Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf

November 8, 2004
Malone's (How Many Miles to Bethlehem?
, reviewed Sept. 27) jewel-toned paintings will give pause even to readers thoroughly familiar with Prokofiev's piece. Schulman (Countdown to Spring!
) softens the traditional text, letting the duck free at the story's end. Otherwise, the narrative plays second fiddle to Malone's images. He takes his palette from Italian frescoes—in shades of sage and cherry bleached by age and the noonday sun. Poignant detail enlivens the human figures—golden-haired Peter in his milk-white blouse, bearded Grandfather in straw hat and suspenders—and the architecture of the town center plus the hats of the red-nosed hunters give a nod to the composer's Russian origins. As the wolf enters the action and Peter plots his capture, the artist frames the dramatic moments in eerie stillness. Malone's sedate tableaux give even witty moments gravity. As the bird and the duck bicker about whether fowl should swim or fly, a spot illustration shows the duck imagining the bird encircled by a tiny inner-tube, equipped with flippers, while the bird pictures the duck fitted out with a wooden propeller and an aviator's headgear. Medieval perspectives, billowing golden clouds and the sporadic reappearance of figures from Grandfather's dreams all deepen the feeling that the story takes place in a world far away. All ages.

October 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 3 -This musical fantasy about a disobedient boy who leaves the safety of the garden for the unknown world of the meadow, cleverly conquering the danger he encounters, has been a childhood favorite since 1936. An opening page introduces the characters, naming and depicting the instrument associated with each one. Prokofiev purists, however, will have issues with this retelling. The text is much longer, much of it hammering home the obvious (that the wolf is dangerous) or providing unnecessary background (the content of grandfather's dream). This extraneous verbiage leaves less room for the music to spin the story. It is the ending, though, that will prove most troubling to longtime fans. This wolf is a pathetic captive, begging to go home, feeling guilty about his deed; the hunters are nervous Nellies; grandfather has changed his tune from paternal skepticism to pride; and] yes, the duck is coughed out as the wolf is returned to the forest. The impact of the drama is considerably lessened. Malone's illustrations are well matched to the story, evoking a somewhat surreal and sometimes humorous world with a Russian flavor. A serviceable CD, recorded by the Cincinnati Pops and narrated by Peter Thomas, is included. Erna Voigt's faithful rendition (Godine, 1979; o.p.) set a standard for this story that is hard to beat.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2004
PreS-Gr. 4. A CD featuring the Cincinnati Pops' rendition of Prokofiev's music and narration by Peter Thomas accompanies this new version of Peter's story, which Malone handsomely illustrates in soft-edged paintings. Feathery brush strokes and golden hues lend a comforting, nostalgic feel to the story, while bold close-up views of the agile, sharp-toothed wolf will thrill children. Libraries may already have other versions on the shelf (books by Loriot [1986] and Vladimir Vagin [2000] are particularly noteworthy), but Schulman's retelling and the accompanying recording make an appealing package. The expertly produced images and music will easily draw children into this classic, and its sly introduction to the sounds of the symphony.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)