Clever Beatrice

by Margaret Willey

Book Overview

"Good afternoon, Mister Giant, Sir. I have come to make a bet with you."
Can a very little girl beat a very large giant in feats of strength? That's what clever Beatrice bets on when she marches through the north woods to the home of the giant, hoping to win some of his gold to help her mother buy porridge. The giant heartily agrees to a contest, never imagining the wisp of a girl could out-muscle him. But what he hasn't counted on is how clever...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689832540
• ISBN13: 9780689832543
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 10.3" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Clever Beatrice really is smart.

And poor, of course (they're always poor, have you noticed?), at least, she is until she heads up to bet her strength against a giant. Let's see... little girl... big giant - yeah, the giant thinks this is really funny too. Pity he's not as clever as she is. Through intelligence and plain old chutzpah, Beatrice convinces the giant three times that if she competes she's bound to destroy his property, so she wins her bets three times and goes home relatively wealthy. Not bad, not bad at all.

Smart Girl Rocks

What a great story for a little girl to read/be read to. Beatrice is able to use her brains to get gold to feed her mother and herself so they won't starve. She uses her wit and a bit of luck to prove she is stronger and smarter than a giant. Lots of fun to read.

VERY PLEASING STORY AND PLEASING ILLUSTRATIONS

Beatrice outwits a not so clever giant in this tale of the North country. The story is told as a folk tale and the illustrations go right along with the simple story line are are quite able to stand alone. I enjoy this particular style of story telling and this particular style of art. The kids at school seem to enjoy not only reading it but having it read to them. It leaves great openings for discussion. All in all, recommend this one highly.

Watch out! Here comes Beatrice!

I love trickster tales and this one, with a young girl in the starring role, is a treat. Set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Beatrice decides she needs to help her mother by earning some money. There are only 2 options: lumbering and gambling with the giant who lives on the other side of the woods. Beatrice heads for the giant. Fortunately, she's a clever little girl; equally fortunately, the giant is not clever at all. She makes bets that she can pound on his front door harder than he can, that she can carry more water from the well than he can, that she can throw an iron bar farther than he can. And she wins! This story is going to get lots of reading in my Michigan school.

Engaging illustrations!

I LOVE the beautiful illustrations in this book! They're full of rich color and details. The technique of combining watercolors and collage makes for an interesting look. I also enjoy the fun story where a little girl outwits a large giant, and yet both feel lucky at the story's end. This book is definitely a winner!