After years of living in bliss and harmony on their New England farm, two brothers get into a spontaneous fight over lumpy oatmeal that leads to generations of family fighting, but when their great-grandchildren meet one day and an incident occurs, the word "sorry" changes everything for everyone.
K-Gr 3-Two brothers live and work together peacefully on their farm-until Obadiah complains about lumps in the oatmeal. Ebenezer dumps the bowl on Obadiah's head, and they never speak to one another again. They split the farm and the farmhouse (literally), and they eventually marry and start a family. They prosper on opposite sides of the stone wall that Ebenezer builds to keep Obadiah's cows out of his corn. The family members never speak to one another, until the day that Obadiah's great-grandson Luther catches Ebenezer's great-grandson Nathaniel about to bite into an apple from a tree on Obadiah's side of the wall. The cousins almost come to blows, until Nathaniel surprises both of them with an unexpected "sorry," and Luther responds with a smile. "And they talked-and laughed till the sun went down." Familiar themes of feuding families and the power of a simple apology dominate this story, which perfectly captures the tone of a quiet country farm. Sneed's vivacious, animated watercolor artwork adds personality and a sense of place. The illustrations appear to move to the lively rhythms of the fiddle and harmonica that the brothers play, even stretching out of their own borders for emphasis. They depict authentic farm implements, such as a wood-burning stove, churn, washtub, and wringer. This folkloric comic satire with poignant overtones of universal truths should appeal to a wide range of readers and listeners.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Two angry men appear on the cover of this cautionary tale about holding a grudge. One glares. The other sullenly wears an overturned bowl of oatmeal on his head. These are Ebenezer and Obadiah, brothers who share a farm. In happy times, "Ebenezer cooked. Obadiah cleaned.... And in the evenings they both sat on the porch playing tunes Ebenezer on his fiddle, Obadiah on his mouth organ." This comfortable routine continues until the day Obadiah mutters about "lumps" in Ebenezer's oatmeal, and Ebenezer dumps the breakfast on his sibling. Afterward, neither will apologize. Van Leeuwen (The Tickle Stories; Going West) matter-of-factly chronicles the twosome's preposterous breakup. Obadiah saws off his half of the house and drags it across a valley. Ebenezer builds a stone wall to separate his cornfield from his brother's orchard and milk cows. Both marry, have children and grow old without saying "sorry." Their stubbornness is astonishing and sad. Sneed (When the Fly Flew In...) creates watercolor images in the style of Thomas Hart Benton's folklife canvases, with lanky farmers, Jersey cows and closely observed enamelware and quilts. Roller-coaster hillsides and furrows of plowed earth dance on the pages, and the artist often uses a muralist mode to show several moments within one spread. At long last, Ebenezer and Obadiah's great-grandsons meet and become friends. Still, regret permeates this unforgiving story of a needless feud, rendered in poignant detail. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Ages 5-8. Brothers Ebenezer and Obadiah find life on their country farm isn't always easy, but there's joy in companionship and playing music together. Unfortunately, a little misunderstanding over, of all things, a bowl of oatmeal becomes a full-blown feud--leading to separate residences and lives. Both farms prosper, and the brothers raise families, but the feud continues--until two great-grandchildren, unexpectedly caught in a minor rift of their own, discover the power of one small word. In folksy language, this entertaining cautionary tale depicts the way hurt feelings and pride can lead to illogical extremes. Richly colored textured watercolors echo the theme, incorporating details of old-time farm and town life. The exaggerated expressions and perspectives and surreal, rounded country landscapes are reminiscent of Thomas Hart Benton's work. Humorous yet poignant, the story shows how a single word can make all the difference.
Shelle RosenfeldCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
