl appears on the doorstep with a note. The full belly bowl is a thank-you gift to be used wisely. Experimentation reveals that it will multiply anything placed within it. This, as the old man learns, is a mixed blessing when a spider alights in the enchanted vessel. Predictably, the old fellow becomes greedy and careless and the bowl is finally broken and useless. He then rediscovers contentment in his humble existence and is grateful for the final companionable gift provided by the magic. Exquisite colored-pencil drawings are distinguished by lovely botanical detail and fine draftsmanship. Thoughtful attention to layout, visual detail, and a well-told tale combine to create a gem of a book.
Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689810334
• ISBN-13: 978-0689810336
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #655,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a treasure!, November 6, 2000

By 

Tinamom (Chattanooga, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Belly Bowl (Hardcover)

My three children and I read this book over the summer. This is truly a story for all ages. My 10-year-old was as enchanted as his little sister and brother. The story has surprising twists and the most gorgeous illustrations imaginable. I plan to purchase a copy for our home library. It's a book you'll go back to again and again. And with us it sparked some interesting conversations: What would you put in YOUR fully belly bowl?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Full Belly Bowl, April 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Full Belly Bowl (Hardcover)

Enhanced by the subltly muted colors of Halpern's illustrations, "The Full belly Bowl" is an excellent lap or storytime book which begs to be read to your favorite youngster or group. Gifted a magical bowl by a "wee small man" he saved from a fox, the old man had it all, until his own forgetfullness filled his cottage with mice. What of the mice? What of his cat Angela? Can the old man live happily ever after? Children will love having this one read to them!

5.0 out of 5 stars love both the pictures and the tale, November 26, 2011

By 

KP (West Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Full Belly Bowl (Hardcover)

Clever tale! Good moral. Love that the old man is content in the end, and not bitter about what might have been. I was also amazed at the detail in the pictures! So fun to study. We had first found this book at the library, but immediately knew we had to purchase - a must-have for our own bedtime story shelf at home.