The Talking Pot: A Danish Folktale

by Virginia Haviland, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

A plain black cooking pot with some rather unusual powers helps a poor family triumph over the village miser, in a whimsical folktale from Denmark

Genres: Folklore, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Virginia Haviland was for many years the Director of the Children's Literature Center at the Library of Congress and was also author of more than two dozen books. She was graduated from Cornell University, and for her dedication to children's literature, she was awarded the Regina Medal in 1976.

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Talking Pot: A Danish Folktale by Vrginia Haviland, Illustrator Melissa Sweet- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of a poor Danish family which had no source of income, therefore, they sold their household items for a living. The Danish family has not sold their cow as yet. When they have nothing to eat, they decide to sell the cow in the village market. Head of the family, the man goes to the market with the cow. There he finds an old man who proposes to exchange his three legged old taking cooking pot for cow. Owner proposes to sell the cow only for one hundred coins. When he finds no buyers for the cow, he exchangers the cow for the talking pot. The talking pot proves to be a magic "Robin Hood". First day, the pot asks the owner to clean it and put on fire. Then, the pot moves to a neighbours house who fill Danish pudding in it. The Pot walks away with the pudding. Second day, the same process follows, the cleaned pot returns back with food grains. Third day, the talking pot brings gold coins. Fourth day, the talking pot walks away with miser rich neighbours. The Talking Pot steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The book is quite entertaining for children. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book. The pictures and verses help the reader to relate to the story.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virginia Haviland. a star in the field of children’s literature and library services for children also collected and published 16 books of fairy tales from 16 international counties. This folk tale, “The Talking Pot”, this version first published by Haviland in 1971 was originally published in an 1899 Danish folk tale collection. Melissa Sweet in 1990 illustrated in beautiful color the well flowing worded story of the talking pot who provides for a poor family by outwitting the rich man and his assets.
There are many details to pour over in the interior of two different kitchens, the interior of a barn, and the colors in the illustrations are just perfect.
I have always loved the magic pot/ the talking pot theme in folktales. The oral story tradition had much to teach people and now we can enjoy good art work with the story. Almost forgot there is a one page recipe for Baked Danish Apple Pudding that I am going to make.

[S]

I used this book as a read aloud in class. The children enjoyed it and were very interested in predicting what might happen next. They loved the illustrations, and so did I.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danish folktale about a magic "Robin Hood" pot that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Entertaining, but I prefer Compestine's The Runaway Wok, the same basic story centered around Chinese New Year.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! Both the story and illustrations are delightful.

February 14, 2020: Because my ancestry is Danish on my biological father's side of the family, I bought this book for my young nephew. What a DELIGHTFUL book! The story is fun and the illustrations are magnificent.

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful Danish folktale! I'd never read this one before and I really enjoyed it.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danish Folktale similar to Jack in the Beanstalk.