Whoppers: Tall Tales and Other Lies Collected from American Folklore by Alvin Schwartz.
1. Bibliography
Schwartz, Alvin. 1975. WHOPPERS: TALL TALES AND OTHER LIES COLLECTED FROM AMERICAN FOLKLORE. Ill. by Glen Rounds. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0064460916.
2. Plot Summary
This is a collection of exxagerations that range anywhere from two or three sentences to two or three pages long. The tales are organized by categories: Ordinary People, Ordinary Things, Fancy Clothes and Narrow Escapes, Animals and Insects, Putrefactions and Other Wonders, and the Weather. Notes and Sources are included at the end of the collection.
3. Critical Analysis
These tales are unpredictable, humorous, and rooted in American history - simple enough for children but complex enough for adults! They tell stories in such fresh light that readers are sure to be amused by all the antics. The illustrations are sketchy - just like the tales, and only in black and white - leaving the reader to mentally fill in all the color that the imagination can produce!
4. Review Excerpt
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Here's 'pack of lies' in the best Schwartz/Rounds tradition of foolery, with rambunctious cartoons and a passel of footnotes."
5. Connections
For more American Folkore examine books by the following authors:
Irving, Washinton. RIP VAN WINKLE. isbn: 0769632823.
Kellogg, Steven. PAUL BUNYAN. ISBN: 0688058000.
Lindbergh, Reeve. JOHNNY APPLESEED. ISBN: 0316526347.
Ottolenghi, Carol. JOHN HENRY. ISBN: 076963284x.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Module 2 Book Reviews: Fairytale Variants
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirly Climo
1. Bibliography
Climo, Shirley. 1989. THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. Ill. by Ruth Heller. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0064432793.
2. Plot Summary
An Egyptian slave girl named Rhodopsis, meaning "rosy-cheeked," is unlike any of the servant girls. Where they are copper skinned with dark eyes, she has green eyes and pale skin, and for this they perpetually tease her. To escape the constant barbs from the servant girls, Rhodopsis befriends the animals and often dances for them. Her master happens to oversee the impressive dancer and orders for her beautiful rose-red golden slippers. The jealous servant girls refuse to let Rhodopsis join attend the court held by the Pharoah Amasis. A falcon steals and delivers one of the slippers to the Pharoah, and taking the delivery as a sign from the God Horus, Pharoah begins searching for the maiden that will become his queen. When she is identified as the maiden, the servant girls argue that Rhodopsis is not even Egyptian. Pharoah quells the dispute by comparing her eyes to the Nile, her hair to papyrus, and her skin to the lotus flower.
3. Critical Analysis
This tale is a great lesson in the Egyptian culture and will like prompt many more questions into the lives of Egyptians. The language is colorful and elegant with masterful illustrations that share the beliefs, customs, and beauty of Egypt.. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the story is the Author's Note at the conclusion of the tale explaining the origin and factual basis of the story.
4. Review Excerpts
CHILREN'S LITERATURE: "Both adults and children will enjoy this book's eloquent prose and exquisite illustrations."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A stunning combination of fluent prose and exquisitely wrought illustrations. Climo has woven this ancient tale, a mixture of fact and myth, with clarity and eloquence. Powerful visual presentations reminiscent of the figures on Egyptian frieze paintings and carvings, colorful birds and animals that pulse with life, and information about Egyptian mythology and civilization are sublty interwoven into the traditional folktale."
5. Connections
What a great way to learn about the many cultures of our world through art and prose! Compare and contrast variants of the Cinderella stories or begin cultural research with a heartwarming story!
Hickox, Rebecca. GOLDEN SANDAL: A MIDDLE EASTERN CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN: 0823415139.
Louie, Ai-Ling (retold by). YEH-SHEN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM CHINA. ISBN: 0399215948.
San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA. ISBN: 0689848889.
San Souci, Robert D. SOOTFACE: AN OJIBWA CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN: 044041363x.
Climo, Shirley. THE KOREAN CINDERELLA. ISBN: 0064433978.
1. Bibliography
Climo, Shirley. 1989. THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. Ill. by Ruth Heller. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0064432793.
2. Plot Summary
An Egyptian slave girl named Rhodopsis, meaning "rosy-cheeked," is unlike any of the servant girls. Where they are copper skinned with dark eyes, she has green eyes and pale skin, and for this they perpetually tease her. To escape the constant barbs from the servant girls, Rhodopsis befriends the animals and often dances for them. Her master happens to oversee the impressive dancer and orders for her beautiful rose-red golden slippers. The jealous servant girls refuse to let Rhodopsis join attend the court held by the Pharoah Amasis. A falcon steals and delivers one of the slippers to the Pharoah, and taking the delivery as a sign from the God Horus, Pharoah begins searching for the maiden that will become his queen. When she is identified as the maiden, the servant girls argue that Rhodopsis is not even Egyptian. Pharoah quells the dispute by comparing her eyes to the Nile, her hair to papyrus, and her skin to the lotus flower.
3. Critical Analysis
This tale is a great lesson in the Egyptian culture and will like prompt many more questions into the lives of Egyptians. The language is colorful and elegant with masterful illustrations that share the beliefs, customs, and beauty of Egypt.. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the story is the Author's Note at the conclusion of the tale explaining the origin and factual basis of the story.
4. Review Excerpts
CHILREN'S LITERATURE: "Both adults and children will enjoy this book's eloquent prose and exquisite illustrations."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A stunning combination of fluent prose and exquisitely wrought illustrations. Climo has woven this ancient tale, a mixture of fact and myth, with clarity and eloquence. Powerful visual presentations reminiscent of the figures on Egyptian frieze paintings and carvings, colorful birds and animals that pulse with life, and information about Egyptian mythology and civilization are sublty interwoven into the traditional folktale."
5. Connections
What a great way to learn about the many cultures of our world through art and prose! Compare and contrast variants of the Cinderella stories or begin cultural research with a heartwarming story!
Hickox, Rebecca. GOLDEN SANDAL: A MIDDLE EASTERN CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN: 0823415139.
Louie, Ai-Ling (retold by). YEH-SHEN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM CHINA. ISBN: 0399215948.
San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA. ISBN: 0689848889.
San Souci, Robert D. SOOTFACE: AN OJIBWA CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN: 044041363x.
Climo, Shirley. THE KOREAN CINDERELLA. ISBN: 0064433978.
Module 2 Book Reviews: Folktale
Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato An Irish Folktale by Tomie DePaola
1. Bibliography
DePaola, Tomie. 1992. JAMIE O'ROURKE AND THE BIG POTATO - AN IRISH FOLKTALE. Ill. by Tomie DePoala. New York, NY: G.P Putnams's Sons. ISBN 039922257-x.
2. Plot Summary
A lazy man's wife must do all the work to grow the "praties" before winter. When she is injured and must remain in bed, the lazy man begins to plan for his demise and by chance encounters a leprechaun. The leprechaun trades his freedom not for his pot of gold, but for a single potato seed guaranteed to grow "the biggest pratie in the world." The giant potato proves to be more than enough to feed the entire village for the winter - so much so that the villagers promise to provide food for the lazy man and his wife - if in return they never again grow another giant potato.
3. Critical Analysis
This story is very straight-forward yet leaves the reader with the feeling that there are holes in the story. The solution is not the ending the reader expects and goes against the universal theme of right over wrong - The lazy man profits and the hardworking townfolk are committed to sacrifice. The illustrations are precise and inviting but do not add any new elements to the story.
4. Review Excerpts
BOOKLIST: "Illustrated in dePaola's signature style, this has an inviting look. An engaging read-aloud choice for Saint Patrick's Day."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This text has traditional folklore conventions: exaggerated, yet flat, characters; a tricky plot; and, of course, a happy ending."
5. Connections
To truly capture the Irish spirit and to immerse children in the musical qualities of Irish tales, share both retold and modern tradition (including a female heroine!).
Doyle, Malachy (Retold by). TALES FROM OLD IRELAND. (Includes Narration on CD.) ISBN: 1841484032.
Macgill-Callahan, Sheila. LAST SNAKE IN IRELAND: A STORY ABOUT ST. PATRICK. ISBN: 0823414256.
McDermott, Gerald. TIM O'TOOLE AND THE WEE FOLK. ISBN: 0670803936.
Souhamie, Jessica. MRS. MCCOOL AND THE GIANT CUHULLIN: AN IRISH TALE. ISBNL 080506852x.
1. Bibliography
DePaola, Tomie. 1992. JAMIE O'ROURKE AND THE BIG POTATO - AN IRISH FOLKTALE. Ill. by Tomie DePoala. New York, NY: G.P Putnams's Sons. ISBN 039922257-x.
2. Plot Summary
A lazy man's wife must do all the work to grow the "praties" before winter. When she is injured and must remain in bed, the lazy man begins to plan for his demise and by chance encounters a leprechaun. The leprechaun trades his freedom not for his pot of gold, but for a single potato seed guaranteed to grow "the biggest pratie in the world." The giant potato proves to be more than enough to feed the entire village for the winter - so much so that the villagers promise to provide food for the lazy man and his wife - if in return they never again grow another giant potato.
3. Critical Analysis
This story is very straight-forward yet leaves the reader with the feeling that there are holes in the story. The solution is not the ending the reader expects and goes against the universal theme of right over wrong - The lazy man profits and the hardworking townfolk are committed to sacrifice. The illustrations are precise and inviting but do not add any new elements to the story.
4. Review Excerpts
BOOKLIST: "Illustrated in dePaola's signature style, this has an inviting look. An engaging read-aloud choice for Saint Patrick's Day."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This text has traditional folklore conventions: exaggerated, yet flat, characters; a tricky plot; and, of course, a happy ending."
5. Connections
To truly capture the Irish spirit and to immerse children in the musical qualities of Irish tales, share both retold and modern tradition (including a female heroine!).
Doyle, Malachy (Retold by). TALES FROM OLD IRELAND. (Includes Narration on CD.) ISBN: 1841484032.
Macgill-Callahan, Sheila. LAST SNAKE IN IRELAND: A STORY ABOUT ST. PATRICK. ISBN: 0823414256.
McDermott, Gerald. TIM O'TOOLE AND THE WEE FOLK. ISBN: 0670803936.
Souhamie, Jessica. MRS. MCCOOL AND THE GIANT CUHULLIN: AN IRISH TALE. ISBNL 080506852x.
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