The Magic Porridge Pot

I liked this retelling of the Grimm Brothers fairy tale. It is listed (not this book specifically, but this story) in Beyond the Rainbow Bridge as being an early fairy tale, suitable for 3 and 4 year olds. It has a good message about the consequences of being greedy. The only thing which I didn't really understand was when the little girl came back to halt the porridge pot, she yelled "Stop, little pot, stop!" four times in a row. I suppose this is because she has to undo the damage her mother caused by using the incorrect magic words four times (halt, enough, no more & cease) but it is a little awkward to read aloud. This would be a good book to introduce the use of synonyms to an older class as well -- each word in essence means the same thing and yet there are subtle differences between them.

I am not sure that I ever read this story as a child, but I have really enjoyed it for some reason, as have my two children (3 and 5). The tale is one of classic silliness though it begins with a touching description of a poor mother and daughter who often have only a scrap of bread to eat. At one such time, the daughter goes into the woods, as she often does, looking for nuts and berries. Finding nothing, she collapses in tears onto a log, only to be jarred from her fretting state by an old hag with a "pleasant but crackly voice." The old woman tells her not to worry, that she won't be hungry ever again, and offers up a small black pot. Just tell the pot `Boil, Little Pot, Boil' and at once it will fill up with delicious porridge." To stop the pot there are other words. If you don't see it coming, chaos ensues when the mother forgets the words for making the pot stop which results in the whole town filling with delectable porridge. The story ends with the other villagers emptying out into the street with buckets and bowls and what-not to fill up with the food. There was enough for days. Five Stars. It is a delightful story with cute Galdone drawings. A great addition to the home library.

The magic Porridge Pot Author:Paul Galdone As soon as the little girl got the cauldron from the old lady in the woods they have never been hungry. but when her mother forgets the words the town if overfilled with porridge. The village is never hungry again. Read this magical book. Review by:Frances