The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South

by Robert D. San Souci

Book Overview

The author of such delights as The Christmas Ark and The Enchanted Tapestry joins forces with illustrator Pinkney to resurrect a colorful folktale that captures the unique flavor of the American South. A 1989 Caldecott Honor Book.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803706197
• ISBN13: 9780803706194
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: Dial Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A must have for fairy tale lovers!

I cannot say enough good about this story. I read this as an eight year old. I loved it instantly. I owned it for a long time and in the process of moving it was misplaced . I recently came looking for it to add to my library. This book is one of the reasons I am still in love with fairy tales, why I love books in general. It holds a special place with me. It's a story based on a Creole tale, adapted from Alcee Fortier, that resembles Cinderella. It's too good. Read it.

Classic!

I checked this book out from the library all the time growing up along with many other fairy tales and folklore. It follows the flow of a fairy tale--a good, kind sister with mean mother and sister--yet has beautiful elements to it that make it unique. The pictures are gorgeous and the story engaging.

Fantastic Non-Eurocentric Fairy Tale

My daughter first brought this book home from the library and she liked it so much she asked for a copy of it for her birthday! It's a non-European fairy tale which takes place in the bayous of Louisiana/Mississippi and features African American Creole characters. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something different. (Also, no princes or princesses, of which I am very tired.)

I WISH WE HAD MORE LIKE THIS ONE

There is not much not to like about this work. The author has given us a great folk tale, well written, wonderful illustrations, a work full of lessons and just a pure simple fun story to read. Like all good fables this one not only entertains, but teaches some very valuable lessons in life and living (something most of we adults could use a dose of now and again). This is a great book for a child to read on her or his own, a wonderful book to read with a child and a great book to read to an entire class. It is absolutely amazing the amount of discussion this book can create in a class room. I certainly am not going to go into the story line here, other reviewers here have done a grand job of that, but I do say the book is well worth owning and well worth using with children and/or young adults. I do wish more of our folk tales and lore could be so well presented. This particular edition is well constructed, sturdy and can last through many little hands. Highly recommend this one.

Beautifully written, beautifully illustrated.

This is a charming little folktale about two sisters Ð one mean and greedy, the other generous and kind Ð and their encounter with a strange, magical old woman. In the end, the good sister is rewarded and the bad one punished. A nice story with a good message.But this isnÕt just a nice book, it is an extraordinary one. One thing that makes it special is the way the author uses language. Robert San Souci draws on an African American storytelling tradition and a southern rural dialect that just makes the language sing! The book is full of wonderful, poetic lines and great rhythmic language. ItÕs a joy to read aloud. The words feel good in your mouth. And any parent or teacher who reads aloud a lot knows what a rare quality that is. Even when IÕm tired, I feel like I canÕt read this book badly. The words just flow.And the illustrations are gorgeous. Jerry Pinkney is one of the best illustrators around and this is one of my favorites of all his work. The composition, the subtle colors, the intricate detail Ð you rarely come across art this fine in childrenÕs books.I bought this book for my daughter a couple of years ago, and weÕre still reading it over and over again. ItÕs so good, I hope in a generation sheÕll still be reading it to my grandchildren.

The Best Book of all the Books in the World!

The book, The Talking Eggs, is like Cinderella because the nice sister, Blanche, is doing all the work and the mom and sister, Rose, are just sitting and just laying around all day long.........One day Blanche meets a woman and the woman takes her somewhere, but where? Hint-Hint.......two head cows and talking eggs. Guess what happens at the end.......who knows. Go get the book and find out for yourself!

Magical!

I personally like the story a lot. It was magical. Usually magic stories I like a lot. Blanche, the sister of Rose, did all the work. Blanche got in trouble and an old lady took Blanche to her house. There was a two-headed cow, colored chickens, and in the evening rabbits came to dance outside the house. Blanche took some eggs and .....find out!

The best folktale ever!

This is my daughter's favorite book. The illustrations are wonderful and the story line very creative. A must for any folklore lover.