[.ca] Clever Beatrice (ISBN 068987068X)

From Amazon.com:
He may be massive and burly, but this rich giant of the north woods is no match for tiny, whip-smart Beatrice. Determined to dupe the big guy out of his gold coins in order to put porridge on her poor mother's table, Beatrice proposes a match of strength. Amused, the giant agrees, only to be hoodwinked again and again by the wee lass. Margaret Willey's clever version of the classic brains vs. brawn yarn rises above and beyond the garden-variety fairy tale by virtue of Heather Solomon's stunning, unusual illustrations. Incorporating photo scraps of flowers and wood grain into her watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings, Solomon creates richly textured visions of the upper peninsula of Michigan. Especially magical are the portrayals of men fishing, mining, and logging in the densely wooded northern landscape. We can only hope that this, Solomon's first venture into picture books, is just the beginning of a long, prolific career. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter

Watch out! Here comes Beatrice!:
I love trickster tales and this one, with a young girl in the starring role, is a treat. Set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Beatrice decides she needs to help her mother by earning some money. There are only 2 options: lumbering and gambling with the giant who lives on the other side of the woods. Beatrice heads for the giant. Fortunately, she's a clever little girl; equally fortunately, the giant is not clever at all. She makes bets that she can pound on his front door harder than he can, that she can carry more water from the well than he can, that she can throw an iron bar farther than he can. And she wins! This story is going to get lots of reading in my Michigan school.

Engaging illustrations!:
I LOVE the beautiful illustrations in this book! They're full of rich color and details. The technique of combining watercolors and collage makes for an interesting look. I also enjoy the fun story where a little girl outwits a large giant, and yet both feel lucky at the story's end. This book is definitely a winner!