ANNOTATION

During a drought in the early 1900s, a large loving African American family finds a delicious way to earn the money they need to save their family farm.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the summer drought, the only thing that survives on seven-year-old Sadie's farm is the sweet potato crop. When the bank threatens to foreclose, Mama remembers the upcoming Harvest Celebration -- an ideal place to sell her sweet potato pies!At the Celebration, the kids do their part, shouting, "Pies for sale! Pies for sale! Sweet potato pies for sale!" When the General Store, the local restaurant, and the Sweet Shop place large orders, the family knows they¿¿¿ve saved the farm. The book¿¿¿s bold, colorful images and strong message of cooperation and family ties makes it a delight to read.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Candace Deisley

A drought in the early 1900s threatens to evict an African American family from their farm. This story, told by an eight-year-old girl, shows the strength of this family, and their devotion to each other. The evocative primitive illustrations in pure blocks of color depict the cooperative hard work of making all those pies, milking the cow and fetching the eggs, and Mama's special, extra-flaky crust, and carting the baked goods to market, and selling them. Of course, they sell out, and begin to take orders for more sweet potato pies to be delivered. And so, they saved the farm. Recipes for "Mama's Sweet Potato Pie" and "Mama's Extra-Flaky Pie Crust" finish the book. 2003, Lee & Low Books, Ages 4 to 8.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-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 rain arrives 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 an 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).-Susan M. Moore, Louisville Free Public Library, KY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.