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29th out of 179 books
—
109 voters
The Talking Eggs
Kind Blanche, following the instructions of an old witch, gains riches while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded. A Creole folktale spread through the American South.
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
September 29th 1989
by Dial
(first published 1989)
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I really enjoyed the illustrations and the feel of the story as I read. Ive read an European version of this story and I enjoyed the differences and the imaginings of the illustrator.
I really enjoyed this story! Blanche is a little girl who lives with her mother and sister. Blanche is made to do all of the house hold chores and if its done incorrectly is yelled at and hit by her mother and sister. Her mother played favoritism with her sister, and one day her sister was thirsty so her mother sent her to fetch water. At the well Blanche met a poor old woman who was in need of water which Blanche gladly helped her with. Later in the story this same old women blessed Blanche wit...more
The Talking Eggs is a retelling of a Creole folktale about goodness and badness in people, with some mystery and mystique thrown in. The work profiles a Southern family consisting of a mother and two daughters – one of which works hard and is the epitome of good, and the other who can be characterized as nothing more than silly, lazy, and greedy. The girls’ true colors are blatantly revealed when they meet a mysterious old woman in the woods who appears to have magical powers. The girls encount...more
Aside from the Caldecott Challenge, I had wanted to read this book every since I found out that Jerry Pinkney did the illustrations. He makes a book come alive with his brilliant illustrations and this book was no different. In this adapted version of a Creole folktale, our main character is the meek but obedient Blanche and her cruel mother and sister Rose. Blanche does all the housework and takes care of her mother and sister but is never thanked for it. One day, she meets an old woman and giv...more
Publication: 1989
Grade/Age: Grades K-5
Annotation: This is a Creole version of a fairly well-known folktale. Blanche is a kind and hard-working girl, who does all the work around the house while her sister and her mother lounge about and think about how one day they'll be rich and move to the city. One day, Blanche meets an old woman and goes to her house, seeing many strange and unusual things.
Themes: Compassion, honesty, just rewards, siblings, supernatural, manners and conduct
Ways to use the...more
Grade/Age: Grades K-5
Annotation: This is a Creole version of a fairly well-known folktale. Blanche is a kind and hard-working girl, who does all the work around the house while her sister and her mother lounge about and think about how one day they'll be rich and move to the city. One day, Blanche meets an old woman and goes to her house, seeing many strange and unusual things.
Themes: Compassion, honesty, just rewards, siblings, supernatural, manners and conduct
Ways to use the...more
During our week of traditional literature I read the "Talking Eggs" because it was a different interpretation of the traditional "Cinderella" tale.
In the book we meet two sisters Rose and Blanche who live with their evil mother. The two sisters are totally different. Rose is evil just like her mother but Blanche is sweet and kind. One day, Blanche meets an old, raggedy woman. Blanche kindly gives her water. It is later, when Blanche meets the old lady again that the old lady takes her back to h...more
In the book we meet two sisters Rose and Blanche who live with their evil mother. The two sisters are totally different. Rose is evil just like her mother but Blanche is sweet and kind. One day, Blanche meets an old, raggedy woman. Blanche kindly gives her water. It is later, when Blanche meets the old lady again that the old lady takes her back to h...more
Although this story won a Caldecott Honor, the full bleed, double-page illustrations are not at all my favorite part of this story. This clever tale is a mixture of both folk and fairy tale, combining an iconic moral, which is common of most folktales, with traditional elements of magic, good and evil, which are present in fairy tales. The evil mother and sister (Rose), in this story take the place of the evil "step family" in the traditional Cinderella. The strange old woman in the woods, or "A...more
1. Traditional Literature - Picture Book
2. Blanche and her sister, Rose, live with their mother in the country. The help out with chores, but Rose and her mother are very greedy. Blanche is obedient and helpful, and in this story, those traits take you much further in life than greed.
3. a. An area to comment on, the illustrations! These images are absolutely stunning, and the detail makes them appropriate for upper elementary grades. The book contains a lot of text, but the pictures bring that...more
Sep 16, 2011
Heather
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
african-americans,
awards-caldecott,
children,
fairy-tales,
folklore,
picture-books,
fantasy
1990 Caldecott Honor
Another beautiful bunch of watercolor paintings from Jerry Pinkney. This is the story of a good little girl, Blanche, and her abusive and greedy mother and sister Rose. After meeting a strange old woman in the woods and then running away from her awful family, Blanche stays at the woman's house. The woman makes her promise not to laugh at what she sees, and she doesn't. The things include a two-headed cow with corkscrew horns, some multicolored chickens that sing like mocking...more
Another beautiful bunch of watercolor paintings from Jerry Pinkney. This is the story of a good little girl, Blanche, and her abusive and greedy mother and sister Rose. After meeting a strange old woman in the woods and then running away from her awful family, Blanche stays at the woman's house. The woman makes her promise not to laugh at what she sees, and she doesn't. The things include a two-headed cow with corkscrew horns, some multicolored chickens that sing like mocking...more
Blanche is a kind girl who lives with her cruel widowed mother and her mean sister Rose. Blanche does all of the chores on their poor farm, while her mother and sister idly sit dreaming of wealth and moving to the city. One day, Blanche encounters a strange old woman who brings Blanche to her mysterious home in the backwoods. There, Blanche witnesses odd events, including the talking eggs in the chicken house. Blanche is allowed to have any of the plain eggs that say: “take me”, but may not remo...more
“The Talking Eggs” is a very lovable yet surreal tale about an innocent little girl named Blanche who overcomes greed and cruelty by helping an elderly woman who may not be who she seems in Robert San Souci’s version of this famous Creole tale.
Robert D. San Souci’s retelling of the ancient Creole tale is marvelous as it contains lots of scenes dealing with magic and also some suspense, especially in the end referring to the fate of Rose and her mother. Robert D. San Souci’s language is simple y...more
Robert D. San Souci’s retelling of the ancient Creole tale is marvelous as it contains lots of scenes dealing with magic and also some suspense, especially in the end referring to the fate of Rose and her mother. Robert D. San Souci’s language is simple y...more
This story is a reselling of a Cajun folktale. It's about a young girl with a kind heart but who has a mean and evil mother and sister. One day she meets a witch who tells her to come back with her to her cabin. The witch warns that she mustn't laugh at anything he sees. The young girl keeps her word so the old lady tells her she may go to her barn and take any of the eggs that say "take me" but must leave all of the eggs that say "don't take me". She does as she's told even though all the eggs...more
Is it just me? I didn't particularly like Jerry Pinkney's illustrations for John Henry and now I feel about the same for his illustrations here. Both books won Caldecott honors, so either I'm missing something or I just don't share a personal taste with those who gave the awards. Or I'm being particularly critical for some reason right now. I have liked his illustrations in other books, such as Noah's Ark and The Ugly Duckling.
I did enjoy San Souci's retelling of this folktale of two sisters and...more
I did enjoy San Souci's retelling of this folktale of two sisters and...more
Author: retold by Robert San Souci
Publisher and Date: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998
Summary: Blanche is stuck living with her selfish, cruel mother and sister, Rose. Unlike Rose, Blanche works hard around the farm and asks for nothing in return. Without thinking twice she helps an old woman in the forest. Blanche’s kind gesture leads to a life of good fortune. Unfortunately, Rose had a greedy plan to follow her sister’s kind actions that in the end, awards her with what she deserves.
Respons...more
Publisher and Date: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998
Summary: Blanche is stuck living with her selfish, cruel mother and sister, Rose. Unlike Rose, Blanche works hard around the farm and asks for nothing in return. Without thinking twice she helps an old woman in the forest. Blanche’s kind gesture leads to a life of good fortune. Unfortunately, Rose had a greedy plan to follow her sister’s kind actions that in the end, awards her with what she deserves.
Respons...more
2nd to 6th grade
The text of this book is much more advanced than most I have reviewed so far. There are one to three paragraphs on every other page. The text was placed in a negative space within the illustrations, sometimes the negative space was representative of the sky.
Pinkney did a wonderful job with the illustrations. The pictures have a great attention to details such as: weaved pattern of the basket or the outfits on the bunnies. The illustrations seem to be done in watercolor with a ver...more
The text of this book is much more advanced than most I have reviewed so far. There are one to three paragraphs on every other page. The text was placed in a negative space within the illustrations, sometimes the negative space was representative of the sky.
Pinkney did a wonderful job with the illustrations. The pictures have a great attention to details such as: weaved pattern of the basket or the outfits on the bunnies. The illustrations seem to be done in watercolor with a ver...more
Blanche helps an old woman by offering her water to quench her thirst. Later, her mother and sister scold her for taking so long fetching the water and they hit her until she ran away to the woods seeking refuge. Again Blanche crosses paths with the mysterious old woman and she tells her that she may come home with her as long as Blanche promises not to laugh at anything she sees. Blanche keeps her word even amongst the colorful chickens and two-headed cow. When the old woman sends Blanche to fe...more
6-8th grade, This book received a Caldecott Honor as one of the best illustrated children's books in 1990. The rich, subtle watercolors expand the reader's appreciation of the story, and help keep some of its stronger elements in balance for younger children. The story itself is a cross between several favorite fairy tales, most significantly Cinderella, and represents a retelling of a Creole story from the American South.In this adaptation of a Creole folktale, Blanche is kind, loving and patie...more
“The Talking Eggs,” a folktale from the American South, is a memorable version of the Cinderella story. Between the artistic illustrations, and the captivating story, I felt like I was a child again, listening to a childhood favorite. The elaborate, watercolor images bring San Souci’s storytelling to fruition, and every page is just as interesting to encounter as the last. I found the title page to be a very clever use of pictures to foreshadow the story; the colorful chicken rest among very dra...more
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San Souci, Robert D. The Talking Eggs Dial Books, 1989
This folktale from the American South will be enjoyed by children because of the many appealing story elements. There is magic, a good sister and an evil sister as well as treasure in the form of eggs that hatch jewels!! The story is very imaginative as our the illustrations and after reading aloud a discussion can ensue about the rewards of hard work and the satisfaction that comes from being a good person. Children could also do a compare a...more
This folktale from the American South will be enjoyed by children because of the many appealing story elements. There is magic, a good sister and an evil sister as well as treasure in the form of eggs that hatch jewels!! The story is very imaginative as our the illustrations and after reading aloud a discussion can ensue about the rewards of hard work and the satisfaction that comes from being a good person. Children could also do a compare a...more
Format/Length: Picture book; 32 pages
Theme(s): Honesty, Kindness, Greed, Reward vs. punishment, Good vs. bad
Award(s): 1989 Caldecott Honor Book.
Review:
The watercolor filled pages in this book are amazing! The details bring the story and characters to life before the readers eyes. The story reminded me of fairy tales that I remember from childhood, especially that of the Cinderella- where her stepsisters and stepmother mistreat the central character Cinderella. In this story, Blanche is the main...more
Theme(s): Honesty, Kindness, Greed, Reward vs. punishment, Good vs. bad
Award(s): 1989 Caldecott Honor Book.
Review:
The watercolor filled pages in this book are amazing! The details bring the story and characters to life before the readers eyes. The story reminded me of fairy tales that I remember from childhood, especially that of the Cinderella- where her stepsisters and stepmother mistreat the central character Cinderella. In this story, Blanche is the main...more
It reminds me of a Cinderella type story where the mother and older sister are "evil" and she is the
young sister that has to do everything around the house and they do nothing wanting the glorious life. It shows that you don't have to be in that situation for ever and if your nice that prefavles over being rude, cruel and mean. I feel that I am more of the young girl than the mother and older sister I would rather help someone for the greater good than to help someone to take from them and make...more
young sister that has to do everything around the house and they do nothing wanting the glorious life. It shows that you don't have to be in that situation for ever and if your nice that prefavles over being rude, cruel and mean. I feel that I am more of the young girl than the mother and older sister I would rather help someone for the greater good than to help someone to take from them and make...more
This is a folktale from the American South retold by Rober D. San Souci. It is a tale of two sisters: Rose who is meanspirited, spoiled and the mother's favorite; Blanche who is kindhearted, trustworthy, and forced to do all the chores/hard work for Rose and their Mother. The tale shows the rewards and blessings received by those that are true to their word and show kindness to all like Blanche, and the trouble one can receive from being cruel and selfish. Illustrated by award winning artist, Je...more
1. Picture Books
2. The Talking Eggs tells the story of Blanche, a young girl who respects the rules instead of bending them and being lazy and she reaps the benefits of doing so. This story beautifully illustrates, literally and figuratively, the importance of morals and strong ethics in a person’s character.
3. Critique
a. There are two areas that I would like to comment on, the moral backbone of the story, and the illustrations.
b. The moral of this story resonates with me because it not only tou...more
2. The Talking Eggs tells the story of Blanche, a young girl who respects the rules instead of bending them and being lazy and she reaps the benefits of doing so. This story beautifully illustrates, literally and figuratively, the importance of morals and strong ethics in a person’s character.
3. Critique
a. There are two areas that I would like to comment on, the moral backbone of the story, and the illustrations.
b. The moral of this story resonates with me because it not only tou...more
This folktale from the American South is adapted from a Creole folktale. It is thought to have been brought to America by the French. When I first began reading it, it seemed to be a variation of Cinderella, however as I continued I started to see a lesson being demonstrated. The two sisters visit the elderly woman in the woods, but only one was invited. After she returned with treasures galore (from the eggs), the greedy sister, encouraged by the mother, went to get some riches for herself. She...more
Two sisters—Rose and Blanche—lived with their mother. Rose was the older and meaner sister; Rose is mean and sneaky like the sisters’ mother. The younger sister, Blanche, was sweet and kind; she was also required to do all the work for her mother and sister. One day an old woman suggested she leave her mother and sister to come with her. Because she is nice to the old woman, the old woman gives her magic eggs. The mean sister is jealous and wants magic eggs; she is not nice to the old woman and...more
This book reminded me a lot of Cinderella however, I thought this story was more creative. Blanche is a young girl living with her greedy and obnoxious Mother and sisters. One day they send her our to do chores on the farm where she runs into an old lady. This old lady promises to help her so she follows her to a farm. Blanche is told to pick an egg from the henhouse however do not pick one that talks. When Blanche is on her way home all these wonderful riches bestow upon her. it isn't until she...more
I really enjoyed reading this book because it was like I was reading two stories in one. On the one hand you had the story of Cinderella, where Blanche was Cinderella and Rose was her stepsister, along with her mother as her stepmother. Then we had the tale of an old lady who happened to have magical things around like a witch. This tales main theme is teaching about honesty. Blanche was honesty and kind to the old woman and therefore received the riches that she deserved for her kindness unlike...more
This is an utterly delightful folk tale (that reminds me of a fairy tale I once read) about how genuine goodness is rewarded.
A young girl lives with her selfish and conceited mother and older sister. She does all the chores while her mother ans sister talk of what they'll do and wear when they are fine ladies one day.
When this girl is fetching water one day, she helps a little old lady. As she walks they lady home, she is given some specific instructions to follow, which she does to a T and is r...more
A young girl lives with her selfish and conceited mother and older sister. She does all the chores while her mother ans sister talk of what they'll do and wear when they are fine ladies one day.
When this girl is fetching water one day, she helps a little old lady. As she walks they lady home, she is given some specific instructions to follow, which she does to a T and is r...more
This was a fun story with fantastic, bright pictures. I like that Blanche, the Cinderella character, was rewarded for her patience and ability to not laugh at others -- traits all kids can use. Once again, however, I found the ending to be a bit disappointing. Blanche seemingly vanished and there was a happily ever after tag at the end. I would probably have young students rewrite this ending, explaining in more detail what happened to Blanche or her sister and mother, if they preferred. Also, I...more
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