From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4. A Scottish variant of "Rumpelstiltskin" and "Tom Tit Tot." Grumphie, a beloved pig, is ailing. A fairy woman dressed in green appears and asks the animal's owner, "If I cure your pig, what will you give me?" Too quickly the woman answers, "Anything your ladyship asks." The price exacted for the cure is the woman's daughter, Kate. The green lady will return to claim the child in three days, unless they can guess her name. When Grumphie runs off, Kate follows and overhears the fairy reveal her name as she dances and sings. On the third day, Kate identifies the green lady as Whuppity Stoorie. Thwarted, the fairy disappears in a rage. This universal tale has many ancient and powerful characteristics: belief in the interdependence of name and identity, emotional tension arising from the mother's terrible pledge, and the satisfying appeal of a clever human outwitting a supernatural being. Other versions of "Whuppity Stoorie" differ in the details and White does not cite her sources. Schindler's illustrations, done with watercolor, gouaches, and pastels, have a painterly style that complements this traditional tale. The Scotland he depicts is a world of stone walls; white-washed, thatched-roof cottages; and dramatic skies. The fairy, who arrives in the center of a whirlwind, is sharp-featured and slightly malignant without looking like a traditional hag. The pig is a charmer. This tale is not included in many of the standard collections; therefore libraries with significant folklore collections will want to consider purchasing it, despite the lack of a citation.?Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
... the book is delightful to read and just scary enough to keep kids guessing what, oh what, will be the outcome for Kate and her Mum and their beloved Grumphie. (Ages 4 to 8) -- The New York Times Book Review, Lisa Shea
Kate and her mother may be poor, but they do have a fine pig. When the pig falls ill, Kate's mother makes an ill-fated promise to a fairy and must search for a way to break the spell before it's too late. Good reading skills will enhance enjoyment of this gentle fairy tale. -- Midwest Book Review
Kate and her mother may be poor, but they do have a fine pig. When the pig falls ill, Kate's mother makes an ill-fated promise to a fairy and must search for a way to break the spell before it's too late. Good reading skills will enhance enjoyment of this gentle fairy tale. -- Midwest Book Review
