Even beginning readers will recognize this Greenlight Reader as an adaptation of The Little Red Hen. But instead of needing help to make bread or a traditional sweet, Digger Pig wants to make a turnip pie from a very large turnip. The chick, the dog, and the duck won't help, so Digger makes the pie herself. The other animals don't get a bite either; it's all for Digger and her piglets. Denise's artwork is very nice, with the charming colored-pencil pictures having an old-fashioned yet jaunty look. The story's repetition will help new readers develop their skills. (Reviewed February 15, 2000)

Digger Pig repeatedly asks her friends Chirper Chick, Quacker Duck, and Bow-Wow Dog for help in making a turnip pie, but they only want to help eat it. Accompanied by expressive illustrations, the simple text in this easy reader features lots of repetition. The typeface is large, but more leading between the lines of text would be helpful for emergent readers.

Gr 1-2-In this retelling of "The Little Red Hen," Digger Pig uproots a turnip and seeks the help of some barnyard animals to make a pie out of it. Although many folktales benefit from fresh characters and settings, this one does not faithfully convey the message of the original, that only those who do the work should be rewarded. Not all of the labor involved in making the pie is shown, and the lazy animals' names are trite: Chirper Chick, Quacker Duck, and Bow-Wow Dog. The textured, colorful drawings are surrounded by lots of white space, but the characters' expressions do not always mirror their emotions. Despite the easy-to-read text, repetition, and large print, this inferior version of the popular tale will not be missed.-Diane Janoff, Queens Borough Public Library, CLASP Office, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.