Galdone's illustration style is more charming in the Anatole books than in this rendition of an American folktale. The ending is creepy, but I'm pretty sure other versions of the story exist that are scarier. ( )

I'm not sure if this is the version I read when I was little but I have to rate it highly for the shear impact it had on me. I had it memorized and can still retell it almost word for word. I used to scare the bejeezes out of my little brother telling it to him. ( )

Not a perfect version of this story, but serviceable. This story ultimately works best as an oral story without pictures, so a book is hard-pressed to do it justice. Also, despite the tales African-American origins, the old man is white. And this tailypo is just too cute to do the story justice. But my children love having it in some form they can read for themselves because it is one of their favorites. ( )

Fine condition