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Sweet Potato Pie
REVIEW
"Sadie, an eight-year-old African American girl lives on a farm during the early 1900s. Drought has produced the worst crops ever, but the rainarrives just in time to save the sweet potatoes. When Papa receives a letter from the bank threatening to take the farm unless a loan is repaid, Mama has an idea: the family will make sweet potato pies and sell them at the Harvest Celebration in town. Everyone pitches in to get the wagon ready, gather the ingredients, and do the baking. At the fair, Mama's pies sell like hot cakes, guaranteeing a happy ending. Done in impressionist style, Riley-Webb's rich acrylic artwork adds greatly to the text. The paintings seem to be moving to the tune of exuberant music, the actions and emotions of the characters are reflected through the use of brush strokes, color and perspective. Although a bit lengthy, this tale is suitable for independent reading or sharing aloud. Pair it with other stories that celebrate families such as Elizabeth Howard's 'Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later)' (Clarion, 1991), Cynthia Rylant's 'The Relatives Came' (Bradbury, 1985), Patricia Polacco's 'The Keeping Quilt' (S&S 1988), or George Ella Lyon's 'Come a Tide' (Orchard, 1990).
- Louise E. May
- Executive Editor
- LEE & LOW BOOKS
- 95 Madison Avenue
- New York, NY 10016
- (212) 779-4400, ext. 24
- (212) 532-6035 Fax
- lmay@leeandlow.com
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