Quill Soup: A Stone Soup Story

Strongly reflective of the culture from which they are drawn, folktales are especially wonderful when authors and illustrators use fresh imagery to reimagine a well known story. Durant plants the elements of the story of stone soup in South Africa, where the main character, a porcupine, travels toward home. On the way, he finds himself in an unfamiliar village and is hopeful that the inhabitants are friendly. Despite ample evidence in Blankenaar's color-saturated illustrations that the residents have plenty to eat, the porcupine is refused food. He decides that he will have to make quill soup and asks for a pot and some water. The illustrations in the book are a remarkable combination of flat folk art and striking modern imagery, full of details for onlookers to find. Children will enjoy locating all the different animals in the pages. VERDICT This is a lovely tale about rushing to judgement and generosity; an excellent addition to any folktale collection.—Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elem., FL