The Turnip by Jan Brett
My rating: 4/5 cats
i just read the synopsis of this book posted above and oh my god—why are you so spoilertown? that’s just crazy and it is NOT what is printed on the cover flap of the book i own. so ignore that, unless you want the mystery of the giant turnip ROONED for you.
this is the first jan brett book i have read, but i’m already kind of charmed. i love the folksy quality of her artwork, which is appropriate as this is an adaptation of a russian folktale, but it seems to be her style in her other works as well.
the story is pretty simple and it has a familiar shape even if you’ve never heard this particular tale before: a seemingly impossible task is presented (in this case, the removal of a gigantic turnip from underground), one by one, animals arrive bristling with confidence that they know how to solve the problem until one tiny creature manages what the strongest and bossiest in the land could not.
but in this one, there’s a little twist.
which can be spoiled for you in the above synopsis, if you like.
or you could just follow along in the text, where on each page, in these cute turnip-shaped panels in the margins, the action leading up to the twist is playing out as a neat little side-story.
and as an aside, but an aside that is way more important than anything i have heretofore said about this book, how have i never had turnip pancakes before? even as illustrations they look delicious!
i hate it when picture books make me hungry.
but it’s better than when they make me want impossible things, like a pet unicorn or a tail or something.
i kind of loved jan brett’s little author note on the inside-back flap, so i’m going to type it out here. it is less spoilery than the synopsis above, but i’m hiding it because it does give away a little. what i love about this note is just the thoughtfulness and attention to detail she brought into the writing of this book, her inspiration for adapting it, and her sweet little worry about how it would be received.
if you do not want to read any of that, please enjoy how adorable the endpapers are:
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sean of the house bought this for me as a “let’s not be mad at each other anymore” present.
which is the stupidest thing ever because if i know i get a book every time we fight, i’m gonna go full-on harridan every single day until he catches on and leaves me but then guess what?? more room for books! I ALWAYS WIN!
although right now, it looks like maggie wins this book…
review to come.
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