From Publishers Weekly
This story of the capable Hugh, told in a rhythmic text that hurries along like the hero, is a read-aloud natural. The protagonist--"as poor as a rabbit but as quick as a fox"--seeks his fortune in the city, but to get there must complete a series of tasks: procure a loaf of bread to pay his toll over the river, grind flour for the baker to get the loaf, mend the miller's apron so that he'll mill the grain, etc. The lad confidently meets these challenges, and even puzzles out an unusual one given him by "a shrivelly crone." Along the way his cheerful attitude wins him friends, who--in a fetching final twist that shows self-reliance is not always enough--ultimately return his favors. Root, using a medieval setting with rough-hewn peasant characters (similar to her work in Boots and His Brothers ), handsomely alternates small spots of Hugh dashing about his tasks with emotive, full-page scenes. In her first picture book, Armstrong's prose possesses a captivating vibrancy and immediacy; her fluent verbiage often reads like poetry: "He traveled for days and dreamed of his fortune, and how he would make it, and where, and how soon." A valuable lesson presented in a book to be valued. Ages 4-9.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- An original story with the folkloric patterning of a cumulative tale--with a twist. To get to the city to seek his fortune, Hugh, a penniless orphan, must come up with a loaf of bread to pay the bridge's tollkeeper. To get the : bread, the baker asks for a sack of flour; in exchange for grinding the wheat, the miller would like to get his apron repaired, and so on. Finally, in this chain of reimbursement, Hugh comes to a witch who demands ``something of value'' in exchange for a love charm for a goose girl. Hugh offers her the only thing he has--a handshake and a promise of friendship, both of which are treasures indeed to a lonely witch. Although this is a familiar motif, there are fresh elements here. Readers will no doubt be dismayed when the lad's hopes of getting to the city seem dashed after all his frenetic travail, and his resourceful solutions to his problems are sure to invite speculation. Although the text appears a bit long, the nicely cadenced language and satisfying ending are a pleasure to read aloud. Stock folktale archetypes are given character in the deft, framed, full-page paintings that reinforce the sly humor. Small, energetic vignettes of the peripatetic Hugh are sprinkled throughout, adding visual interest even from a distance. Although Root's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations may appear dark, they glow with rich, intense blues, purples, and greens that render them perfect for group sharing. An especially nice balance of dramatic tension, droll humor, and positive philosophy in a handsome package. --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
