A Pipkin of Pepper [Hardcover]

Helen Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up

A companion to the best-selling Pumpkin Soup
Duck, Cat, and Squirrel, the three animal friends from Pumpkin Soup, are out of salt, a key ingredient of their special recipe. Duck insists upon coming along with Cat and Squirrel on the shopping trip to the city. It’s his first visit, and he’s a little scared, but he forgets everything when he spots a pepper store. What if they bought a pipkin of pepper to add to the soup? When he turns around to tell Cat and Squirrel about his great idea, he realizes they’re gone!

This perfect book about getting lost, with the sage reminder to stay put if you do, is illustrated with warm, cleverly detailed paintings.

A Pipkin of Pepper is a 2006 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1–The trio from Pumpkin Soup (Farrar, 1999) is back again in another gentle tale of friendship and lessons learned. Once again, the animals are concocting their favorite brew of pumpkin soup when they realize that they've run out of salt. Cat announces that he's going shopping when directionally challenged, but headstrong little Duck insists on accompanying him. Cat relents only after Duck promises to hold on tight to avoid getting lost. A concerned Squirrel decides to bring up the rear on the trip to the city. With his friends on either side, Duck spies a pepper shop and decides that the flavoring would be a delicious addition to their soup. Squirrel begs to differ and he and Cat steam off in the direction of the salt shop, unknowingly leaving their distracted friend behind. Reminiscent of the panic of any youngster left alone in unfamiliar territory, Duck, in a terrible tizzy, becomes even more lost. A true-to-life, predictable resolution ensues although heightened by an overblown response by the police and fire departments. Readers will be reassured by this beguiling rendition of a common childhood experience. The rich coloration and expressive representations of the characters raise this story above the ordinary. Purchase this companion book where its predecessor is popular.–Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Like its predecessor, this companion to Cooper's Pumpkin Soup (1997) offers folksy paintings in spice-cabinet colors and a text that sparkles brightest when read aloud. Duck, Cat, and Squirrel visit town to purchase salt for their trademark pumpkin soup. Duck, the smallest of the trio, "had a habit of wandering off," and it's not long before an enticing window display of peppers catches his attention and he loses his friends in the crowd. A concerned mother hen leads panicky Duck back to the point of separation, while the others retrace their steps to enfold their missing friend in a warm embrace. Some adults may be troubled by Duck's ready acceptance of help from a stranger who is not a police officer, but little listeners will pay less attention to plot specifics than to Cooper's dramatic narrative and warm, dreamlike watercolors. An attractive choice for autumnal story hours and for discussions of personal safety. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374359539
• ISBN-13: 978-0374359539
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,493,097 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:

4.0 out of 5 stars Narrative not as memorable as Pumpkin Soup, September 4, 2008

By 

H. Sapiens "Amanda" (SF Bay Area, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Pipkin of Pepper (Paperback)

3 stars for story, 4.5 stars for illustrations.

Pumpkin soup was a delightful book with narrative that flowed fluidly and enchantingly - it pulled you in and held you. Narrative that a preschooler was quick to memorize - narrative that flowed with the pictures. As such, I was ecstatic to preorder the paperback version of Pipkin of Pepper.

In this sequel to Pumpkin Soup, Cat, Squirrel, and Duck are back and going to the city to buy salt. On the way, Cat and Squirrel cajole Duck that if he is lost he is to stay put! Whereas Pumpkin Soup delivered life lessons in finely crafted prose, Pipkin of Pepper leaves little to interpretation. Well... you guessed it - Duck gets lost and does not stay put! Here's where the story falls apart. Rather than go on a quest to find Duck - in one short paragraph he is plied with pepper and comfort and then Cat and Squirrel just show up. The story is over before it started - no time for suspense, climax, or character building (a major strength of Helen Cooper's previous work). And what is the reward for getting lost - he gets to fly in a helicopter, thus failing to deliver another important life lesson - that consequences for mistakes are not positive. The story line is dull and choppy. I would rate it a very grudging 3 stars if it wasn't for the rich and vibrant illustrations, if not lacking a wee bit of imagination.

I cannot recommend Pumpkin Soup highly enough. However, as for this book I would suggest you peruse it at the bookstore before purchasing. The illustrations alone may be worth purchasing for some children. If it was my own opinion alone that this book was less than stellar, I could forgive it. However, my 4-year old who cares far more about story lines than pictures was very disappointed in this book and said she does not want to read it again - and that speaks volumes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the Scenes View, December 8, 2005

By 

Felicia B. Gershberg (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Pipkin of Pepper (Hardcover)

We had the privilege of a class field trip to a local bookstore to hear Helen Cooper talk about how she created this book. She fascinated a roomful of elementary school students (including many kindergartners) with her explanation of how she was motivated to write this book (trying to teach her daughter about what to do if she got lost), of her process of creating illustrations (she gets to buy as many paints and brushes and other art supplies as she wants, because it's her job!), and of the quirky elements and details in her pictures that were inspired by real-life images (a funky grinder in a coffee shop led to the pepper mill skyline in the book). Turn the pages of this book over and over to appreciate it all!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE to read this book, March 16, 2005

By 

Rhonda McMichael (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pipkin of Pepper (Hardcover)

This is my favourite book to read to my 3-year old daughter. She loves it too. The illustrations and story are terrific, the language just wonderful. A delightful story that has taught my daughter what to do if she's ever lost -- "stay in one place and we'll find you" -- in a fun and unscary way. And there are so many hidden gems for adults as well as kids. We love this even more than the original "Pumpkin Soup." Can't recommend it highly enough.