Traditional Tales Book Reviews
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph. 2003. How the Chipmunk Got His Stripes. Ill. by Jeff
Newman. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 978-0142500217
2.
PLOT SUMMARY
How
the Chipmunk Got His Stripes is a Native American folktale which explains how the
chipmunk got its stripes. The story is about Bear who thinks he is the biggest
and the best and Brown Squirrel who is curious and challenges Bear’s confidence.
Brown Squirrel asks Bear can he stop the sun from rising. Bear, confident of
himself, agrees; however, as more
animals come to join in watching, he begins to have his doubts. When the sun comes up despite Bear’s word, he
gets mad. Brown Squirrel picks on him, and that results in a chase. Although
Bear cannot quite catch up with him, he does manage to swipe his paw across
Brown Squirrel’s back, and that is why chipmunks have stripes to this day. The
events of the story happen within the space of one day, and the story presents
the following moral lessons: modesty and fairness.
3.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Moral
lessons are effectively conveyed: One should not think too highly of himself,
and being a sore loser is not admirable. The narrative structure is quite interesting,
and the characters’ emotions are well drawn. The illustrations add a lot of
color to the story, especially in the faces of the characters and the movement
of the chase. The illustration of the chipmunk running home with Bear’s shadow
behind him creates a sense of drama and immersion. The story is based on Native
American folklore, but it is told in a way that a child can easily understand
and enjoy.
4.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
- KIRKUS: “Clever
use of perspective emphasizes the difference in size between boastful Bear
and his pint-sized trickster opponent. Authors’ notes precede the story,
explaining the history of the tale and each teller’s relationship to it. A
winner. (Picture book/folktale. 4-8)”
- SCHOOL LIBRARY
JOURNAL: “While the story begs to be told,
Aruego and Dewey’s vibrantly hued trademark watercolors add significantly
to the humor.”
Pair this book with other Native American folktales that explain natural
phenomena:
- Bruchac,
Joseph. The First Strawberries. ISBN 978-0140564099
- McDermott,
Gerald. Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest. ISBN
978-0152019587
- Goble, Paul. The
Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. ISBN 978-0689716966
Classroom
Activities:
- Discuss the
moral lessons in the story and ask students to share their own experiences
related to humility and sportsmanship.
- Have students
create their own folktales explaining an animal’s unique features.
- Perform a
reader’s theater version of How the Chipmunk Got His Stripes, using
simple props and costumes.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Evans, Claire. 2018. The Three Little Superpigs. Ill.
by Claire Evans. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-1338245455
2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Three Little Superpigs is an amusing modification of the
traditional Three Little Pigs story. After the three pigs beat the Big Bad
Wolf, the pigs become heroes of Fairyland and decide to use their newfound fame
to help rebuild the town with bricks and to police nursery rhyme villains. They
help Little Red Riding Hood, catch Goldilocks for the Three Bears, and chase
down the Gingerbread Man, all while the action is mostly shown through the
illustrations and not the text. However, when the Big Bad Wolf escapes from
jail, he is set on getting his revenge on the Superpigs. The Wolf comes up with
a clever plan that is a nod to the original story, he says, “I don’t need to
huff and puff, I’m already in your house!” The third pig’s readiness, however,
foils the Wolf’s plans and maintains the usual result of good over evil. The
story also contains a funny reference when the people of Fairyland say, “Wow!
Pigs can really fly!”
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In her story The
Three Little Superpigs, Claire Evans has written a fun revision of the
traditional tale full of suspense and humor with just the right amount of fairy
tale connectedness. The narrative structure is interesting, and the story moves
fast, which will capture the attention of children. Some of the moments such as
the inclusion of well-known phrases from the original tale like “Not by the
hairs on our chinny chin chins” brings a touch of the past while the modern
superhero elements bring something new to the story. The illustrations are also
used to tell the story and add details and subplots that are not found in the
text. The colorful and lively illustrations make the story funnier and more
exciting and the reader will want to read it again and again. This fun version
of a traditional story is a great option for children who enjoy fractured fairy
tales and superhero stories.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “A starter fractured fairy tale for readers
not yet ready for The True Story of the Three Little Pigs”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A good choice for any fractured fairy tale collection.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Pair this book with other fun fractured fairy tales featuring pigs and fairy tale mashups:
Evans, Claire. The Three Little Superpigs: Once Upon a
Time. ISBN 978-1338680294
Evans, Claire. The Three Little Superpigs and the
Gingerbread Man. ISBN 978-1338847390
Teague, Mark. The Three Little Pigs. ISBN
978-1338740318
Schwartz, Corey Rosen. The Three Ninja Pigs. ISBN
978-0399255144
Classroom Activities:
Have students compare the original Three Little Pigs story
with The Three Little Superpigs, discussing how the changes add humor and
excitement.
Encourage students to create their own fractured fairy tale
by giving a classic story a superhero or ninja twist.
Use the book for a creative drama activity where students
act out scenes from the story, using props or simple costumes.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney,
Jerry. 2013. The Tortoise & the Hare. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New
York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0316183567
In this story, Jerry Pinkney provides stunning illustrations
of the classic fable, The Tortoise & the Hare, making the reader feel like
they are in the race. First, from the very first page, Hare is confident; he
zooms ahead, while Tortoise follows slowly but steadily. Thinking of himself
invincible, Hare takes a break, first to snack on some fresh lettuce, then to
nap under the warm sun. While the Tortoise is moving forward, determinedly,
step by step. The story’s moral is woven into the artwork: With words like
"slow" then "slow and" followed by "slow and,” finally,
"slow and steady wins the race" appears as the Tortoise crosses the
finish line first. The Hare is left
behind, it learns that speed is not everything, and the Tortoise shows that
patience and persistence do pay off.
This book is a feast for the eyes. Using watercolor, graphite, colored pencils, gouache and pastels, Pinkney’s breathtaking illustrations add warmth and depth to this familiar story. Employing light, color and texture, he seems to have brought the third dimension to the pages of the book; it feels as if one could almost feel the desert air. The perfect backdrop, dry landscapes and bright skies, which give the race an extra sense of realism, are provided by the setting of the American Southwest. The difference comes from the way Pinkney uses illustrations to tell most of the story with very few words. The characters' emotions are crystal clear overconfidence of the Hare, the quiet determination of the Tortoise, and the dramatic moment of realization when the Hare wakes up too late. The animals are even more relatable when dressed in clothing, a touch of whimsy. While kids will enjoy the humor and excitement of the race, they’ll also walk away with an important lesson, sometimes, effort equals energy, and when it comes in a steady stream, it can beat bursts of energy.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
- KIRKUS
REVIEWS: “With luminous mixed media pictures, a short, carefully meted-out
text and a Southwestern U.S. setting, Pinkney (The Lion and the Mouse,
2009) takes on another of Aesop’s fables—marvelously..”
- SCHOOL
LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Following up on his superb rendition of The Lion
& the Mouse (Little, Brown, 2009), Pinkney has created yet
another stunning interpretation of a classic tale in this virtually
wordless picture book.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Pair this book with other beautifully illustrated fables
and folktales:
- Pinkney,
Jerry. The Grasshopper & the Ants. ISBN 978-0316400817
- Pinkney,
Jerry. The Lion & the Mouse (Caldecott Medal Winner). ISBN
978-0316013567
- Galdone,
Paul. The Three Billy Goats Gruff. ISBN 978-0899190358
- Galdone,
Paul. The Little Red Hen. ISBN 978-0899193496
Classroom Activities:
- Talk
about the lesson in the story—why did the Tortoise win, and what can we
learn from his strategy?
- Have
students illustrate their own fable featuring different animals but with a
similar lesson.
- Act
out the race with students playing different roles, showing how slow and
steady really does win in the end.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, Paul. 1996. Rumpelstiltskin. Ill. by Paul
Zelinsky. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 978-0140558643
2. PLOT SUMMARY
A boastful miller in this beautifully illustrated retelling
tells the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king, eager to
test the claim, locks her in a room and tells her to prove it or die or to
prove it and die. Desperate, she accepts
help from a mysterious little man, accepting her necklace, then her ring. On
the third night, having nothing left, she agrees to pay for it with her
firstborn child if she does. When the time comes to keep her promise, the
now-queen is devastated. The little man gives him three days to guess his name,
or he will take the baby. When she fails, she secretly tells her servant to
watch him and listen to his name, Rumpelstiltskin. When she triumphantly speaks
it aloud, he vanishes, never to be seen again.
3. CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Zelinsky’s Rumpelstiltskin is both elegant and eerie, the
setting being medieval which makes the story feel timeless. His illustrations
glow with rich gold and deep shadows, oil painting style, which draws readers
into the fairy tale world. The emotions
are vivid—the queen’s desperation, the king’s greed, and Rumpelstiltskin’s fury
at being outwitted. Another great image is that of the tiny man dancing by the
fire, without a care in the world for the servant who is spying on him. Zelinsky’s storytelling is smooth and
engaging, staying true to the classic while adding depth through his artwork.
The moral of the story is that cleverness and perseverance can overcome even
the most impossible challenges. This
Caldecott Honor book is a must read for fairy tale lovers.
- Caldecott
Honor Book
- ALA
Notable Book
- SCHOOL
LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Zelinsky’s smooth retelling and glowing pictures cast
the story in a new and beautiful light.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Pair this book with other classic fairy tales and
beautifully illustrated retellings:
- Zelinsky,
Paul. Cinderella. ISBN 978-0142300899
- Kellogg,
Steven. Paul Bunyan. ISBN 978-0688058005
- Kellogg,
Steven. Johnny Appleseed. ISBN 978-0688064174
- Wiesner,
David. The Three Pigs. ISBN 978-0618007011
Classroom Activities:
- Discuss
the power of promises in fairy tales, was the queen right to break her
deal?
- Have
students rewrite the story with an alternate ending, what if
Rumpelstiltskin had won?
- Compare
different cultural versions of Rumpelstiltskin and explore how the
tale changes across time and place.
