THE BAKER AND THE BASILISK

by Georgess McHargue ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 20, 1970

The jacket tells us that, indeed, a Basilisk was recorded in a Viennese well in the year 1202, when, furthermore, ""animals were occasionally tried for crimes."" Here condemned for giving birth to the poisonous Basilisk is Master Baker Garbihl's rooster, and between them they make the tale--although the hero is apprentice Hans whose suit for the hand of Garbihl's daughter was first laughed off with ""You shall marry her on the day when the rooster lays an egg."" It's Hans, too, who climbs down the well with the biggest, shiniest baking tin. . . whereupon the King of Serpents dies from the sight of its own reflection. Hugely pictured, as is the rooster's day in court. Otherwise the illustrations are adequate, but their effect is more decorative than dramatic. All in all, hardly distinctive but pleasantly different: the author of The Beasts of Never treats them with the sober respect that makes this all the funnier.

Pub Date: April 20, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Bobbs-Merrill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1970

Categories: CHILDREN'S