Easy Work! - Softcover

Kimmel, Eric A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0823416623 ISBN 13: 9780823416622

Publisher: Holiday House, 2001

Synopsis

Thinking his work in the fields is harder than his wife's work in the house, Mr. McTeague trades places with her for one day

About this title

About the Author:

Author and artist Andrew Glass illustrates his own stories, as well as those of other authors, and has been commended for his versatile approach to children's books. Art is so much a part of Glass's life that the first book he wrote and illustrated, Jackson Makes His Move, features a raccoon artist, rendered by Glass in pencil and watercolor. Since Jackson Makes His Move, Glass has gone on to write and illustrate such books as Folks Call Me Appleseed John, Mountain Men: True Grit and Tall Tales, and The Wondrous Whirligig: The Wright Brothers' First Flying Machine, often drawing on U.S. history for inspiration. Glass has illustrated the stories of other authors, including stories in the "Spooky" series by Natalie Savage Carlson.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3AHere, the well-known Norwegian folktale, "The Man Who Was to Mind the House," is set in Oregon. Mr. McTeague thinks that his wife has it easy at home all day, so the couple agrees to trade places, with disastrous results, including setting the cabin on fire. A more appreciative husband and a rebuilt cabin bring the story to a happy conclusion. The down-home language is filled with humor; e.g., Mr. McTeague's smug phrase, "Easy work," changes to "Golly Neds!" when things begin to go wrong. Glass's lively illustrations are done in a scratchy, folksy style and suit the text perfectly. An author's note explains Kimmel's decision to use Oregon for his locale. Previous versions have hewed closer to the tale collected by Peter Christen Asbjirnsen, including The Man Who Kept House (McElderry, 1992), set in Norway and with attractive illustrations by Svend S. Otto, and Michael Hague's The Man Who Kept House (Harcourt, 1981), which is more literary in tone. While not replacing either of these versions, Easy Work would make an enjoyable addition to most collections.APam Gosner, formerly at Maplewood Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0823416623
• ISBN 13: 9780823416622
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Glass Andrew