Book Post #12- The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert D. San Souci

Caldecott Honor Award 1989

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award 1990

Souci, R. (1989). The talking eggs: a folktale from the American South. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert D. San Souci is a spin on the traditional Cinderella story.  There are wonderful illustrations in this book.  Blanche is treated badly by her mother and sister, Rose.  One day while getting water from the well, Blanche gives an old woman a drink of water.  When she gets home with the water, her mother and sister tell her she has been gone too long.  They pour out the water and scream and hit poor Blanche.  She runs into the woods, because she is afraid to go home.  The old lady finds her and takes her home with her and some pretty strange things happen....The old woman has a two-headed cow with spiral horns and chickens of all colors with one, two, three, or more legs.  She even removes her own head while Blanche is cooking dinner.  The next morning the old woman gives good Blanche eggs, but she can only take the ones that say "take me."  Blanche listens and gets wealth and fine things.  Rose and the mother are jealous and Rose goes to the woman's house and doesn't listen to the woman.  She takes the eggs that are covered with jewels, but say "don't take me."  You can guess what happens next.........