Heckedy Peg is a 1987 children's picture book by Audrey Wood. It is about seven children, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, who are transformed into food by a witch. The children are then taken to the witch's cave and are eventually rescued by their mother. In order to rescue her children, the mother pretends to cut off her feet at the witch's request. She then enters the cave and identifies which food item each of her children have been turned into.

Heckedy Peg
AuthorAudrey Wood
IllustratorDon Wood
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's picture book, fairy tale
Published1987 (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich)
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages32 (unpaginated)
ISBN9780152336783
OCLC15107874

Reception edit

Booklist, in a review of Heckedy Peg, found "The inherent drama of the story, combined with the haunting images the art provides, gives the picture book a timeless quality. "[1] and the School Library Journal wrote "This story, deep and rich with folk wisdom, is stunningly illustrated with Don Wood's luminous paintings. .. A tour de force in every way."[1] Kirkus Reviews called it "An original fairy tale" and "Admirable, yet, for all its proficiency, almost stolid--perhaps a little less definition would leave more room for the imagination."[2]

Publishers Weekly wrote "Although text and art in this picture book match as hand and glove, it is really the ornate illustrations that carry it aloft to the dimension of classic fairytale" and "The story has essential elements of playfulness and eeriness; also evident is a poetic license that effects a looseness in structure."[3] while Betty Criscoe wrote "A well-written and beautifully illustrated tale, Heckedy Peg contains the characteristics of a classic."[4]

Awards and nominations edit

1987 Irma Simonton Black Book Award - winner[5]
1989 Colorado Children's Book Award - runner-up[4]
1990 Nevada Young Readers' Award - winner[6]
1992 Young Hoosier Award - winner[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Heckedy Peg". Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  2. ^ "Heckedy Peg". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  3. ^ "Heckedy Peg". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. October 26, 1987. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Criscoe, Betty L. (1990). Award-winning books for children and young adults: an annual guide, 1989. Scarecrow Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780810823365. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  5. ^ "The Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature". ucalgary.ca. David K. Brown. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  6. ^ "Nevada Young Readers' Award Past Winners". nevadalibraries.org. Nevada Library Association. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  7. ^ "Yound Hoosier Book Award Winners". culver.lib.in.us. Culver Union Township Public Library. Retrieved 16 November 2016.

External links edit

Library holdings of Heckedy Peg