Nail Soup

A traveler stops at a lonely cottage, hoping to scrounge a bed for the night. The grumpy old woman who lives there offers him the floor, but insists there’s no food in the house. “In that case,” declares the traveler, “I’ll have to share what I’ve got with you.” He pulls a rusty old nail from his pocket and starts to make — nail soup! All it needs is a garnish or two . . . This delightful cover of an age-old yarn proves that a merry heart and generous soul produce far better results than whines and demands. Paul Hess’s quirky, stylish illustrations are the perfect complement to the text’s deadpan wit.