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5 Works 163 Membros 7 Críticas

About the Author

Includes the name: Toña Wilson

Obras por Tona Wilson

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Críticas

With a foul temper and poor judgment, a South American king manages to make a complete hash of his rule in this folktale from Argentina. Ignorant of life outside his castle, he delivers a series of decisions that lead to further injustice in a variety of disputes. His only wise move was to hire sharp-witted Florinda as his cook, after firing her predecessor, and that lady uses her food to show the king the error of his ways. Of course, he isn't a willing student, and almost burns her at the stake, but fortunately she has a sprig of basil to remind him of better times...

Published in 1993, The Cook and the King is the second picture book retelling of a South American folktale that I have read from María Cristina Brusca (who also contributed the artwork) and Tona Wilson, following upon their 1992 The Blacksmith and the Devils. It pairs an engaging story, one in which a clever servant must correct her unwise master, with appealing illustrations that capture the humor of the tale. I enjoyed many of the little cultural details here—the indigenous Andean celebration of Pachamama, the northwestern Argentine custom of picking basil to dance with—which are present in both the story and in the brief afterword. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to anyone looking for children's stories with a South American and/or Argentine cultural background.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
AbigailAdams26 | Mar 10, 2024 |
I can't believe this book was in our library and I didn't see it before! This is a wonderful book to use when learning about folk tales. The stories are short and I could read one or two each day to provide an opportunity for discussion and examples for students of what they can write. This book would be great for kindergarten through 5th grade.
 
Assinalado
NancyDW | 1 outra crítica | Mar 13, 2014 |
Published simultaneously in English and Spanish, and co-authored by María Cristina Brusca (who also contributed the artwork) and Tona Wilson, The Blacksmith and the Devils is a traditional folktale from Argentina, concerning an impoverished blacksmith who outwits the devil, leading a long, adventurous life at his expense. When Juan Pobreza (whose surname means "poverty" in Spanish) replaces the shoe of a mule belonging to a gaucho who is none other than San Pedro, the gatekeeper of heaven, and is granted three wishes as reward, he doesn't believe, and wishes (so it seems) unwisely. But when he is visited by the Devil, and given wealth, and twenty years of youth, in return for signing away his soul, those wishes come in handy...

This amusing story of a trickster who manages to wrest sixty years of youth out of the Devil, eventually finding himself, when he comes to die, unwelcome in both heaven and hell, is one of the first Argentine folktales I have read, but I certainly hope it will not be the last. An amusing story, and engaging, colorful illustrations, kept me involved until the end, and I will definitely be looking for more, from both Brusca and Wilson!
… (mais)
1 vote
Assinalado
AbigailAdams26 | 1 outra crítica | Mar 31, 2013 |
A very delightful book of folklore originating from the North & South Americas. It is wonderfully organized alphabetically & by regions. The title is just one of the stories included in this book. A great alternative to teaching children the alphabet by offering a brief folk tale with each letter. It also introduces children to the indigenous animals of what is now North & South America! Excellent for all ages, we read a few tales early in the day, then my toddler wanted more! We jumped around which was fun, because the alphabet doesn't have to be in order!… (mais)
 
Assinalado
fashionablyloud1 | 1 outra crítica | Jul 20, 2012 |

Prémios

Estatísticas

Obras
5
Membros
163
Popularidade
#129,735
Avaliação
4.0
Críticas
7
ISBN
8
Línguas
1

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