THE OAK THAT WOULD NOT PAY

by Maria Elena de la Iglesia ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 22, 1968

Simpleton tales often picture poorly, and if the fool is no wiser at the end there's limited satisfaction at the picture book age. Here numbskull youngest brother Juan, sent to sell the one cow that the robbers haven't stolen, mistakes the oak tree's rustling for a firm offer with a promise to pay later, and leaves the cow in its shade. When his brothers berate him and the cow is gone, he demands payment; but the tree is silent so he cuts it down, uncovering a (totally unexplained) hoard of gold. Despite Juan's naivete, the brothers beat out the robbers and keep the gold (ultimately by moving to town). It's sometimes difficult to distinguish the forms in the highly mannered drawings, and their very solidity makes the oak tree's leaf-rustling conversation implausible. Frail foolishness to begin with, and better left to the imagination.

Pub Date: Nov. 22, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Pantheon

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1968

Categories: CHILDREN'S