I'm still finishing up a few of the picture books I checked out at Christmas time. This put a great big smile in my soul. The artwork is bright and beautiful, and the animals are delightful in their old world costumes. I loved the simultaneous story in the side panels. I loved the sly, unstated moral. Nephew will be getting a copy of this when he's big enough not to destroy it. In the meantime, I may have to buy it for me.

(But, yeah. Don't read the blurb on Goodreads or Amazon; it is totally spoilerific. Whose idea was that?) ( )

Badger Girl is excited to find a giant turnip in her garden, but when it comes time to harvest it, she discovers that she is unable to pull it up from the ground. Badger Boy attempts to help her, and then Mother and Father Badger get involved, but all to no avail. A series of other animals also attempt to assist, but it is only when Rooster shows up that the turnip, which is at that moment being pushed up from below by some hibernating bears, is dislodged.

Based upon a Russian folktale, Jan Brett's The Turnip features an engaging animal cast in the classic progression story, in which a series of individuals attempt a task, only for the smallest and humblest amongst them to succeed at it in the end. I enjoyed both story and artwork here, and particularly liked the way that the parallel story of the bears is told in the border artwork, until they enter the main narrative. The Badger family is beautifully realized as well, and the entire cast clothes in lovely Russian folk costumes. Recommended to all Jan Brett fans, as well as to anyone who enjoys folktales and/or animal stories. ( )

On the way to the library, Veronica and I were talking about those fabulous Freymanm/Elffers books, and the conversation morphed into foods we don't like, and "turnip" was raised. So, yeah, when I saw a book on display that was actually named Turnip I had to check it out. I was not disappointed. It is a story about one big-ass turnip. And there are badgers, which are always pleasing.

library copy ( )

I adore Jan Brett. Her illustrations are engaging. Kids will love the story of the badger family trying to get a turnip out of the ground. None of the animals can achieve the feat...but a rooster says it can. This book is a great way to discuss animals and things like hibernation, etc.

I liked the book, "The Turnip," by Jan Brett for many reasons. First, the illustrations enhance the story. Each page clearly illustrated what was happening on the page, with vivid and interesting colors. Also, the illustrations have a preview of what is going to happen next in a little illustration on the side of the page. For example, the page with the Father Badger pulling out the turnip is a little illustration of a Hedgie who appears on the next page to help. This feature helps to keep the students engaged by making predictions. Second, the sequencing of the writing was organized and flowed well with the story. For example, on each page a different animal comes to help pull the turnip up. The sequencing of adding different animals would be entertaining for readers. The main idea of this book is that team work is the best way to accomplish a task. After all the animals work together, the animals finally get the turnip out of the ground. ( )