Sorry - Hardcover

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

K-Gr 3-Two brothers live and work together peacefully on their farm-until Obadiah complains about lumps in the oatmeal. Ebenezer dumps the bowl on Obadiah's head, and they never speak to one another again. They split the farm and the farmhouse (literally), and they eventually marry and start a family. They prosper on opposite sides of the stone wall that Ebenezer builds to keep Obadiah's cows out of his corn. The family members never speak to one another, until the day that Obadiah's great-grandson Luther catches Ebenezer's great-grandson Nathaniel about to bite into an apple from a tree on Obadiah's side of the wall. The cousins almost come to blows, until Nathaniel surprises both of them with an unexpected "sorry," and Luther responds with a smile. "And they talked-and laughed till the sun went down." Familiar themes of feuding families and the power of a simple apology dominate this story, which perfectly captures the tone of a quiet country farm. Sneed's vivacious, animated watercolor artwork adds personality and a sense of place. The illustrations appear to move to the lively rhythms of the fiddle and harmonica that the brothers play, even stretching out of their own borders for emphasis. They depict authentic farm implements, such as a wood-burning stove, churn, washtub, and wringer. This folkloric comic satire with poignant overtones of universal truths should appeal to a wide range of readers and listeners.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.