Reviews: (by author)

McKissack, Patricia C. and Onawumi Jean Moss. Precious and the Boo Hag. Illus. Kyrsten Brooker. New York : An Anne Schwartz Book. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005.

As told by McKissack and Moss, the story is a lively cautionary folk tale whose language captures the richness of African-American dialect. A young girl, Precious, must stay home alone while her family works in the cornfields. Mama gives Precious a list of dos and don'ts: do her chores and keep stuff off the floor and don't make a mess or "ramble" in Mama's things. However, her brother provides a more serious warning: don't let anyone into the house, as the stranger might turn out to be none other than Pruella the Boo Hag. The Boo Hag can change her shape, tell "whoppers," and trick people to get into their houses. But she cannot get inside unless someone lets her in. Of course, Precious thinks that her brother's admonitions are merely fibs to scare her.
To pass the time, Precious-- not doing as she was told-- entertains herself by dressing up in Mama's clothes and playing with her jewelry. But when a thunderstorm brews outside her window, she actually sees Pruella sweep across the sky! And worse--the hag flies to Precious' house, demanding to be let in. Bravely, Precious refuses to open the door. What follows is a series of Pruella's tricks to gain entry; each time Precious heeds her brother's warning. After the last refusal sends Pruella flying away defeated, Precious triumphantly tells her Mama and her brother of her battles. She later falls asleep, knowing that she has single-handedly defeated the old Boo Hag.
Patricia McKissack is the author of many outstanding books with African-American characters, from picture books and fiction to her award-winning Black Hands, White Sails, about African-Americans in the whaling trade. She addresses segregation in Goin' Someplace Special, illustrated by the remarkable Jerry Pinkney. She is a Newbery-honor book and Coretta Scott King winner for Dark-Thirty , ghost stories also illustrated by Pinkney. This is her first collaboration with Onawuni Jean Moss.
Brooker's primitive folk-art illustrations convey a warm, lively interpretation of the Boo Hag tale. Many of the pictures have white-cracked wooden frames as a border, detailing the rural setting of the farm house. Scenes have a warm brown tone. Precious, with her pink hair-ribbons and white night gown, always draws our interest. This is a fine read aloud because of its melodic language, repetitions, and rhythms.

Toni Rowden, January 2006

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