Molly Whuppie

by Walter de la Mare, Errol Le Cain (Illustrator)

Molly Whuppie

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, 20th Century

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Walter John de la Mare was an English poet, short story writer and novelist. He is probably best remembered for his works for children, for his poem "The Listeners", and for his psychological horror short fiction, including "Seaton's Aunt" and "All Hallows". In 1921, his novel Memoirs of a Midget won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and his post-war Collected Stories for Children won the 1947 Carnegie Medal for British children's books.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite children's tale, bar none. Walter De La Mare's version is the best I have heard and read, and the illustrations here are brilliant, similar to those of Trina Schart Hyman. This tale, an old Scottish story, deserves more notice for its brave and clever heroine, Mollie Whuppie.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poor but clever girl saves herself and her sisters from danger and achieves social advancement.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations from Le Cain, as usual. The story is not word-for-word de la Mare, although it does use his less bloody version as its basis. For example, in English Fairy Tales, Joseph Jacobs has "He took his own lassies out of the bed on to the floor, and battered them until they were dead," while de la Mare's giant "carried them downstairs, and bolted them up in his great cellar."

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A faithful retelling. Illustrations are good if not spectacular.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely picture book, with a rollicking story that sets a thoroughly bad example to young listeners, as so many folk tales do! The illustrations are glorious! I do feel that the king shouldn't really be encouraging Molly to steal from the giant, but I suppose that's typical of entitled royalty, especially in fairy tales...

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just in love with the illustrations, I can't help it.

[Irina H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated adaptation of an old fairy tale, Molly Whupple tells the story of a woodcutter’s daughter who outsmarts a giant, and wins royal husbands for her sisters & herself.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful telling. I picked this copy up specifically because I recently discovered Errol Le Cain (how was I ignorant of his illustrative brilliance until now!?!?), but the narration stands up to the artwork nicely. And they manage to give the tale its sinister undertow without being overly gory. So, well played. ;)

[Saffron Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is for the edition retold by Walter de la Mare and illustrated by Errol Le Cain.