Hare and Tortoise - Hardcover

Alison Murray grew up in Lanarkshire near Glasgow and studied Textile Design at Glasgow School of Art. After graduating she moved to London and worked in a variety of jobs including bookseller and rug designer before completing a MA in Design for Interactive Media at Middlesex University. She then co-founded, created and built a successful Interactive Media company and then sold it and moved back to Scotland. Alison has now found a new niche, writing and illustrating children's picture books. Her titles for Orchard include Apple Pie ABC, One, Two That's My Shoe, Little Mouse, Hickory Dickory Dog and The House That Zac Built. Alison lives in Glasgow with her husband, her daughter and her dog.

PreS-Gr 1—A delightful and witty retelling of the traditional Aesop fable. The story remains true to the original, while adding in wonderfully quirky descriptions of the main characters. In doing so, Murray makes the well-known animals that much more lovable. It is impossible not to smile at Tortoise's catchphrase, "I may be slow, but watch me go," as she trundles along at the bottom of the pages. An added bonus is the modeling of good sportsmanship by both characters, who go off to celebrate in the lettuce patch at the end of the tale. The illustrations are the perfect blend of full color and white space. Each character, though simply rendered, shows emotions and energy levels that really aid in telling the story. VERDICT An absolutely successful retelling of the classic tale; great for storytimes and recommended for any fable collection.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh