The Wicked Watermelon.

The Wicked Watermelon. The Wicked Watermelon Linda Suarez, author Izbela Ciesinska, illustrator Xlibris 1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403 9781450031424, $21.99, www.Xlibris.com "The Wicked Watermelon" is a children's fable retoldbased on an original tale by the author's grandmother, FlorenceSquicciarini. The wicked watermelon is a greedy, grasping character whoplots and schemes and lies to trick innocent plums, peaches, andcherries to jumping to the ground so he can gobble them up. Two bravecherries and a lemon manage to evade the wicked watermelon, however, andthe cherries enlist the help of the wise old coconut, who realizes thewicked watermelon must be stopped. Through bravery, cooperation,planning, and cooperation, the cherries and the coconut trick thewatermelon with some of his own medicine, and in the process they freethe consumed fruits from the orchard trees. Then peace and harmony arerestored to the little fruit orchard. "The Wicked Watermelon"is filled with partly scary colored illustrations which make theeventual victory even sweeter. "The Wicked Watermelon" isrecommended for children ages 7 and up.