From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3. Willy's grandma believes in magic and superstitions, but when she passes on her wisdom to the boy, he scorns her advice and calls her silly. She knows that you can kiss a mule to cure a cold and that you shouldn't sing before breakfast. She says it's bad luck to count the stars or cut your toenails on Sunday. Willy tries all of these and nothing bad happens to him until her final piece of advice: "Don't you go walking by the Big Swamp at night." In a smooth change of pace from silly to scary, Willy dares the swamp and is terrified by a fearsome bogeyman. Grandma reassures him that it was only wind, branches, and stars. Filled with smooth repetitions, lively language, and strong rhythms, this is a fun read-aloud choice. Crayon-and-ink illustrations are expressive and neatly laid out. They show Willy happily defying his grandmother's advice, unaware of the spooky happenings that are occurring involving ghosts, strange creatures, and floating utensils. Many of the pictures resemble chalk drawings on a blackboard, with a separate smaller drawing of Willy as he states the "silly grandma" refrain. The humorous pictures turn spooky as the boy enters the swamp, and the two-page bogeyman spread is impressive and climactic. Words and pictures work well together in this lively combination of humor, suspense, and a loving African-American family.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Kirkus Reviews
From DeFelice (The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker, 1996, etc.), the story of a boy who dismisses his grandmother's superstitions and belief in magic as ``silly'' until he has to face his own fears in the Big Swamp. Willy spends a week testing his grandmother's superstitions: He cuts his toenails on Sunday, sings before breakfast, puts his hats on the bed, and walks around with one shoe on and one shoe off. Nothing happens. On Saturday, Willy strolls through the creepy Big Swamp- -which he's been warned not to do--and encounters the bogeyman. He runs home in terror, finding comfort in his grandmother's arms, and prepared to believe anything she says (especially her reassurance that there is no bogeyman). This may be a refreshing tale about a child's wish to test the rules of authority, or an attempt to scare readers into submission and unquestioning acceptance of adult ways and words. Jackson's illustrations show warm backgrounds and loving faces that seem cast in the light of an oil lamp. The story is well-told; the message is mixed. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
