Cuckoo/Cuc£: A Mexican Folktale/Un cuento folkl¢rico mexicano - Hardcover

Ehlert, Lois; Andujar, Gloria

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 015200274X ISBN 13: 9780152002749

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1997

Synopsis

A story told in both English and Spanish follows the vain Cuckoo, who despite her beauty is lazy and selfish and who finally overcomes her faults when a fire threatens the season's seed crop.

About this title

About the Author

LOIS EHLERT has created many celebrated picture books inspired by the world around her. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 4. Cuckoo is beautiful?and lazy. She also sings compulsively, irritating the other birds who want to sleep before beginning the arduous task of gathering seeds. They are so exhausted from the continual singing, in fact, that when a fire threatens the seed crop, they all sleep on. The only one awake is Cuckoo, who flies back and forth until all the seeds are safe. In the process, her rainbow plumage is scorched and her beautiful voice turns hoarse?but she earns the undying gratitude of the other birds. This tale, charmingly told in both English and Spanish, is boldly illustrated with large, brightly colored, cut-paper pictures. Inspired by folk art and crafts, the images evoke the tin work and cutout fiesta banners of Mexico. Apparently secured by paper fasteners, Cuckoo and some of the other birds look like jointed toys. A perfect companion to Ehlert's Moon Rope (Harcourt, 1992), this book provides a fine introduction to the pourquoi story form and to literature in Spanish. Given the amount of dialogue in the narrative, the story would adapt easily to readers' theater; as well, it is perfectly suited for use in ESL programs. Another sure winner from Ehlert.?Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A festive bilingual offering from Ehlert (Moon Rope/Un lazo a la luna, 1992, etc.), with the Spanish translation by Gloria de Arag¢n And£jar, based on a Mayan tale explaining how the cuckoo became plain. Cuckoo has a lovely song and glorious plumage, but she is lazy. The other birds and animals enjoy her singing, but caw about her lack of ambition. When Owl, the ``bird boss'' (or ``el jefe de los p jaros''), announces that the next day will be seed collection, all the birds go to sleep dreaming of the work ahead. But Cuckoo stays awake, singing, and thus spots the fire that threatens the food supply. She works through the night alone, saving seeds. Her beautiful feathers and sweet voice are scorched; in the morning, her fellows almost don't recognize her. They all agree, as they rejoice in her deed, that ``you can't tell much about a bird by looking at its feathers.'' Ehlert's note says she was inspired by Mexican folk art, and echoes of Mexican papercuts, tinware, santos sculpture, and other forms appear in flat, collage-like patterns, vibrating with rich, bright color. Silver cutouts like tin ornaments illustrate the glossary that appears on the title page-spread. A book almost as much a piece of folk art as it is a folktale. (Picture book/folklore. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ages 4-7. In this exhilarating adaptation of a Mayan tale, Cuckoo is a colorful bird who sings her sweet song all day, but finally the other animals tire of hearing her. On the night before the birds' annual harvest, a fire breaks out in the field where they gather the seeds to last them through the winter. All night long, Cuckoo picks up the seeds one by one and pushes them down into Mole's tunnel. Though her feathers are scorched black by the flames and her sweet song is diminished by the smoke, Cuckoo has earned the gratitude and respect of the other birds. With text appearing in both English and Spanish, this simply told tale is lifted to a higher dramatic pitch by Ehlert's arresting artwork, some of her best to date. Inspired by Mexican folk art, the paper-collage pictures feature colors that are individually bright and in combination absolutely electric. Story, artwork, and design combine to create a striking picture book that will hold the attention of even large groups. Carolyn Phelan

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 015200274X
• ISBN 13: 9780152002749
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40