Traditional Tales Book reviews

 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.”

 5. CONNECTIONS

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

 2. PLOT SUMMARY

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.

 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

 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.

 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• 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.