Wiley and the Hairy Man [Hardcover]

Judy Sierra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996 | Age Level: 7 and up

Vibrant scratchboard oil paintings bring to life a retelling of a popular Alabama folktale in which young Wiley must outwit a mean, trickster ogre in order to make it go away for good.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?A picture-book retelling of the popular Alabama folktale. Sierra omits the boy's first meeting with the Hairy Man found in other versions and has Wiley ask the man to turn himself into a bear rather than a giraffe. Unlike Virginia Haviland's tale in North American Legends (Philomel, 1979; o.p.) and Virginia Hamilton's in The People Could Fly (Knopf, 1985), this version does not contain African American dialect. Pinkney's signature oil paint-on-scratchboard illustrations, with greens and browns predominating, are effective and dramatic. Except for his cow feet, the large Hairy Man appears to be more human than beast, although his head is proportionately larger than his body, adding to his unearthly look. Libraries owning any of the aforementioned books will want to purchase this new edition only for the purpose of adding a variant telling to the collection.?Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library,
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. A well-known African American folktale is given a solid presentation that is sure to make the story a strong favorite with a wide range of readers. Sierra's flowing retelling is spare but solid, lending itself to reading and telling aloud. Pinkney's painted scratchboards, full of motion and feeling, are unfailingly vibrant, their rich reds and greens evoking a lush, slightly dangerous environment. Several variants of the tale are currently available, including Molly Bang's 1987 adaptation, but this particularly successful collaboration will find a permanent place on library shelves. Janice del Negro

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525674772
• ISBN-13: 978-0525674771
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #890,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in a very creative, book-loving family. My father was a photographer, and my mother was a librarian. They read to me constantly, especially poetry. When I was seven, they built me a puppet theater and I gave my first performance, "The Three Wishes." In college I studied literature, and afterwards I became a children's librarian. A few years later, I set out on my own as a puppeteer, quickly joining forces with another puppet artist, who became my husband. We studied traditional puppetry in Indonesia, and traveled all over the U.S. as teachers and artists-in-residence. About twenty years ago, I combined what I had learned as an avid reader and writer, as a librarian and children's entertainer, and began writing books for children. All of my books are meant to be read aloud and dramatized. To learn more about how each of my books came to be, please visit my web site: http://www.judysierra.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta Love It, July 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wiley and the Hairy Man (Hardcover)

Wiley and his mother outwit the Hairy Man in this compelling retelling of the folk tale. The illustrations alone are worth the price of admission, but you and your child will get a fun, absorbing story as well.