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First-time kids' book author (and bona fide Iowan farm-resident) Jill Esbaum tells the homespun story of a long-suffering sister and a ne'er-do-well younger brother who visit their Granny after a big tomato harvest.

Annabelle knows that she's in trouble from the moment Mama drops her and Willie off at Granny's farm: "Mama'd volunteered me to help Granny put up the garden, and I knew wha... More

First-time kids' book author (and bona fide Iowan farm-resident) Jill Esbaum tells the homespun story of a long-suffering sister and a ne'er-do-well younger brother who visit their Granny after a big tomato harvest.

Annabelle knows that she's in trouble from the moment Mama drops her and Willie off at Granny's farm: "Mama'd volunteered me to help Granny put up the garden, and I knew what that meant: lots of hard work." On top of that, Annabelle promises Mama that she'll keep Willie out of trouble--an impossible promise she soon regrets: "Willie and trouble went together like biscuits and gravy". Alternating hard work (for Annabelle) and chaos (from Willie) ensue, as Annabelle washes a mountain of tomatoes for canning while trying--unsuccessfully--to stop Willie from tormenting a goat, lassoing chickens, skinny-dipping in a pond, and climbing a windmill. Not only does Annabelle have to suffer scolding from Granny for not minding her brother better, but she's forced to prepare and eat her least favorite food--tomatoes. Fortunately, the surprise arrival of a stinky skunk (a "polecat") leads to Willie's comeuppance and the unexpected end of the tomato threat.

Esbaum spares no subtlety in country-fying her story--there's plenty a "y'all," "this here," and even a "Hoooooo-WEE!"--and Roger Roth deserves credit for meeting her more than halfway, serving up equally down-home illustrations that match the action perfectly. A warning, though, to more city-fied parents: Stink Soup does contain some scenes of implied whuppin'. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

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