Folktale Book Reviews

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ketteman, Helen, 1997. BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590255061

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a fractured version of the classic "Cinderella". Bubba is a hard working cowboy that does all the around the ranch for his wicked stepdaddy and his two lazy stepbrothers, Milton and Dwayne. Bubba enjoys working on the ranch and never complains about the chores given to him, no matter how ridiculous. Miz Lurleen, "who lived down the road a piece", decided to throw a ball to find herself a "feller". On the day of the ball, Milton and Dwayne work Bubba so hard that he in nowhere near being presentable enough to attend the ball. Just in the nick of time, Bubba's "fairy godcow" comes to the rescue and gives him the purtiest set of cowboy duds. While Bubba is at the ball, the spell wears off and his true self it revealed. Bubba runs back to the ranch and Miz Lurleen is left standing alone. Miz Lurleen sets out to find her cowboy and finally sets her eyes, or rather her nose, on Bubba and instantly knows he's the one. They ride off together into the sunset with his stepdaddy and stepbrothers in their dust.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This comical version of "Cinderella" is filled with stereotypical representations of Texas and Texans. This version has all of the standard parts of the classic, including a protagonist that is worked too hard and a stepfamily that is not accepting. In this version, the protagonist is a boy and is rescued by the girl down the road. This is a great aspect of the story that shows both boys and girls that their role in the story is not always the same. The illustrations in the story really make you feel like you have stepped into the desert and onto a ranch.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
From Kirkus Review: "so appealingly whimsical makes it easy to accept the classic tale's inversions"

5. CONNECTIONS
This is a great book to pair with other versions of the "Cinderella" tale. The students could do comparisons between all of the versions and even write their own version.
Other "Cinderella" books:
Gross, Ila Lane. CINDERELLA TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN 0971364915
Climo, Shirley. EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. ISBN 0064432793

It would also go great with a unit about Texas as long as there are other books read to show that not all Texans are cowboys and live on a ranch.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kimmel, Eric A. 1996. ONIONS AND GARLIC. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823412229

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a tale from Talmud about a boy named Getzel. Getzel was a kindhearted and trusting person. His brothers called him Getzel the Fool because every time he went to town with goods to trade, he would often sell his merchandise for less than what it was worth because he was so kind and trusting. His father eventually stopped letting him go to town to sell until he convinced his father to let him go away to sell something that was not worth much. His father agreed and sent him on a ship to sell onions. Getzel was not having any luck selling his onions. He was sent overboard by a storm that hit and ended up on an island. On the beach of the island were tons of diamonds. The people on this island had never heard of onions and thought they were invaluable. They sent Getzel home with one hundred sacks of diamonds, which were not very valuable there. When he got home his brothers were so impressed that they decided to go to this island with garlic. The king thought this was even more impressive and thought diamonds were not worth enough. So he sent them home with the most valuable thing on the island.....onions.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This old tale has great storytelling ability with its exciting action of the ship caught in the storm and the humorous twist at the end when the brothers receive onions in exchange for the garlic. Although it is still able to portray its lesson of greed. Kimmel makes sure to give information at the front of the book to tell where this version of the story is from and where he heard it. The illustrations add to the rustic feel of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly: "this traditional tale serves up a pungent lesson in greed and humility"
From School Library Journal: "Arnold's bright acrylic and watercolor pictures, outlined with heavy black lines, give a lighthearted tone to the story"

5. CONNECTIONS
Other Jewish Folktales:
Kimmel, Eric A. THE ADVENTURES OF HERSHEL OF OSTROPOL
Wisniewski, David. GOLEM
Silverman, Erica. RAISEL'S RIDDLE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sierra, Judy. 2005. SCHOOLYARD RHYMES. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375825169

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a collection of rhymes and chants that can be heard by children on the playground around the world. They are silly and at times nonsensical, many of which I had chanted as a child or hear on the playground now with my students.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
These chants and rhymes all have great rhythm and rhyme that lends itself well to playing jump rope games and hand games. Not all of the rhymes were as I heard them, but I could tell which rhyme it was like. The illustrations in the book really add to the silliness of the rhymes and you can see the movement of them in the illustrations. The fun way they rhyme and the silly content make them irresistible to share with others and pass on to future generations.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From School Library Journal: "The rhythms and nonsense rhymes are irresistible, compelling memorization and participation in the fun"
From Booklist: "Sweet's comical, mixed-media art adds to the wackiness of the rhymes"

5. CONNECTIONS
Other books of children's chants and rhymes:
Cole, Joanna. ANNA BANANA: 101 JUMP ROPE RHYMES.
Cole, Joanna. MISS MARY MACK AND OTHER CHILDREN'S STREET RHYMES