Jolie Blonde and the Three Héberts: A Cajun Twist to an Old Tale (Cajun Tall Tales) - Hardcover

Sheila Hébert Collins

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1565543246 ISBN 13: 9781565543249

Publisher: Pelican Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

Everybody knows the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. What's surprising is that the story was originally set in Thibodaux, Louisiana, Goldilocks was known as Jolie Blonde, and the bears were actually a family of Héberts! The Cajun story became Americanized over time. In this return to the original, readers will discover the uniquely Cajun aspects left out of this now familiar tale. For example, Cajuns simply do not eat porridge. They do eat gumbo, and Mama Hébert just happens to make the best on the bayou! Once you finish the story and find all of the differences, prepare this delicious dish with the simple recipe included by the author.

About this title

About the Author

Sheila Hèbert-Collins was born in Abbeville, Louisiana, the heart of Cajun country. She is what you'd call an authentic Cajun, since both her mother's and father's lineage trace back to Acadia in Canada. Hèbert-Collins grew up proud of her Cajun culture, and teaching the lower grades for twenty years instilled in her a love for children's literature. That passion for children's literature, combined with her Cajun pride, motivated her to rewrite cherished fairy tales with a Cajun twist. These stories were designed to teach younger children French, as well as to develop Cajun pride of their own.

 

 

 

Hèbert-Collins didn't start her writing career until she retired from teaching in Louisiana in 1989. In late 1993, her first Cajun fairy tale was published: Jolie Blonde and the Three Hèberts: A Cajun Twist to an Old Tale, which is a Cajun retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. By 1996, she had four books published and had visited over 120 Louisiana schools and many public libraries, reading her Cajun fairy tales and promoting their culture.

 

 

 

Sheila Hèbert-Collins' name appears in the Louisiana State Artist Roster as an author and Cajun storyteller. She has presented for the Louisiana Reading Association's local and state conventions and has also appeared for the Florida Association of Media Educators, Lee County Reading Festival, and Florida Gulf Coast University.

 

 

 

In 1999, Sheila Hèbert-Collins became a school librarian, working on certification at the same time. She was certified in library science in 2000 and was hired as a media specialist at Manatee Elementary in Collier County, Florida, in 2002. During that year, her sixth fairy tale was published. Working in such a diversified school has given her more cultures to learn about and, more than ever, more reasons to promote cultural pride. She currently resides in Abbeville, Louisiana.

From the Inside Flap

Sheila Hébert-Collins, a native of Abbeville, Louisiana, has a passion for children's literature and enormous pride in her Cajun heritage.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 4 In this version of the story, Goldilocks is called Jolie Blonde (pretty blonde), and the Three Bears are actually three humans the Heberts (pronounced AY-bair)who live on the bayou. Mama Hebert makes gumbo that is left to cool while the family goes for a pirogue (boat) ride, with the predictable results. The text is sprinkled with Cajun expressions that are explained at the bottom of each page. First published with black-and-white illustrations (Blue Heron, 1993; o.p.), this edition is a big improvement, with Sopers colorful drawings in glowing pastels. The appended gumbo recipe is easy enough for any jolie blonde. Of especial interest to Louisiana libraries, this story can also serve as additional material for large collections. It will work well as a one-on-one lesson on Cajun-French words or as a group read-aloud sharing of a unique bit of culture.Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pelican Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1565543246
• ISBN 13: 9781565543249
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Patrick Soper
• Number of pages: 32