I picked this up thinking it might turn out to be a good persuasive text. Unfortunately, that wasn't how it turned out. However, this was a nice example of a building text, similar to The House That Jack Built. I could use this in the future. The text stands up today nearly as well as it would have almost 50 years ago when it was written. A nice book. ( )

An absolutely delightful adaptation of an Ozark Mountain children's song. The Zemach's bring it alive with colorful primative illustrations which was an ALA Notable Book in 1966. I used this each year with my storytelling to second graders because of the illustrations and the sing-song quality that builds each page on the other. ( )

This book is Realistic Fiction, because, though the story is made up, all the events that are discussed in the story are probable. The voice used in this book is a dialogue, first person in between Eliza Lou and her mother. There is a sequenced beginning, middle and end plot in this story. Eliza wishes for her mom to buy her a china doll. She uses her problem solving skills to reason what they could sell to get money, and who would sleep where. The book ends as Eliza is exhausted of ideas and falls asleep. There is wonderful media in the story, done by paints. This Author/Illustrator has won the Caldecott medal for some of his other books. I feel that the book ended abruptly with no real resolution.