JUST REWARDS

In a folktale that bears the subtitle ``Or Who Is That Man in the Moon and What's He Doing Up There Anyway?,'' a kind farmer is rewarded for rescuing an injured bird, with a magic seed that grows into watermelons loaded with money and jewels. Jealous of his friend's sudden wealth, a greedy farmer decides to rescue an injured bird, too. But he creates the injury himself with a slingshot and pesters the bird incessantly for treasures. He too receives a seed from the bird, which grows into a huge vine that reaches all the way to the moon. Eagerly, the greedy man climbs the vine, stepping onto the moon just as his green ladder withers. Sanfield and Lisker (Strudel, Strudel, Strudel, 1995, etc.) have reworked this Chinese folktale so that it reads especially well aloud, with conversational asides that will make listeners laugh. The bold and expressive illustrations blend American folk art with hints (faces, colors) of Edvard Munch. Best of all, the stingy farmer's bald lunar pate provides a good forecast of his fate. (Picture book/folklore. 4-8)