This is a documentary of 16 pages filled with the trials and heartache borne by a young person. Grigsby's older sis is the older sis you just don't want! "Gretchen was as nasty as a snake." Gretch the wretch with her trusty cookbook in hand directs Grigsby in the preparation of Gruesome stew. Warthog liver, toads, a dash of worms and glue; they are all in that stew. This enchanting little book is sure to appeal to the 3 - 8 set. Girls and boys alike will enjoy shuddering their way through the description of the stew and will roar with laughter as the joke is revealed. The vocabulary is a tad advanced, however both the 'read to' 3 - 5s and the 'read with some help' 7 and 8s will all relish the humor, rhyming and wonderful illustrations offered in this little volume. This is a book I would use in my classroom and have just purchased four copies as gifts for the 'little folks' of our family. One suggestion: a vocabulary list and target audience for the book would aid teachers, home schoolers, school media personnel and parents as they consider the book.

Reviewed by Molly Martin, Oklahoma (20+ years in the classroom.)

http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin/