Siôn and the bargain bee Book

Simple illustrations in bold colors adorn 22 classic nursery rhymes and three favorite folktales. Each rhyme is presented in its traditional text, and most of the illustrations follow traditionally seen patterns as well, though Chapman adds a few creative touches in depicting some of the rhymes. For example, the "knave" in "The Queen of Hearts" is seen rubbing his backside while the stern king urges him forward to return a plate of heart-shaped tarts to the queen; the three blind mice chase the knife-wielding farmer's wife with bandanas over their eyes; Mary, Mary Quite Contrary's garden sports actual silver bells hung from the otherwise bare branches of a small tree, while sea shells and a row of dolls sit up in the grass to represent the "cockle shells" and "pretty maids."

The three folktales are told in simple language to be easily understandable to young listeners. There is no sugar-coating in the story of "The Three Little Pigs": the first two pigs are eaten by the wolf, and the ending finds the third little pig living happily ever after once he has "boiled up the wolf until nothing was left of him." The incidents with the apple orchard and the butter churn are not included. "The Little Red Hen" gets a simple and straightforward, traditional retelling as well, but Chapman makes some interesting choices in the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Papa and Mama Bear become "Daddy" and "Mommy" Bear; Goldilocks finds the bear parents' bowls of porridge "much too salty" and "much too sweet" instead of too hot and too cold; and while Daddy Bear's bed is "much too high," Mommy Bear's bed is "much too lumpy," thus disrupting the established opposites pattern. Otherwise the story follows the traditional format.

This is an appealing collection for sharing with toddlers and young children.