No Dinner!: The Story of the Old Woman and the Pumpkin

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Description

An old woman sets off through the forest to visit her granddaughter, when Boo! one by one, out jump a hungry fox, a hungry bear and a hungry tiger. The old woman escapes by telling them she'll taste even better on the way back, once she's eaten her dinner. But later on, at her granddaughter's, she wonders what to do... Jessica Souhami uses the brilliant colours of India to illustrate her vibrant retelling of a traditional story known all over Southern Asia.

Reviews

The traditional tale of how an old woman tricks the greedy animals not once but twice is wittily retold in Jessica Souhami' s lively text and beautiful illustrations. On the way through the forest to visit her granddaughter the old lady sees off the animals by telling them that she' s too thin and bony to be worth eating. To save herself on the way back, she hides in a pumpkin and rolls her way home. Even when she is rumbled by the wolf, she has one last trick up her sleeve. A celebration of bravery and sharp wits. || Based on a popular Indian folk tale, it is the story itself which is most satisfying about this book, with opportunities for role play and discussion about just the best way to escape from a hungry carnivore.

Author Bio

Jessica Souhami studied at the Central School of Art and Design. In 1980 she formed Mme Souhami and Co, a travelling puppet company using colourful shadow puppets with a musical accompaniment and a storyteller. Her illustrations, like her puppets, use brilliant colour and bold shapes and her characters leap and swoop across the spreads.