The Talking Eggs

Title: The Talking Eggs
Author : San Souci, Robert
Illustrator: HPinkney, Jerry
Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1989
Genre: Picture Book, Folk Tale, Traditional Literature
Age Range: 2-5th grade

Summary: This is an American Folktale from the south. It is about Blanche, the sweet hard-worker and Rose the older, mean sister. One day when Blanche was sent to get a bucket of water she met an old woman. When Blanche got back home, Rose scalded her and made her run away in the woods. While in the woods, Blanche met the old woman and went back to her house. The old woman told her not to laugh at the things she would see at the house, and she didn't! When they got inside the old woman gave her an old beef bone to make dinner. Surprisingly it made a hearty meal. The next morning the old woman told Blanche to go milk the cow and gather any eggs that say "Take Me" but not the ones that say "Don't Take Me." Of course all the beautifully jeweled ones said "Don't take me," but as tempted as she was, Blanche listened to the old woman. When Blanche was leaving the old woman told her to take the eggs and throw them one by one over her shoulders. As she did, a carriage, silver coins and more appeared. When she returned home her mother and sister were so surprised and they wanted more! The mother sent Rose out to the old lady's home. Rose did not listen to anything the old woman said. She laughed at the cows and chickens, did not believe the beef bone would make a meal, and gathered the eggs that said "Don't take me." On the way home, she threw the eggs over her shoulders and wolfs, snakes, and yellow jackets appeared. When she got home, she discovered Blanche had left for the city and Rose and her mother searched and searched for the old woman's house but could never find it.
Response: I remember this book from Elementary school. It was always one of my favorites. I LOVE the lesson it teaches - don't be greedy, be grateful. I never thought about it being a Cinderella story until our class on Cinderella tales. It definitely fits into this category though. I think it is wonderful how San Souci weaves the Cajun cuture (old house in the woods etc... into this story. And although the pictures are rather "old school" (for lack of a better term) I think they help make the story. I enjoy seeing these watercolor and colored pencil pictures. They help create a "story-telling" tone, that I enjoy.

Teaching Ideas: I think it would be neat to make "eggs" that tell our own story. OR, students could make plain eggs and write on them what they represent (to them) and do the same for decorative eggs. This is a simple lesson, but would be fun and could really bring the lessons this story portrays to life.

--jeana!