Ken Brown (1)

Chicken has her eye on Scarecrow's hat in this charming cumulative story featuring a series of exchanges. When Scarecrow declares he would trade his hat for a walking stick, Chicken sets out to find it, only to discover that Badger, who possesses such a stick, longs for a ribbon. So it goes, as Chicken hunts down the possessor of each longed-for item, effecting a series of trades that eventually gets everyone what they want...

I initially sought out The Scarecrow's Hat because I saw it on a list of autumn picture-books, but I found it more enjoyable as an example of its story type, than as a seasonal read. This kind of tale, in which the protagonist effects a series of exchanges in order to get what he wants, is quite common - think Elsa Beskow's Pelle's New Suit, for instance - and this is an entertaining example. The narrative is repetitive but engaging, and the accompanying artwork colorful and appealing. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for entertaining exchange/bargaining stories.… (més)

Book Overview
When the little animals hear that a big, bad wolf lives in their forest, they decide they have to get a cloer look. Squirrel, Crow, Badger, and the other animals sneak up on Grandma Wolf's house, where they find her fast asleep. Brave Piglet shouts, What's the time, Grandma Wolf? and the fun begins. All the animals take a turn asking the question, creeping closer and closer to the scary wolf. Excitement mounts with every turn of the page, and children will delight in discovering the surprise Grandma Wolf has in store for the curious animals.Ken Brown's vivid watercolors perfectly complement this engaging story. And guess what? What's the Time, Grandma Wolf? is based on a popular classic game. Readers can look on the back flap for the rules.… (més)