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Books for Preschoolers - Pickin' Peas
Pickin' PeasWritten by Margaret Read MacDonald
Illustrated by Pat Cummings
From the Book
"Pickin' peas. Land on my knees! Heard my momma callin' me RIGHT over there. Every time he sang 'RIGHT over there', he gave a little jump to the right."About the Book
Pickin' Peas, based on a Southern folktale, is the story of an African American girl who discovers a rabbit is stealing and eating the peas from her pea garden. The little girl captures the rabbit with the intentions of keeping him locked up until pea picking season is over. However, the rabbit tricks the little girl and eventually escapes, only to return to the pea garden and steal more peas.From the Correspondent - Stacey Lloyd
When I picked up this book, I expected a joyous tale of a little girl and a bunny who cross paths during pea pickin' in the pea garden. However, the story turned out to be less than "joyous". When the little girl discovers the rabbit is eating her peas, she grabs the rabbit by the neck and shouts at the rabbit. When the rabbit doesn't answer, she squeezes his neck harder.
Disgusted by the rabbit stealing her peas, the little girl decides to take him away from his home in the pea garden and put him in a "small box". The little girl intends to keep the rabbit in this small box all season to "save" her peas. Fortunately for the rabbit, he's much smarter than the little girl and manages to escape solitary confinement.
Myself and my son both did not enjoy this book. I tried to read it to him twice and both times he told me to stop and read another book. Although the illustrations are nicely done, the story just isn't pleasant or entertaining.
My son and I give Pickin' Peas 2 out of four peas.
Book Details
Title: Pickin' PeasReading level: Ages 4 - 8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st ed edition (June 30, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN: 006027235X
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