Customer Reviews

No Dinner!: The Story of the Old Woman and the Pumpkin

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book tells a similar story of the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood" but with very interesting culture differences. One twist to the plot is that the grandmother visits her granddaughter and she meets three different animals (a wolf, a bear and a tiger) on her way to her granddaughter's house.

My two children like this story but my 3 year old son dearly loves it. The illustrations are colorful and the story line is cute but predictable. (I think that is why my son loves it and has almost memorized it). I would not be a bit surprised if this book becomes a new classic.

Another reviewer compared this story to Little Red Ridinghood. I can see the comparison, but I think it's more akin to the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

An old woman travels through the (scary!) forest to see her daughter. On her way she avoids three carnivores by claiming they should wait to eat her until she's big and fat, on her way back, something they amiably agree to.

But then she goes and gets big and fat! How can she escape them now? Well, she can hide in a pumpkin and ROLL home, right? The best part has to be where she ALMOST tricks the wolf, but then the wolf realizes PUMPKINS DO NOT TALK. Oh boy. (Luckily, like Hansel and Gretel, she has a stick to convince him she's still skinny. Whew!)

Really funny, and nobody gets eaten except some food.

This book has become a fast favorite in my preschool classroom. There is a lot that can be done with voices and dramatic play (acting out the story, dressing up in costumes, using puppets), and the children absolutely adore the repititious phrases. Though it's a pumpkin story, it's not Halloween based, so it can be used year-round. Many many literacy extensions can be built off this story as well. Last but not least, it's incredibly fun to read as the teacher!