Stretch, Swallow and Stare

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Overview

Stretch was not like other people. She could stretch her body taller than the tallest tree. People didn't trust her because she was different.That's why she lived in the forest

Swallow could eat more food than anyone. The villagers made fun of her because she was short and fat. That's why she left town.

Stare's eyes were so strong they could burn through anything she looked at. Everyone was afraid of her. ...

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Overview

Stretch was not like other people. She could stretch her body taller than the tallest tree. People didn't trust her because she was different.That's why she lived in the forest

Swallow could eat more food than anyone. The villagers made fun of her because she was short and fat. That's why she left town.

Stare's eyes were so strong they could burn through anything she looked at. Everyone was afraid of her. That's why she stayed alone.

And then there was Ira - small, skinny, and short-sighted - with nobody in the world to help him search for his missing sister.

Somehow these four unlikely characters come together and overcome all obstacles - even the most evil magic in the land.

Veronika Martenova Charles has drawn upon an old Czech fairy tale to create her own contemporary story about the strength of friendship and the value of being different.

A young boy and three outcasts with unusual abilities band together to search for some missing children, including the boy's little sister, and find themselves battling an evil wizard.

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Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature - Leila Toledo
The three main characters in the story are based on similar ones in a Czech folk tale. The Long One, the Wide One and the Sharp-eyed One were renamed Stretch, Swallow and Stare. Stretch is tall and skinny and could reach the treetops, Swallow has a ravenous appetite and is extremely fat and Stare has such piercing eyes she can burn through anything she looks at. Because they are so different, they are rejected by the community. Together with their unusual talents, Stretch, Swallow and Stare help Ira find his sister and the other children who have been kidnapped by an evil wizard. The story subtly illustrates that valuable friendships can exist between those who are physically different as well as the importance of teamwork.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-Drawing on an old Czech folktale, Charles has created a contemporary story about a young boy's quest, with the assistance of three helpful female companions, to find his older sister. Stretch has the ability to elongate herself, Swallow can eat and drink huge quantities, and Stare's gaze can blast apart even rock. All of the women have fled their villages, ostracized because they are different. Imprisoned by a wizard who feeds on children's dreams, the sister can be freed if the boy and his companions are still guarding her when the sun's first rays hit the castle floor. Each woman uses her unique power and the boy, his quick wits to free Kate and the other children who are imprisoned with her. The tale ends with the three women going off together rather than returning to their homes. Both text and illustrations make a statement about being different. In addition to their various talents, Stretch is tall and brown-skinned, Swallow is chubby and pink, and Stare wears Chinese slippers and a jacket-symbolism that will not be lost on children. A varied viewpoint, mysterious backgrounds, distorted human figures, and textured surfaces add interest to the paint and colored-pencil illustrations. The themes stand out boldly and the book holds its own with other helpful related stories, such as Margaret Mahy and Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng's The Seven Chinese Brothers (Scholastic, l992).-Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780773730984
  • Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Limited
  • Publication date: 1/1/1999
  • Pages: 31
  • Age range: 4 - 8 Years
  • Product dimensions: 8.50 (w) x 11.41 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Veronika Martenova Charles is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include: Maiden of the Mist: A Legend of Niagara Falls; Stretch, Swallow, & Stare; The Crane Girl; and The Birdman. Veronika has studied at Ryerson University, the Ontario College or Art and Design, and recently completed her graduate studies in Folklore at York University. Veronika Martenova Charles lives in Toronto.
A native of Montreal, Annouchka Gravel Galouchko has lived in Iran, Egypt, Mexico, and Austria. Winner of a Governor General's Award for illustration and nominee for French language text ("Sho et les dragons d'eau"), she has exhibited her paintings widely.
Annouchka's partner, Stephan Daigle, is an internationally known painter and illustrator of books, magazines, and corporate images. He, too, was born in Montreal. The couple's collaboration on "The Birdman" has resulted in an exceptional blend of color and design, along with depth and symbolism that belie its prettiness. Stephan and Annouchka live in Quebec with their eight-year-old son, Sacha.

Veronika Martenova Charles was born behind the Iron Curtain in Prague, Czechosloavakia. As a teenager Veronika formed a pop act with a friend and learned to sing Western rock and roll. On a return trip from a tour in Cuba she stepped from her plane as it refueled in Gander, Newfoundland, and decided to stay in Canada. She studied at Ryerson University and the Ontario College of Art. Since 1991 Veronika has been writing and illustrating children's books full-time.

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