Betsy Who Cried Wolf

Rating:
Summary: Fractured Folktale Fun.....
Review: "On her eighth birthday, Betsy took the Shepherds' Oath. She was going to be the best shepherd in Bray Valley history. And any wolf who tried to eat her sheep had better watch out!" Well Zimmo, the last wolf on the mountain, had other ideas. He was very hungry and he had a plan to outwit this new shepherd. The next day, just as Betsy was getting started, Zimmo appeared. Quickly, she blew her whistle and cried wolf, and the townspeople came running. But when they arrived, all they saw was Betsy and the sheep. Zimmo had cleverly disappeared. Betsy got a lecture. Later in the day, the whole episode repeated itself, and this time, Betsy was sent back to Shepherd School for a little refresher course. The next morning, the town decided to give her one last chance. She took the sheep up to the pasture and there was the wolf again. But this time, Betsy takes matters into her own hands..... Gail Carson Levine's comical twist on the old, Boy Who Cried Wolf folktale, stars a feisty and endearing heroine, but the story is a bit too pat and predictable, lacks the drama of the original, and concludes with a silly ending that just doesn't ring true. The real star of this book is illustrator, Scott Nash. His bold, bright, and hilarious, cartoon-like illustrations, complete with witty, sheep asides and thought balloons are engaging, expressive, and filled with eye-catching detail. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Betsy Who Cried Wolf is not the best of the fractured folktale/fairy tale genre, but it's worth a read, if only for a peek at Nash's wonderful artwork.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious spin on a classic tale...
Review: "On her eighth birthday, Betsy took the Shepherds' Oath. She was going to be the best shepherd in Bray Valley history. And any wolf who tried to eat her sheep had better watch out!" Well Zimmo, the last wolf on the mountain, had other ideas. He was very hungry and he had a plan to outwit this new shepherd. The next day, just as Betsy was getting started, Zimmo appeared. Quickly, she blew her whistle and cried wolf, and the townspeople came running. But when they arrived, all they saw was Betsy and the sheep. Zimmo had cleverly disappeared. Betsy got a lecture. Later in the day, the whole episode repeated itself, and this time, Betsy was sent back to Shepherd School for a little refresher course. The next morning, the town decided to give her one last chance. She took the sheep up to the pasture and there was the wolf again. But this time, Betsy takes matters into her own hands..... Gail Carson Levine's comical twist on the old, Boy Who Cried Wolf folktale, stars a feisty and endearing heroine, but the story is a bit too pat and predictable, lacks the drama of the original, and concludes with a silly ending that just doesn't ring true. The real star of this book is illustrator, Scott Nash. His bold, bright, and hilarious, cartoon-like illustrations, complete with witty, sheep asides and thought balloons are engaging, expressive, and filled with eye-catching detail. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Betsy Who Cried Wolf is not the best of the fractured folktale/fairy tale genre, but it's worth a read, if only for a peek at Nash's wonderful artwork.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious spin on a classic tale...
Review: Hands down, this is my daughter's FAVORITE bedtime book. She loves it and demands it every single night. The pace is great, and it's a really fun book to read aloud. Despite having read this book about 36 gazillion times, I still enjoy reading it. The illustrations are wonderful and really make the book.