Fleischman's favorite folk-motif, the tell-tale object, is used with panache in this tale of Finzel the fortune-teller—who, in true Fools of Chelm tradition (the jacket says it, but it's so), can see a person's past or future in a lemon or a walnut. . . but can't see well enough to tell whose lemon is whose. Specifically, he mixes up the lemon and the walnut, and the lettuce, of young simpleton Pavel and elderly ailing Mashka, and has Pavel convinced he's near death. When Pavers wily brother Osip catches on to Finzel's blindness, he hatches a scheme to steal Finzel's money—by having Finzel read a poppy plucked from his own window box. . . and telling him where he (Osip) keeps his (Finzel's) money. In true Chelm tradition, too, Finzel outwits Osip by mistake—also making nothing more of him, as a thief, "than a mouse." Sewall's chunky figures are immediately recognizable types, but with character and individuality. A droll and shapely little book—on a par, in its way, with Graven Images.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1983
ISBN: 0525440577
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1983
The action of this rhymed and humorous tale centers upon a mouse who "took a stroll/through the deep dark wood./A fox saw the mouse/and the mouse looked good." The mouse escapes being eaten by telling the fox that he is on his way to meet his friend the gruffalo (a monster of his imagination), whose favorite food is roasted fox. The fox beats a hasty retreat. Similar escapes are in store for an owl and a snake; both hightail it when they learn the particulars: tusks, claws, terrible jaws, eyes orange, tongue black, purple prickles on its back. When the gruffalo suddenly materializes out of the mouse's head and into the forest, the mouse has to think quick, declaring himself inedible as the "scariest creature in the deep dark wood," and inviting the gruffalo to follow him to witness the effect he has on the other creatures. When the gruffalo hears that the mouse's favorite food is gruffalo crumble, he runs away. It's a fairly innocuous tale, with twists that aren't sharp enough and treachery that has no punch. Scheffler's funny scenes prevent the suspense from culminating; all his creatures, predator and prey, are downright lovable. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: June 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8037-2386-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1999
SEEN & HEARD
Dr. Seuss has a faculty for telling modern tales with a folk lore twist, and this new king-with-a-quirk story has a novel element that nonsense loving children will love. The quality of magnificent exaggeration, carried to the nth degree.
Pub Date: Oct. 12, 1939
ISBN: 0394800826
Page Count: 58
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1939
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