The Family Bookshelf
By Bob Walch

"Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes"
(Simon & Schuster) By Margie Palatini. Illustrated by Barry Moser.

The Audience: For children 4-8.

The Issue: Fox sees some grapes that are too high up to easily get by himself so he enlists the help of a number of his animal friends. Since he has a very high opinion of himself, Fox believes he is the only one who can figure out how to reach the tempting fruit.

The Content: The author offers a new look at Aesop's beloved fable of "The Fox and the Grapes" in this beautifully illustrated picture book.  When Fox realizes he can't quite reach some tantalizing grapes he sees, he calls upon Bear, Beaver, Porcupine and finally Possum to lend a paw.

The complex plan that Fox devises to reach the grapes isn't successful. Although his friends offer alternative approaches Fox always ignores them and tells them, "I'm the fox. Sly. Clever. Smart. I know how to get the grapes."

Finally admitting defeat, Fox gives in. His friends then quickly put their plan to work and, naturally, it works perfectly. When he sees what happens, Fox gets all huffy. As he turns and walks off in a snit, the disgruntled fox says, "I, for one, wouldn't think of eating those lousy, rotten, stinkin' grapes now, even if I could…They're probably sour anyway."

The Message: Basically, this is just a humorous reworking of a famous fable, but it also reinforces the idea that it is sometimes better to listen to another person's ideas before you launch into something. Had Fox listen to his friends' suggestions for getting the grapes, the task would have been accomplished quickly and with ease. 

Before retiring, Bob Walch taught English in Santa Barbara and Carmel for 39 years. His reviews of children's literature appear in Central Coast newspapers and on line at the Reading Tub, Roundtable Reviews, My Shelf and Parent Click.