Lovely twist on a classic cautionary fable. Beautiful art by Wendy Anderson Halperin, lovable characters (yes, all two of them, sketched as concisely as they were), and a message that even if we aren't the greediest or the most careless of folk we're still vulnerable to the whims of magic. ( )

This book teaches good life lessons to kids the first is teaching them kindness. This is displayed when the old man is out looking for food and hears someone or something saying help me. He saw that is was a tiny little man that was being carried away by a fox. He threw a stick and the fox dropped his food and ran away. The man then took the tiny man back to his house and nursed him back to health. After four days the tiny man disappeared. A few days after that a magic bowl appeared at the old man's house. The second lesson in this book is to appreciate and respect what you have or one day it may be gone. This is shown in the second part of the book. The old man gets greedy with the bowl and first duplicates his food but then goes to duplicating money. One night he took the money to the town to exchange it for a bigger bill so he can become richer. While he is in town mice climes into the bowl and it begins to multiply. When he returns there are so many mice that his cat has to go into the bowl. And soon enough the cats are chasing the mice and one of the groups knocks the bowl over.
Folk lord
Use: to sow an example of folk lord, to teach a lesson about cherishing what you have.

Media: There was colored pencil used in this book ( )

A poor old man experiences some unexpected fluctuations in fortune in this charming picture-book, after rescuing a "wee small man" from a fox, and being given a magical bowl in return. Cautioned that the bowl must be used wisely, or it will "become a burden," the old man is at first delighted with his gift, which reproduces whatever is placed in it. Soon he and his beloved cat Angelina have more than enough to eat. But when he discovers that the bowl will also reproduce coins, he forgets the wee man's warning in his excitement, with some rather unexpected consequences...

An original fairy-tale from Jim Aylesworth - whose other picture-books include The Mitten, The Gingerbread Man], and Goldilocks And The Three Bears - The Full Belly Bowl is an absolute delight! An engaging story and an appealing hero are joined to adorable illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin, who recently worked on a new edition of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Racketty-Packetty House. Cat lovers in particular will enjoy the old man's relationship with Angelina, whom he considers "just about the sweetest cat in the whole world," and will relish the ending! ( )

Genre: Fairy Tale
Genre Critique: This book is an excellent example of a fairy tale through the use of imaginable people (small man), and magical happenings (magic bowl that multiplies things) that excites the reader and helps them to follow along and believe the story even though the events are unbelievable in real life. The use of a problem/solution by the author also adds to the fairy tale genre (as the old man realizes that the bowl isn't always a benefit when used for the wrong thing).
Style Critique: The author uses great imagery that keeps the reader's mind excited and tracking with the story. The author also through his writing creates a suspenseful feel as the reader tries to guess what will happen next.
Review/Critique: I really enjoyed the book. Having read many different stories that are along the lines of a magic bowl, pot, cauldron, etc. I thought the happy ending in this book (amidst the bowl breaking) added to the uniqueness of the story, and leaves the reader feeling happy at the end still.

Genre: Folktale
Age: intermediate
Media: watercolor
Review: There is a life lesson taught at the end of the book that greed is not a good thing. The book ties in emotion by using something that everyone worries about: money. Students can relate to this topic. ( )