Heckedy Peg

When their mother, setting out to the market in town, must leave them home alone, seven rambunctious siblings - named for the seven days of the week - keep to her instructions at first, refusing to open the door for strangers, or to touch the fire. But a crafty witch named Heckedy Peg (who'd lost her leg) soon comes along, tempting them with a bag of gold, and - when they finally do admit her to the cottage - transforming them into various food items! It falls to their determined and resourceful mother, returned home with the items they requested, to rescue her children from the witch who plans to eat them...

The third picture-book from storytelling team Audrey and Don Wood that I have read - the previous two being King Bidgood's in the show more Bathtub and The Napping House - this tale of a family that triumphs over the machinations of one very evil witch is an absolute delight! I enjoyed the story, appreciated the clever way in which the items each child requested from the market matched up (in various ways) with the food into which they had been transformed, and really liked the fact that it is the mother who is the hero. As for the illustrations, done by Don Wood in oil, they are simply gorgeous - a pure visual feast! All in all, Heckedy Peg is just a delightful book, one I recommend to all young fairy-tale lovers, and to fans of the Woods. show less

Written by fourth generation artist, Audrey Wood tells the tale of seven children named after the days of the week are left alone while their mother goes to town to buy them each an item for being well behaved. Before she leaves the children are told not to allow strangers to enter their home and don't play with fire. A witch strolls by and everything changes for the children when she casts a spell on them; a spell that only their mother can break. The story unfolds through the beautifully illustrated pictures that almost tells the story without words.
I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. The story was told in a manner that makes you want to turn the page and see what happens next. The illustrations show more are worthy of framing. The spell being broke by a mothers love for her children is so easy to identify with being a mother myself.
As a class extension, the days of the week can be incorporated through a memory game asking which child wanted what from town. A lesson can be taught about talking to strangers and allowing them to enter the home. Another lesson that can be learned is what can happen if you play with fire. The students could also be asked if they could pick one item for their parent to get them what would they choose? show less

This is yet another illustrated children's book that drew me in and caused me to marvel at the stunning beauty of the illustrations.

Inspired by a 16th century children's game, the author and illustrator fashioned an incredible story book.

When seven children, each named for the days of the week, are left alone while their mother goes to market, they are cautioned not to let anyone inside and not to touch the fire.

Soon, the very two things they were told not to do, become the unraveling of their life as an old witch, who lost a leg, begs for entry and a light for her pipe.

For a sack of gold, the witch is allowed entry.

As the children dance with burning sticks of fire, Heckedy Peg changed the children into food, gathered them up and took show more them deep into the forest.

When the mother returned from market, a blackbird told her what he witnessed and pointed the way into the forest.

As Heckedy prepares to eat Tuesday, mama rescues the day playing the witches game of requesting her to identify the child with the food item it became.

Successful, the children were transformed back into human form. Chasing the evil witch throughout into the town and onto the bridge, Heckedy Peg jumps and is never seen again.

Highly recommended. show less

A mother goes to market, leaving her children at home with instructions to open the door to no one. But of course they do, and a witch called Heckedy Peg turns them all into inanimate objects. When their mother returns home, in order to break the spell, she must figure out who has been turned into which object. Thinking about what each child asked for from the market, she is able to figure it out.

Read this years ago but didn't remember it well so decided to again. Glad I did. Powerfully gorgeous illustrations. Puzzle concept clever. Sense of story and text imperfect. After all, for example, if mother has seven children and is noted as being poor, how does she buy seven presents at market? And if the children are so good, how are they so easily fooled? Still, a quality book for any library or collection of picture-book fables.

Gorgeous illustrations really complement the story. I'll admit it's been a LONG time since I read this book, and the story seems a bit silly in my head since it's fantasy, but it's still a really fun story with some beautifully-done illustrations.

I liked this book for its characters and plot. The plot was one that reminded me almost of an old folktale with its characters and magical touch. One day a mother left her seven children at home to go to the market, getting foods they all asked for. While she was gone the children were approached by a witch who tricked them into letting her in. She turns the children into food and takes them back to her home. The mother finds the children and solves the riddle the witch gives her, turning the children back into humans. The plot was very engaging and the characters were very well developed. For example you could tell the mother was very passionate about her children from her words and actions. The main message of this book is that, even show more if you are betrayed, working hard to get what you believe in will pay off. show less