Customer Reviews

Heckedy Peg

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've read this book to a few students at a time. I always pause in the middle of it -- at the point where the witch challenges the mother to figure out which item is her child. On my table is a china pitcher, a box of salt, a tub of butter, a knife, and three other items. Then I challenge the children to figure out which item should go where on the picture. Their eyes gleam when they understand and solve the puzzle themselves. Afterwards, it is fun to make pudding!

My eldest was terrified by this book when she was 4- I don't blame her!- but started to like it a couple of years later. The storyline is dark as are the illustrations, but they're also well rendered.

There are many obvious messages in the story- the mother leaves the children alone with explicit directions, which they disregard to their detriment! The witch is portrayed as the post-Pagan era Evil Witch, and not a positive Healing Witch. Even worse, she wants to eat the children. Yikes! The Mother though, is able to Save Her Children because she loves and understands them well and pays attention to their needs.

My daughter's fears stemmed largely (I believe) from her fear of bad things happening to young children. If your child feels that way, this might be a scary book for her. My younger daughter never disliked the story though, but she has a different kind of analytical mind and probably didnt' suspend reality to allow the children to turn to food. :-)

I enjoyed reading this story to my class. My class still get excited every time I read this story to them. I now read this story to other classes and still get amazed at the look on their faces when they see the pictures and when I sound like the witch in the story, My class especially enjoys the children names, Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday,Sunday. They always want to say it along with me. I have bought all of Audrey and Don Wood's books. I would love to meet them and tell them thank you for writing a wonderful and inspiring book for us all.

I discovered the Woods with "The Mouse, Strawberry and Big Black Bear" and sought out more. When they were very young, my boys and I loved the books as much for the illustrations as the text. And then we found "Heckedy Peg" at the library. My gosh. Granted, this story is not for every child - it could be viewed as quite scary. But at 2 and 5, my boys couldn't get enough (especially the 2 yr. old!). Examine the illustrations to add to the text of the book. Look for the blackbird in nearly every picture. Notice the "pie boy's" shirt before and after his rescue - after the witch has taken a "lick" of the pie, and too many more to mention. I bought a book to set aside for my grandchildren and one for each of my boys to read to their own kids when that time comes. My 2 year old, now 15, still sits down to read it now and then and we still discuss the illustrations.
And there are some very good lessons to be learned, too (WHY you don't talk to strangers!) and the Mother is a real hero.

Superbly illustrated. I read this book to my class every year. Best read slowly as the illustrations are so detailed and captivating. I always leave the book out afterwards so the children can continue to enjoy it. The children get something new from the book each time they read it. Highly recommended. I just purchased my second copy to replace my well-used first copy.

At first glance, you might not guess this book would be so captivating for young children. It's a little dark, and relatively sophisticated. But even the very young will sit mesmerized by this tale.

Although published in 1987, this scary children's book has the look, feel, and mood of a Brother's Grimm tale, probably mostly because of the art. My two-year old daughter's imagination was immediately captured by my reading and has loved spooky stories ever since, without night fears (of course, the witch gets it in the end). Even after the book had been back to the library for months, she begged me to recount Heckedy Peg from memory. She may think she only loves the story now, but I know that the artwork is what I would remember forever, even had I not chosen to own the hardcover edition. A well-crafted plot with a smooth story line of a perfect length for a bedtime story

The books written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by her husband Don Wood do not get much better. Heckedy Peg is no exception. The sources of this particular story go back to the 16th century and they are presented in this work in a Grimm Brother's type format and mode...pure folk tale, both in telling and in illustration.

This is the story of a poor mother living near a small village with her seven children. The children are named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. One day the mother must make a trip to the local market and informs her children that as they have been good, she will bring them each a present; their choice. Each choose and request an item. The mother then gives them stern warning that they are not to let any strangers in the house and they are not to touch the fire. Upon this, she departs.

Of course it is not long until an old woman shows up, a witch, an evil witch, and as the children are playing, she asks them if she can come in and light her pipe from the fire. At first the children refuse, but the witch informs them she has lost her legs; still to no avail, but when she offers gold, the children relent and let the witch in and use the fire to light her pipe. That is when their troubles begin. The old woman changes them into various forms of food and hauls them off to her cave to have "dinner." Upon return the mother finds her children missing and is tipped off by a bird and her quest to retrieve her children begins.

First the narrative: Personally I feel that Audrey Wood is one of the best writers of children's books in the business. I have yet to run across a bit of her work that I did not like, and more importantly, have never found one of her books that children did not enjoy. With this particular work, she has used the mode of the fairy tale or folk tale and used it quite effectively. The reader is instantly reminded of either the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson. Wood stays true to the format through to the end. This work captures the times (16th century fairy setting), perfectly.

Secondly: the illustrations in this book are absolutely the best. Details, blends of color, the darkness, shading and stetting match the text perfectly and are an absolute feast for the eyes. This is one of those works that can be viewed over and over again and something new will be spotted with each viewing. His human figures are absolutely delightful; think of a softer Thomas Hart Benton and you have a good idea of what this artist is doing.

Now there are aspects of this story that are rather dark; kidnapping and let's face it, implied cannibalism could quite well be a bit scary for some children. The paintings are dark for the most part and do have a brooding aspect to some of them. Each parent knows their own child best and it is at this point that parental judgment should be used. Each child is different. In my own experience I have not found this to be a problem as I have found most kids delight in this sort of thing. Again though, that is the parent's call.

On the other hand this book teaches many good lessons; not letting strangers in the house, not playing with fire and to listen to your mom, not being the least. It is also a wonderful example of a mothers love for her children. We can throw I some other lessons such as greed for gold and such, and a good readers should be able to come up with several more as the book is being read to the child. I can remember a version of this one being read to me at a very young age and the lessons did indeed make an impression.

Last, but not least, there is a aspect of this book that is great for reading one on one or to a group. tell the child or children they must listen closely as there is a riddle they must solve. When you get to the par where the mother must solve the problem the witch gives her in order to save her children, have the kids give it a try...they will delight in this. Also, Audrey Wood has written several dozen books for children. I have yet to find one that I have not been extremely pleased with.

Great book...one of the best.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

As an elementary librarian for 18 years this is one of my absolute favorites! It has the elements of a classic fairy tale - good verses evil, beauty and ugliness, defining illustrations, etc. The Woods have, once again, created a book to be enjoyed by the whole family. A must from Santa.

Whenever I am substitute teaching or babysitting, I bring a copy of this book. The illustrations are amazing (my favorite is the one of the children lighting the witch's pipe!) and the story keeps you at the edge of your seat. Watch children's eyes light up when you read this and expect to be asked to reread it, again and again! :)