Who Took My Hairy Toe?

by Shutta Crum, Katya Krenina (Illustrator)

An old man known for taking what isn't his picks up the wrong thing one Halloween night, and its owner wants it back.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Shutta Crum is bi-peninsular, spending half the year in Michigan and half the year in Florida. She is the author of three middle-grade novels and fifteen picture books, as well as many poems, magazine articles, and two poetry chapbooks for adults. Her books have made Bank Street College lists as well as state award lists. THUNDER-BOOMER! was an ALA and a Smithsonian Magazine “Notable Book” of the year. WHEN YOU GET HERE (poems for adults) won a gold Royal Palm Literary Award, (FL). She is also the author of two nearly wordless books MINE! and UH-OH! both published by Knopf. MINE! made the Texas 2X2 list and was a Crystal Kite Award winner for the illustrator Patrice Barton. Of MINE! the N. Y. Times said, “a delightful example of the drama and emotion that a nearly wordless book can convey.” In 2005 she was invited to read at the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. She is a retired librarian and now blogs regularly for the Florida Writers Association, writes a bimonthly column for the Fl. State Poetry Association magazine Of Poets & Poetry, and leads the Friday Follies writing group. In addition, she writes and publishes THE WORDSMITH’S PLAYGROUND, a monthly newsletter for writers. For more info: www.shutta.com

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read most of Stephen Kings books and this children’s book was totally scary. It creeped me out. We did not let the niece read this, but we decided to give it a try with the nephew and he got scared half-way through and we quit. It is one scary children’s book. Know you kids. This is for the older kids.

First off, the old man in the story is creepy alone and by himself. He likes to take things not his. Then the monster is scary and this guy is all alone. This is a folk tale told in parts of the south apparently. The art is also dark and ominous. I know there are kids out there who would love this book. I did enjoy the scare of it and this is a horror story for kids. The lesson is don't take other people's things or thieve because you will pay for it.

I certainly will not dig up any hairy toes, let me tell you right now. If you want a good scare, give this a try. It will do it this Halloween.

[Nazia Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I distinctly remember this story being read to me in school over and over again. I loved it as a child and I would always be left spellbound no matter how many times it was read to me!

The story is fun and spooky and was always a Halloween favourite at school. The author uses the 'what happens next' hook extremely well and it does hook the reader. The main character finds a hairy toe and decides to keep it, nothing wrong with that surely? I don't want to disclose too much of the story and spoil it!!

This story can be read out loud to children in a very animated fashion, which children tend to love. Children can get involved in the story as it is being told.

I most certainly remember the message in this story and had great fun performing parts of the story as a child. Suitable for children aged 6 and above.

[Dundee Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow up to versions of Tailypo, this folk tale puts a spin on the story of a grumpy old man known to steal things that don't belong to him. He gets his due reward when he steals the toe of some unknown monster type creature. Another great folktale to read around Halloween. Probably more appropriate for upper elementary (3rd/4th grade) students due to the content.

[Sandy Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful retelling of a folktale with clever local phrases and twists. As always, Shutta Crum does a marvelous job of story teling.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a creepy tale about a mean man who finds a hairy toe and decides to keep it and is tracked down and taken away by the creature who owns it. A bit too creepy for my taste; I hope our girls don't have nightmares from it. It's not nearly as good as the book of Norwegian folktales I read awhile back. It does have a Halloween theme, so it's appropriate for the season, though I would recommend it for older children.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A popular folk tale is retold in Who Took My Hairy Toe? by Shutta Crum. After Old Tar Pockets stole some tar and put it in his pocket, he spied a hairy toe in a sweet potato patch, and quickly put it in his pocket. Once the tar hardened, he found he could not get the toe out of his pocket. An eerie voice follows Old Tar Pockets and says "Who Took My Hairy Toe?"... a not-too-creepy tale for Halloween.

Used for "Fall for Pumpkins" Storytime-October, 2009.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less familiar Halloween tale, using the repetitive chant and other traditional structures to create a semi-terrifying read-aloud that kids will adore. The lesson about honesty and stealing is blatant but presented in a fun way and the colorful language patterns will delight their ears, having them chiming in part way through the story.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for older children who really want a scary story on Halloween. We love to read this with the lights turned down low--or even better with a flashlight. Also fun that it's a folk tale that has been passed down for hundreds of years.

[Bates Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

We may be seeing more of Ms. Crum in the next school year...

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read a loud for older kids.

[Leah Jones Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun Halloween read-aloud for older kids, but a little too scary for 1st grade & younger.

[Danielle Lerner · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book traumatized me in second grade and I demand financial compensation.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favorite of mine when I was little. Oh, who am I kidding - I still love it :)

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A greedy man known as Old Tar Pockets takes one too many things he shouldn't in this Halloween-time retelling of a spooky folktale, digging up a hairy toe with a long yellow toenail still on it while stealing sweet potatoes from his neighbor's field. Figuring that finders are keepers, he takes the toe, putting it in the same pocket as the stick of hot tar he also stole. Later that night, when the terrible creature to whom the toe rightly belongs comes looking for it, Old Tar Pockets is unable to give it back, as it and the stick of tar are stuck fast in his pocket...

Reading Who Took My Hairy Toe?, I was immediately reminded of the traditional English tale, The Teeny-Tiny Woman , about a little old lady who finds a bone in a graveyard and takes it home with her, only to be pursued by its ghostly owner. Leaving aside the oddness of this tale type—what's with people carting off human or human-adjacent body parts? is there some kind of history or meaning there? some cautionary tale about not disturbing remains?—I was interested to see that this parallel was mentioned in the author's note at the end of the book. This version of the story appears to be an African American variant of the tale, and appears in B.A. Botkin's 1949 A Treasury of Southern Folklore and M.A. Jagendorf's 1972 Folk Stories of the South . Apparently it is very similar to The Tailypo —an Appalachian folktale concerning a ghostly dog-like creature that seeks out its stolen tail—that has been retold in picture book form a number of times.

Leaving all of that aside, this telling was an engrossing one, with the repeated refrain, "Who Took My Hairy Toe" working to great effect in building suspense and terror. I can imagine this one being an excellent read-aloud for Halloween time, especially when paired with Katya Krenina's humorous artwork. I'd recommend it for Halloween story hour, and for telling around a campfire or in the dark during sleepovers.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The anticipation of finding out who is the owner of the hairy toe is palpable in this book. It's something of a 'scary story in the dark' type of book. It was okay.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that folk-lore is overrated, and that this is a stupid story not worth retelling.

[Adam Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Halloween story ever! I love this old Appalachian version. I always tell this version to students with the lights low or out and I actually tell it to them like it was done traditionally. They love it! I always have them draw a picture for the beast and theirs are always WAY better than the illustrations in the book.
As long as what's in your pocket is yours, you've got nothing to worry about.