From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-Upton brings a new look to a classic tale. Harper's rendition of the girl who encounters a wolf while venturing into the jungle was originally illustrated by William Wiesner (Dutton, 1967; o.p.) in hues of green and orange. The text, first copyrighted in 1918, is identical, containing the delightful onomatopoeic phrases that invite participation when read aloud. Readers spy the wolf before Little Girl does, but the spunky heroine manages to sing him to sleep, repeatedly, until she escapes to the safety of home. The soft-focus "jungle" canopy and precious animals will deter some adults, but others will want to consider a full-color, fresh edition of the cautionary tale. An introductory note provides some background, much of it speculative.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
PreS-Gr. 1. A staple of story hours for decades, the tale of the Gunniwolf returns, with Harper's text reprinted almost word for word, but illustrations that are larger, brighter, and glossier than William Wiesner's pictures for the familiar 1967 version. The Gunniwolf, who resembled a lion in the old edition, now looks more like a large, overly friendly dog. The old version appeared to take place in India; the new one has an idyllic, woodland setting reminiscent of the American frontier, though the text specifies a "dense jungle." An unsigned introductory note, which calls the story "an American folktale whose origin is uncertain," offers thoughtful commentary on the tale. Some will find the art in this picture book overly sweet; others will be captivated by Upton's pretty interpretation of Harper's beautifully cadenced text.
Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
