1. Bibliography:
Kimmel, Eric A. Bearhead: A Russian Folktale. Ill. by Charles Mikolaycak. New York: Holiday House, 1991.
ISBN 0-8234-0902-3
2. Plot:
Bearhead is a unique individual who has been raised by loving parents who were gifted him when he was an infant. He grows up,in their modest home, to learn values and duty to his family and fellow humans. He is illustrated with a large bear head and human body. In his young adulthood, he is faced with an opportunity to help the father who raised him. By taking a job that his adopted father does not want to accept, Bearhead shows him how much he loves and appreciates him. The lessons that he learns in this new job (which involves an evil, old witch boss) will prompt him to seek an independent life. Through this endeavor Bearhead meets up with a new friend who he has much in common with. The scary looking witch has judged Bearhead to be a "beast" who is incapable of anything good. Bearhead is indeed a unique individual with his bear head and human body, but he is strong and smart and wins your heart.
3. Critical Analysis:
The folktale lays a foundation of keeping an open mind and allowing the reader to accept those who are different. The following are underlying themes interwoven within the illustrations and story line.
Acceptance and Diversity
The uniquely illustrated qualities of many of the characters including Bearhead, the evil witch, and the frog headed goblin, will encourage an idea of accepting diversity. Readers will soon focus only on the human story of the outrageous characters instead of on the unique qualities which set them apart from most. Because the story is engaging and familiar with his adventures you will want to imagine a new journey for Bearhead in his new life. His new friend, the frog headed goblin, will surely appreciate having new experiences with some one who, like him, is different looking. His mother and father will miss having him at home, if he moves on, but they will all continue to love each other for the rest of their lives.
Love and Sacrifice
The love and sacrifices that Bearhead and his parents show one another is a theme that encourages the reader to focus on what is important in life. You will recognize the risk that comes with taking in an infant who has the head of a bear and the body of a human. You will be proud of Bearhead as he chooses to teach others some life lessons by doing things in a clever way while benefiting many.
Saying What You Mean
Another lesson that Bearhead gives readers is the idea that it is always best to say exactly what we mean when giving directions. If detail is not given in the directions the outcome might be all wrong. A lesson that the witch will learn the hard way.
4. Review Excerpts:
Eric Kimmel loves to tell stories that his grandmother told him from her childhood in Europe, according to a biography written in the scholastic.com online magazine. The biography claims that Kimmel often changes some of the details in a story that he retells. He does this intentionally to focus on how storytellers should include their own imagination to guide them through the process. This is what he did in retelling the Russian Folktale of Bearhead.
"...this is a satisfying tale, and children will delight in the winning hero's literal interpretations of orders." -- Publishers Weekly
"The folktale itself is very amusing,...what with outwitting the witch using Amelia Bedelia-esque literalism." --Rachel from Goodreads
5. Connections:
Other books by Eric Kimmel are:The Three Princes: A Tale from the Middle East
The Roosters Antler's: A Story of the Chinese Zodiac
Rimohah of the Flashing Sword: A North African Tale
Teachers in elementary as well as middle and high school could use this folktale to introduce a new way of writing.
Themes of poetry and song are riddled throughout this Russian folktale that Eric Kimmel has inverted. The original Russian tale has the hero with a man's head and a bear's body. Students of all ages could use the story to write a poem or a song about diversity by either using the characters in the tale or creating their own unique theme. Students should use the themes outlined in this tale to guide them, Again the themes are:
Acceptance and Diversity
Love and Sacrifice
Saying What You Mean
Some of Eric Kimmel's other books in a social studies course could be used to teach world cultures. This would be great for elementary school children. Culture's around the world have many unique qualities but these stories also reveal a common thread that links us all as a human race.
BOOK #2
1. Bibliography:
Scieszka, John. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs: By A. Wolf. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York, Viking Press. 1989.
ISBN-0-670-82759-2
2. Plot:
Mr. Alexander T. Wolf (Al) is the author of this "other side of the story" in which he hopes to explain his side of the famous fairy tale. As he claims, "Everybody knows the story of the little pigs," but he believes it is told only from the pigs point of view. Here Mr. Wolf draws a picture, with the assistance of Lane Smith's detailed illustrations, of the events the way that they "really" happened. Mr. Wolf feels that the story, taken only from the pigs version of the story, casts him a negative light. He also feels that many of the very crucial details behind the events of that day are lacking information and could therefore be misunderstood. Mr. Wolf would like to take the opportunity to draw a better picture, with those missing details, in order to give a more thorough account. Afterall, as Mr. Wolf states; "...noboby ever heard my side of the story...."
3. Critical Analysis:
In this fractured fairy tale Mr. Wolf explains the nature of a wolf's diet and how he is not to be blamed for the natural dietary needs of an innocent wolf. From the beginning Mr. Wolf is trying clear his "Big Bad Wolf" reputation from our minds. He provides us with the real reason that he goes to visit his longtime neighbors, the little pigs. What starts out as an innocent outreach among neighbors turns tragically wrong when a series of unexpected events unfold before Mr. Wolf that make him look guilty of crimes that he did not commit. The details of Al Wolf's story are generously accompanied by illustrations of how a "sneeze and a cup of sugar" caused all of the controversy behind the famous tale. Combine this with the poorly constructed houses of the first two pigs and there is a recipe for disaster. In addition to all of the chaos, the police and newspaper reporters came onto the scene and misread the situation completely. He was framed.
4. Review Excerpts:
In 2007 the National Education Association named The True Story of the Three Little Pigs as #98 of 100 of the top books for children.
In 2012 the School Library Journal named The True Story of the Three Little Pigs as #35 of the Top 100 Picture books.
This video on YouTube is wonderfully read by "martellorules" and gives an interesting New York charcter to Alexander T. Wolf.
"You thought you knew the story of the three little pigs. You thought wrong." -- Goodreads
"Older kids (and adults) will find it very funny."-- School Library Journal
5. Connections:
Other books by John Scieszka are:
The Time Warp Trio
Squids Will Be Squids
Other Fractured Fairy Tails are:
Diane Stanley's:
The Trouble with Wishes
Mini Grey's:
ELA
When used in combination with the original tale of the Three Little Pigs this fractured fairy tale could be turned into a Readers Theatre for students to read aloud, followed by a teacher guided discussion of the many sides to any story. The teacher could discuss how there are always three sides: Your side, my side, and then the truth.
Social Studies
This fractured fairy tale once again could be used in combination with the original story to discuss basic rights outlined in the Bill of Rights. Both the pig and the wolf exercised their First Amendment right to Freedom of Expression.
Another social studies lesson for high school students would be to take the familiar original story of The Three Little Pigs in combination with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and make a "Mock Trial" assignment out of a Reader's Theatre. The defense would be defending Alexander T. Wolf and the prosecution would represent the surviving pig and his "eye witnesses" (which are the police and news media). This would be a good first trial for students to practice in mock trial.
BOOK #3
1. Bibliography:
Zelinsky, Paul O. Rumpelstiltskin. Ill. by Paul Zelinsky. New York: Dutton Children's Books 1986.
ISBN: 0-525-44265-0
2. Plot:
A miller has a daughter and has told a tale about her to the king in order to encourage interest in her. The tale has put the young lady in a bit of a pickle. She must learn to perform a craft that has come from her father's imagination. A small little man comes along to offer her assistance. In the exchange, the daughter must give him some valuable gifts and a promise of a gift that she cannot yet give. This exchange results in the young lady becoming the queen. Just when it seems time to have a "and they lived happily ever after" ending, the unfulfilled promise comes back to haunt the new Queen.
3. Critical Analysis:
The beautiful miller's daughter is clearly a hard worker as is evident from the first illustration in the book. Her father wants a better life for her and because of this, he makes up the lie about her craftiness. He did not intend on creating a problem for his daughter but instead wanted to give her a chance of experiencing a better life.
The king's elaborate palace is enormous and new to the young lady who finds herself desperate to find a solution to her great task. In her desperation to save both her and her fathers good name, she accepts the little man's offer end her troubles. The king is "amazed and delighted" with the first results that the miller's daughter has accomplished and the demand becomes greater. As her debt to the man grows, so too does her eye on the benefits of completing the task. She reluctantly agrees to the last debt of exchange, unknowing if the promise made by the king will even be fulfilled. She is now living in the beautifully illustrated palace with the handsome king. Her new life opportunities seem very inviting.
Just when the young lady is supposed to enjoy the life that her father had envisioned for her, a new question threatens everything. Will the young lady be able to enjoy a new life of privilege, or will it all be ruined because of the debt that she owes the little man?
The beautifully illustrated images of the new bride queen and her king will keep you rooting for her and turn you strongly against the little man who first claimed to want to "help" the situation. He seems to take great delight in watching the queen's new life falling to pieces. He makes some critical mistakes and this might be what ruins his plans for victory.
4. Review Excerpts:
Caldecott Honor Book 1998
" Richly hued oil paintings compliment a story simply and gracefully told." -- Goodreads
"Children... love the story for its mystery and its familiarity. Adults will find that, like most fairy tales, this one rewards periodic rethinking." -- New York Times Book Review
"Zelinsky's smooth retelling and glowing pictures cast the story in a new and beautiful light." --School Library Journal
5. Connections:
Read also the fractured fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley
Related Books include:
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
Hansel and Gretel by Rika Lesser
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Marianna Mayer
This traditional fairy tale is a good one to discuss the consequences of not telling the truth.
Elementary
Teachers could engage students in a discussion to infer possible outcomes that would not have a happy ending. By starting with the daughter being discovered as unable to complete the task. Following up with the possible consequences for the father being found to be a fibber. What might have happened if she could not escape the final task given by Rumpelstiltskin? Ending the lesson with having the children draw of picture or write an alternate ending to the book.
Middle and High School
In a middle school ELA class or a high school literature class the class could be asked to critique the negative messages that are sent with this type of fairy tale. A special focus could be placed on the topic of dishonesty and risk taking that many of the characters took throughout the book. This can include the father allowing his daughter to be taken away by the king, to the daughter's trust in Rumpelstiltskin, and Rumpelstiltskin's trust in the daughter. Even the king took a risk in bringing the daughter home. The question could be asked: Are these underlying messages the type of lessons that we typically try to encourage small children to learn? Free writing and discussion would be a great follow up to this lesson.
ELL students could use this familiar story to relate or retell a similar story from their own memory in a home culture or country of origin.
