Pepper and Salt

by Howard Pyle

A collection of 8 original fairy tales and numerous short verses.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Childrens, Fairy Tales, 1st Grade, Childrens Classics

109 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1885

About the author

Howard Pyle was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people.

During 1894 he began teaching illustration at the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry (now Drexel University), and after 1900 he founded his own school of art and illustration named the Howard Pyle School of Illustration Art. The term Brandywine School was later applied to the illustration artists and Wyeth family artists of the Brandywine region by Pitz. Some of his more famous students were N. C. Wyeth, Frank Schoonover, Elenore Abbott, Ethel Franklin Betts, Anna Whelan Betts, Harvey Dunn, Clyde O. DeLand, Philip R. Goodwin, Violet Oakley, Ellen Bernard Thompson Pyle, Olive Rush, Allen Tupper True, and Jessie Willcox Smith.

His 1883 classic publication The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood remains in print, and his other books, frequently with medieval European settings, include a four-volume set on King Arthur. He is also well known for his illustrations of pirates, and is credited with creating the now stereotypical modern image of pirate dress. He published an original novel, Otto of the Silver Hand, in 1888. He also illustrated historical and adventure stories for periodicals such as Harper's Weekly and St. Nicholas Magazine. His novel Men of Iron was made into a movie in 1954, The Black Shield of Falworth.

Pyle travelled to Florence, Italy to study mural painting during 1910, and died there in 1911 from a kidney infection (Bright's Disease).

His sister Katharine Pyle was also a writer and illustrator. Their mother was the children's author and translator M.C. Pyle.

Reviews

[Sarah Remsing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun fairytales and random bits of musing. However, the stories get repetitive, using the same plot devices, phrases, and characteristics.

There are also some racist ideas present, such as some evil magical beings described as “ugly black men” and a prince looking for a snow-white princess, and finding one who’s been cursed to look “coal black” but when the curse is broken she’s “as white as silver” and therefore beautiful again

[Marge Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consumed a lot of Howard Pyle in my voracious childhood reading, and a walk back through his catalogue of disobedient maidens, cruel and crooked little men and terrible punishments for small moral infractions is always a satisfying reminder that old fairy tales weren't as snuggly as they are nowadays.

[SonataReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, imaginative, and fun illustrations.

Had to finish this one fast considering that the book is around a century old. I also can't get over how thick the paper used in this edition. I think, it is more than 356 gsm.

[Dovile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder if J.K. Rowling hasn't read the tale about the boggart.

[Evonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant and fun, light-hearted and imaginative. It so much reminded me of Enid Blyton's Tuppany Fefo and Jinx books that I loved as a kid. The vocabulary would never be used in children's books today and yet this is written as naturally as though children always used words like coverlets, and possess ... and the grammar is complex and rich. It's lovely to read out loud.

Short stories, fables filled with magic beans and hidden messages - all fun to read. The narrative is very conversation and the narrator engages with the reader quite often, and intimately.

Interspersed are poems - fun and instructive, with moral lessons attached to each.

The illustrations are old fashioned, as is the font where all the s's looks like f's so that reading it becomes a little intuitive.

My edition was published in 1885 by Harper and Brothers. Lovely and nostalgic.

[Inhabiting Books]

An old classic, this compilation of fables, illustrated in monochromatic black and white by the author, was originally published in 1887. Pyle wrote in a very conversational, court-jester-ish tone, meaning for them to be read aloud, I think. My girls really liked the stories, which contain moral and situational dilemmas out of which each story's protagonist must find their way. In the midst of the stories are also full page poems that are beautifully illustrated and quite witty.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written by a favorite author of mine. His story brought me back to younger days when I would sit for hours reading my favorite book. It was compilation of many stories, each with a moral and ethical outcome. Brought back the "feel goods", into my heart.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father read these stories to my sister and me many times throughout our childhood. There is something magical about this book. It lies not only in the wonderful fairy tales, but the magic of holding a small, old, fabric bound book in one's hands.

[Jessica Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fun! Short stories punctuated by witty moral poems and, of course, brilliant illustrations by the author. Read it to your kids, then read it again.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my library since 1975, now to find it to scan in the purple cover...

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some entertaining stories rather along the lines of Grimm's Fairytales or Aesop's Fables, as well as some poetry of a silly variety.