The spunky heroine in this version of an English folk tale outfoxes a witch and saves her family from destitution. When a family’s savings is stolen, one of two daughters sets out to find a job. Nothing is available in town, so she sets out for the country. Along the way, she comes upon an oven full of bread, a cow that needs milking, and a tree laden with ripe apples. They cry out for help; she pulls out the bread, milks the cow, and picks the apples. When she ends up working for the witch who robbed her parents of their purse, the girl snatches the purse and runs home, aided by those she helped. The other sister sets out, hoping for similar triumphs, but her neglect of those who asked for help leads to her downfall. Harvey’s paintings, which bless both daughters with pluck rather than cuteness, add an unexpected expressiveness to a well- known tale: the second sister is oblivious, wearing Walkman headphones; the bright red moneybag teases the characters, flapping its long tails wherever it goes. (Picture book/folklore. 6-10)
