Seven Loaves of Bread [Library Binding]

Ferida Wolff (Author), Katie Keller (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1993 | Age Level: 4 and up

Each day, Milly bakes seven loaves of bread for the animals and for her sister Rose, but when Milly gets sick, because Rose is too lazy to bake, the animals will not work and their farm starts to fail.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Down on the farm, Milly bakes seven loaves of bread every morning, distributing them among animals, neighbors and friends, and saving the last loaf for sister Rose. But their pleasant domestic routine is disrupted when Milly takes sick and Rose, "who didn't like to work any harder than she had to," grudgingly takes over the baking, with comically disastrous consequences. The indolent Rose first bakes six loaves, then five, and so on, with the result that a succession of hungry animals wreaks havoc in the garden and an elderly neighbor goes without bread. Only when Rose learns the true value of Milly's wisdom--"It's as easy to make seven as it is to make one"--is she able to restore order. Wolff ( The Woodcutter's Coat ) effectively paces her tale through judicious repetitions. Debut illustrator Keller delivers striking art, scratchboard embellished with a palette dominated by pinks, blues and violets. She captures the homey humor with stylized compositions that freeze the exaggeratedly expressive characters: busy Milly smiles beatifically as she gives the goat bread; a despairing Rose lifts wrist to brow as she surveys the Herculean tasks before her. By the end, Rose, too, grins (albeit ruefully) as she serves a beaming Milly a slice of just-baked bread--Rose now "only works as hard as she has to." Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Each day, Millie bakes seven loaves--one each for the dog, hen, goat, and rooster, and a peddler, an elderly neighbor, and her lazy housemate, Rose. When Milly takes sick, Rose bakes, but since she doesn't ``like to work any harder than she [has] to,'' she makes one loaf less each day--with unfortunate results: unfed, the dog doesn't chase crows from the garden; the goat eats the laundry; the hen doesn't lay the eggs Milly needs to get well; etc. Like the husband left to mind the house, Rose finds that her problems increase until Milly gets better--and she suddenly reforms, even presenting Milly with her own loaf. This folkloric original tale is overcontrived; it's particularly peculiar that both young women aren't included in the daily ration. But Keller's energetic illustrations--scratchboard overlaid with cheerful down-home colors--recall the lively vigor of Michael McCurdy's wood engravings; she renders humans, animals, and an attractive traditional setting all in crisp detail and with equal facility: an excellent debut. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688111122
• ISBN-13: 978-0688111120
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,559,943 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 Seven Loaves of Bread by Ferida Wolfe, October 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Seven Loaves of Bread (Hardcover)

This is an exquisitely illustrated book depicting the importance of striving to do the best job possible. It emphasizes shared responsibility in a household (family environment) and allows for adaptability to many unique family situations. The story line is easy to follow and the pictures are captivating.

5.0 out of 5 stars Story with a moral that will buid your childs character, March 17, 2011

By 

Jonathan Tennant - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seven Loaves of Bread (Hardcover)

Wonderful story, this story is one of being diligent with the small things. A lesson all children should be learning but aren't.
Similar to "The little red hen" but far better in that it considers the effect of being lazy on others and not just the rewards of hard work. Lovely illustrations too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun with several lessons, October 10, 2005

By 

Elizabeth "bitsbooks" (Burlington, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Loaves of Bread (Hardcover)

I checked out this book from the library becuase I liked the illustrations in a woodcut style. The story is the real gem - humorous and repetitive, with great lessons to boot. My children have just turned 4 and 6, and they both ask for a reading daily!