School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 3-"Ole Goat of Grede Mountain" and his bottomless black bag just can't get enough of everyone else's property. As he meets several animals carrying their possessions to the market to sell, he insists that they give them up to feed his "hungry" bag, threatening them with violence. He meets with great success until, in grasping for more, he trips over his too-full bag and tumbles down a hill. His ill-gotten gains are then retrieved by their owners. Tompert's text is great for storytelling. Repeated phrases such as "I'll pitch you down the mountain with my bony, bony head," folksy language, and a parade of critter victims move the tale along to its satisfying comeuppance conclusion. One is reminded of Eric A. Kimmel's Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (Holiday, 1988). Chwast's watercolor illustrations have a folk-art/cartoon quality that supports the tale nicely and a soft palette that does not overpower it. A handy read-aloud for those ready to discuss the grief of greed.-Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.