One Fine Trade (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: One Fine Trade Hope Morrison Miller, Bobbi , ad. One Fine Trade; illus. by Will Hillenbrand. Holiday House, 2009 [32p] ISBN 978-0-8234-1836-7$16.95 Reviewed from galleys R 5-8 yrs McGinty, Alice B. Darwin; illus. by Mary Azarian. See review under Markle, Sandra, on p. 370 Miller, Bobbi, ad. One Fine Trade; illus. by Will Hillenbrand. Holiday House, 2009 [32p] ISBN 978-0-8234-1836-7 $16.95 Reviewed from galleys R 5-8 yrs Georgy Piney Woods, the finest peddler who ever lived, has a major task before him; his daughter Georgianne has asked him to trade her horse "for a shiny silver dollar" [End Page 373] so she can buy a dress for her wedding. The loving father sets out and embarks upon a series of trades, first trading the horse for a cow, then the cow for a dog, then the dog for a cypress stick, and so on, until, after a few setbacks, he acquires the dollar; soon enough Georgianne is decked out in a fine ruffled dress and Georgy Piney Woods is headed out to trade in her chicken for a pretty veil. Based on an old folk song, Miller's adaptation offers a rollicking romp along the country peddler's trade route. The story, told in a lively rawboned country style, sticks to its trading-up pattern in the beginning, then makes a playful departure with a dose of magic realism, wherein the cypress stick grows and grows and Georgy Piney Woods is able to make his finest deal yet. The mixed-media illustrations possess sharp pencil outlines, soft watercolor tones, and touches of digital layering pattern; compositions are full of variance in light, shadow, and, most notably, texture, as patterns and shadings stand out in differing degrees. There's a folksy, backwoods feel in the humorous exaggeration and rustic detail that aptly suits the tall-tale feel of the text. The spirited language begs to be read aloud, and little listeners will get a kick out of the motley cast of characters. A brief source note is included. Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois