#955 of 1001 · March 13, 2023

For the rest of Rumpelstiltskin Week Two, I am going to venture outward to look at variants of the tale from countries around the world. For today, here’s a look at Whuppity Stoorie by John Warren Stewig and Preston McDaniels. The goodwife of Kittlerumpit is devastated to find her pig near death. When an old woman dressed all in green offers to heal the animal, the goodwife rashly offers the stranger anything she wants in exchange. The mysterious woman (soon revealed to be a malevolent fairy) miraculously cures the pig and immediately demands ownership of the goodwife’s baby. The terrible deal looks certain to be enforced, but the goodwife overhears the fairy’s name—Whuppity Stoorie—and drives her away forever. Stewig constructs an appealing text, while McDaniels provides expressive, thick-lined illustrations. A note for folklore enthusiasts: This story was first collected by Robert Chambers in his 1858 book Popular Rhymes of Scotland. #wife #mother #baby #pig #sick #fairy #name #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks