Roll, Roll, Little Pea

by Cécile Bergame, Magali Attiogbé (Illustrator), Angus Yuen-Killick (Translator)

Overview

Find out what happens in this story of a runaway pea that goes on a perilous journey.

When a little pea escapes a girl who is shelling peas, it rolls off the kitchen table, onto the floor, and an adventure begins. The runaway pea rolls passes several hungry animals. It manages to evade a mouse, a cat, a rabbit, a hen, a pig, and a wolf, finally resting in the perfect place. The girl will find it again after some time has passed for a surprise conclusion. This circular story, told with repetition, predictive  vocabulary, and bright colorful art, delivers a gentle natural history lesson for the youngest of readers. They will enjoy repeated readings as they can join in the telling of this sweet pea of a tale. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781636550459
Publisher:	Red Comet Press
Publication date:	06/20/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	24
Lexile:	AD580L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Cécile Bergame is a storyteller, actress, and director of the Café-Crème children's performance company. She was nurtured from a very young age by unusual and fanciful family stories. She quickly realized that words. music, and stories could give her the gift of travel. She has been all over France performing and lending her warm and sweet voice to the tradition of oral storytelling. 
Illustrator Magali Attiogbé was born in Atakpamé in Togo, but moved to France at the age of 3. All through her life she has enjoyed painting and sculpture, and in 2002 she obtained a diploma in illustration from the Estienne school in Paris. Since then, she has worked on a variety of  projects such as posters, books, and toys. Alongside her work as an illustrator, she enjoys sewing and singing - sometimes even both at the same time!

Translator Angus Yuen-Killick is the founder and publisher of Red Comet Press. Originally from the UK, he now lives and work in brownstone Brooklyn, New York. 

Editorial Reviews

– A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, 2023

“This sweet and tender tale opens with a brown-skinned child shelling peas into a bowl. Bergame’s story is full of repetition, patterned action-filled sentences, and memorable vocabulary. Attiogbé’s slightly retro palette and flat, graphic illustration style give the book a timeless feel that calls to mind the works of Dahlia Ipcar and Ed Emberley. . . a visually appealing and dynamic offering.” –The Horn Book

"A sneaky plant life-cycle story for the youngest set. The repeated refrain “ROLL, ROLL, LITTLE PEA” makes the tale roll along as merrily as the little pea itself. Bold graphic designs with thick accent lines are visually arresting."–Kirkus Reviews

"Young children will enjoy seeing a renegade pea as it escapes from the clutches of a little girl and rolls off into the world.  . . . Readers ages 3-6 will enjoy chanting "roll, roll, little pea!" until the exciting moment when the pea reaches the garden and vanished into the earth. Come spring, of course, there will be new peas for the little girl to find."–The Wall Street Journal

"Filled with incredible, vibrant colors and hues, the words on these pages are delightful. Once the pea has made its escape the text reads something like, “Roll Roll, Little Pea, along the floor and under the stairs”, (always changing where it heads) and on the opposite page is some kind of critter who would like to crunch or nibble or peck or even “Devour” the pea. With pictures you can make out across a room and that steady diet of repetition, the end result is a great readaloud and stellar translation. Two thumbs up!"–Betsy Bird, Fuse#8, School Library Journal

"Will the runaway pea become a snack for one of the animals it rolls by? Illustrations call to mind folk art in this rollicking translation from the French. The tale is likely to hold up to multiple readings and may inspire young gardeners!"–Reading Rockets, National Public Media

"Told with repetition, predictive vocabulary, and bright colorful art, delivers a natural history lesson about plant life. Entertaining, charming, original, "Roll, Roll, Little Pea" is enthusiastically commended as an addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 3-6." –Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

2023-03-29
In this French import, a pea escapes a bowl and starts an adventure.

While a girl is shelling peas, one accidentally drops to the floor and rolls away. The tiny green sphere then becomes a possibility for lunch for many different animals. As the pea rolls through the house and out the door, a mouse looks at it hungrily, a cat wants to “CRUNCH” it, and a rabbit wishes to “NIBBLE” it. Bolded action words that describe how each animal would consume the pea highlight new vocabulary. Propelled by a baffling momentum, the pea rolls down a path, through some mud (where a pig wants to “MUNCH” it), and into a forest. It is finally swallowed by a hole in the ground. The next harvest season, a new shoot appears, and high atop a tendril, the girl is reunited with the pea. The repeated refrain “ROLL, ROLL, LITTLE PEA” makes the tale roll along as merrily as the little pea itself. Bold graphic designs with thick accent lines are visually arresting. The girl, seen only on the first and last pages, has dark skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sneaky plant life-cycle story for the youngest set. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews