The Boy Who Cried Wolf

An interesting retelling of the classic Aesop's Fable where the author sticks closely to the original story adding in a nice chorus that children can participate in (if used as a read aloud) or which serve to make easier the task of an emerging independent reader (repetition is always welcome when readers are just starting out). What really makes this story shine are the illustrations...they are fantastic. I love that the author gives the story some repetition and at the same times the illustrations give us so much to look at. The "village" off in the distance is rather a hodge-podge of buildings that very nearly gives it the appearance of a modern city-scape in miniature. The sheep's expressions and activities are adorable, funny and, at times, completely outlandish (they wear blindfolds and even play what may be the cutest game of leap frog EVAR)! As the villagers rush out to answer his cry of WOLF there is another fine use of repetition (on each of their trips out they say No wolf in the pasture, No wolf on the hill, No wolf in the forest). Additionally, the villages (like the village itself) are a hodge-podge of people; you get your usual peasants carrying rakes and pitchforks but also in the mix are rather modern looking folk in suits and hats or casual wear (including ball caps) to the more outlandish characters (a knight in full armor, a three musketeer looking guy)...there are even people with umbrellas, jousting lances and a baseball bat!!! I thought the ending fairly traditional...and the illustration at the end with the VERY worried looking boy and the sheep going unnoticed by him huddled at the top of the tree to be very charming and my children found that to be so funny as to roll on the floor laughing. While the story doesn't explicitly come out and slap the reader in the face with the "moral," it's really not necessary and a modest amount of questioning or discussion with children (except for those who are VERY young) should bring to light what the moral is quite easily. We found this version to be totally charming and would buy it for the illustrations alone! I give it 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who collects picture books, what fun!

We love this book. The retelling of this classic was thoughtfully accomplished. The lesson is clear without the violence. The illustration is unique and wonderful. We highly recommend this book.

My two sons (3 and 1) love this book! The pictures are great, and my older son knows the story by heart and reads it to us. It is hilarious to see him say "Munch, Munch, Munch, BAAAAAAAAAA" as he imitates the sheep. The sheep are so cute and we giggle at the last page where the sheep are in the tree. I'm not sure they get the message of the story fully, but we enjoy the book and pictures nonetheless.