Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes

The text enjoyably highlights the angst and frustration of the know-it-all, but not all that knowledgeable, Fox. 

Though rendered in fine, naturalistic detail in Moser's typically accomplished illustrations, the animals roll their eyes and gesture in human ways that underscore the silliness of Fox's conceit. 

Moser's considered watercolors humorously show realistic-looking creatures displaying human responses, from calculating to exasperated.

PreS-Gr 3Palatini and Moser have taken a spare Aesop fable and expanded it into a riotous treat for eyes and ears while still keeping the essence of the original. Fox eyes the grapes hanging from a vine high in a tree and thinks that he can get them easily: I am sly. Clever. Smart. After all, I am a fox. So, armed with paper and pencil, he draws his Plan Alpha and tries it outno grapes. He asks Bear to help him out with Plan Bravo and Bear starts to say something, but Fox interrupts: Bear, Bear, Bear. ]Your job is brawn. Not brain. You leave the thinking to me. If you say so, says Bear. After the third, fourth, and fifth plans fail, involving Beaver, Porcupine, and Possum, Fox gives up and departs in disgust with the usual rationale: lousy, rotten, stinkin grapes. If you say so, say the other animals as they feast on the fruit thrown down to them by Possum. Mosers wonderful watercolor illustrations of the doubting animals executing Foxs convoluted plans are rich in humor. They are silhouetted against plenty of white space, with the grapevines and tree dominating each large spread. Matched by a text that rolls off the tongue and is full of action and repetitive phrases, the book is a delight."Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

While this variant of Aesop's The Fox and the Grapes is decidedly more entertaining than the original, the moral of the fable is less clear. Palatini's distinctive characters are all amiable, except for the condescending Fox, who prides himself on being Sly. Clever. Smart. With expert watercolors, Moser (who collaborated with Palatini on "The Three Silly Billies") subtly retains the lifelike appearances of the animals without sacrificing individualistic expression. Fox's enthusiastic plans to get the grapes are filled with convoluted equations and graphs: Bear standshere. Beaver stands on Bear's headthere. Porcupine stands on Beaver's tail. I stand on Porcupine.... Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.... and"voila"! Grapes! When the other characters explain their infinitely simpler plans to get the grapes, Fox turns with a huff and a sniff and says, I, for one, wouldn't think of eating those lousy, rotten, stinkin' grapes now. The traditional sour grapes ending feels tacked on, given the Pride goeth before a fall theme Palatini effectively develops throughout the story. Ages 48. "(Aug.)"

Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.