Never Tease a Weasel

This book has wonderful message, clever words, and hilarious illustrations! My toddler loves to point out the animals and as a ferret lover, it's so true to never tease a weasel!

In some ways, children's book editors have the greatest job on earth. Let us say that you once loved a picture book as a child with all your heart and soul. Can you imagine anything more fun than having the power to not only republish that book of your youth, but to assign it an entirely new illustrator to boot? Now, reillustrating a forgotten gem is a tricky business. You have to find someone who matches the old text perfectly, but doesn't "update" the book in such a way that it'll date in years to come. Recently I came to the unavoidable conclusion that someone at Random House is a genius. "Never Tease a Weasel" as written in 1964 by Jean Conder Soule hasn't aged a jot text-wise. Its original illustrations by Denman Hampson, however, aren't exactly contemporary, so somebody thought to nab New Yorker cartoonist George Booth and get him to reillustrate this puppy. The result is an instantaneous classic. With words that kids then and now will appreciate and an illustrator who tempers the book's inclination to get sticky sweet with his own manic sense of humor, this is one of the finest mixes you'll ever have the pleasure of reading. Weasel teasing may be frowned upon in this series of rhymes, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. In verse we learn that there are a million kind acts a person can perform for members of the animal kingdom. "You could make a riding habit for a rabbit if you choose; Or a make a turkey perky with a pair of high-heeled shoes." And what mustn't you do at any time? "But never tease a weasel, not even once or twice. A weasel will not like it - and teasing isn't nice!" Back and forth goes the text as we see a pair of shock-headed children giving doves gloves, a mule a pool, or frogs some sailing togs. Periodically, however, the narrator will turn back to those kids who do everything from spraying the weasel with a hose to surprising him with a whistle, in spite of some pretty clear directions not to do so. Finally, by the story's end, we see the two kids and the once beleaguered weasel sitting on a couch with their backs to us. The weasel is between the two of them, his tiny arms stretched out comfortably between them. "But never tease a weasel. Now remember what I've said! It's more fun to please a weasel and be friends with him instead." Awwww. Those of us familiar with the snarky endings a lot of picture books get these days may find themselves expecting a bit of weasel-driven comeuppance at the end of this story. An image of the two kids being teased BY the weasel, for example. But this is certainly not the case. Soule chose to end the story on a friendship-is-good note, and it works, though mostly because of George Booth. Another illustrator might have gone the ootsy-cutesy route and sacchrined this puppy up by the end. Not Booth. The final image is heartwarming without ever becoming too overtly adorable. It's nice. That's what Booth brings to the book. The rhymes are exceedingly clever at times, but it's the illus

Okay, someone needs to be listening out there, REPRINT THIS BOOK! This is such a classic and belongs in everyone's collection. The story basically is teaching children not to tease anyone, including a weasel. It's just so cute and my copy is about worn down to threads, literally. I would love to have an updated copy so I hope someone gets the idea and reprints it. My little one has to have it read to him over and over and over... "Never tease a weasel, there, I've said it thrice. A weasel will not like it and teasing isn't nice." Toddlers pick this up very quickly and it's just a great book to have.

I teach three year olds at a Day care center and found this book among a pile of junk. I read it once and they got hooked! I have been reading it almost every day for almost 5 months and they read along with me! It has a fantastic sing-song rhythm to it and a moral as well. They especially find the page where the children are wearing a mask and trying to tease the weasel amusing. I always pause because I KNOW they are ALL going to tell me that the child has a mask on! I wish I could own my own copy of this! If you have it... dust it off and start readng it to any little ones around you!

I received this book more than 25 years ago from a book club. I still have that original book and only the back cover is missing. I loved it so much I even memorized it at one time when I was young. How could they let this treasure go out of print? What better way to remind my children not to tease, with fun rhymes and great pictures.

I read this book to my son when he was small. It was the one book he requested over and over. Now he has 2 small children and we would love to have a copy for them. My copy disintergrated it was so well read. I taught pre-school and of course shared this book until there was nothing left of it. I wish I had made a copy but I never dreamed such a popular book would go out of circlation.