Caps For Sale
Author: Esphyr Slobodkina
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright: 1940
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Ages 3-7
Genre: Folk Tales
Rating: ***

Summary:
There once was a peddler, but unlike other peddlers he carried his wares on his head verse his back. He sold caps. Brown ones, and blue ones, and red ones, gray ones, and his own checkered cap at the very bottom. One day he was walking and calling through town “fifty cents a cap” but no one wanted caps. So he sat down next to a tree and took a little nap. When he woke up he found that he only had his checkered cap left on his head. He looked everywhere for the caps, when he finally look up. What did he see? A bunch of monkeys in the tree, and each wearing a cap! He didn’t know what to do. He told them to give the caps back but they just made noises back at him. He stomped his feet, so they stomped theirs, he yelled, and they yelled. Well finally he gave up and threw his cap on the ground. Suddenly a bunch of caps soared to the ground. So the peddler picked them up, stacked them on his head and headed back toward town, calling for “caps, fifty cents a cap”.

Who would benefit from reading this?
Most kids would enjoy this book; I suppose if one child had a particular fondness for caps they might especially enjoy it.

Potential problems/conflicts:
I don’t see any problems in this book. None.

My reaction:
I remember my grandma reading this book to me. The best part out it is the pictures I think. They aren’t the bright colors that you think of when you think of an awesome picture book, they are more neutral tones, but they still pop. Kids can learn their colors and to count the number of caps he has. A classic book that has been around for generations