The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle

By Margaret Read MacDonald and Rumer Godden

Book Overview

A re-imagined Grimm tale illustrated by Katie Morag creator Mairi Hedderwick

The old woman is happy living in her old vinegar bottle house by a loch, until one day she saves a charming fish prince who grants her wishes in return.

At first the old woman's wishes are humble -- a hot dinner and a little cottage -- but as she asks for more and more extravagant things she forgets how happy she used to be in her little vinegar bottle house with her cat, Malt. Can her wishes truly bring her happiness?

This traditional tale is adapted with charm and humor by Rumer Godden, one of the twentieth-century's best-loved writers, while the beautiful artwork of best-selling illustrator Mairi Hedderwick, creator of Katie Morag, give the story a Scottish twist

Featuring beautiful Scottish landscapes and lively characters, The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle is a wonderful traditional tale to share with young children.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1782505105
• ISBN13: 9781782505105
• Release Date: September 2018
• Publisher: Kelpies
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.4" x 11.4"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

great story and pix

I love this book - the story is wonderful for many ages and the illustrations are wonderful!

Wonderful lesson

This is one of my favorite books. As a pre-kindergarten teacher, I read this and the children loved it. They would repeat the lines, "And she didn't even say thank you", and when one of them was whining, the question "Do you live in a vinegar bottle?" caused the whining to instantly cease. I have even found myself using the phrase to describe other adults who are never happy! Highly recommended.

A good book to read every night

My 7 yr. old daughter loves this book. It's a funny book about an old lady who is never satisfied with her house even though the fairy keeps granting her wishes for bigger and better houses. The morale is a good one--happiness comes from within, not from your possessions. My daughter soon memorized the verses that repeat throughout the book and recites them each time we read the book. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and full of bright colors.