The Fortune-Tellers

by Lloyd Alexander

This original folktale set in Cameroon is full of adventure and sly humor. Lloyd Alexander's story of a young man visiting -- and then becoming -- the village fortune-teller is brought to vibrant life with some of Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman's most memorable artwork.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Africa, Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 1992

About the author

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King , was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 STARS FOR THE ART.
4 STARS FOR THE STORY.

I had high hopes for this one since it was born of the creative talents of two of children's literature's most gifted. It lived up to my expectations in that the illustrations are absolutely stunningly fabulous ans so full of atmosphere and the story is told well. I am not sure how satisfactory the story would be for those of us seeking a "moral" to the story, though, based on the fates of the two "fortune tellers." This was a bit annoying for me, but then again perhaps it simply meant to reveal the unpredictability of life and certainly that's something children can explore with their parents.

SPOILER: The original "fortune-teller" falls off the balcony and is carried away on a crazy adventure with animals trying to attack him before he is lost in the river. The young man who is mistaken for the lost "fortune-teller" takes over for him and ends up getting everything his heart desires. Neither one of the fortune tellers really sees any sort of future, they simply say things like "You will be rich... if you earn enough money." "You will live a long life... if you avoid illness and accident." Which is quite clever, in it's way, but I'm not sure the "moral of the story" if one man triumphs by telling people this and another man meets his doom...?

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried when I saw this book’s cover, as I got it for this illustrator’s illustrations, and I wasn’t wild about it. I also didn’t think I’d enjoy a story about fortune-tellers.

Well, I need not have worried.

The story is amusing and sweet, although I will say I wasn’t satisfied by the conclusion. I appreciated everything up through the finding of each other’s true love, but I was hoping the new fortune teller would make a certain change, and I thought what was shown about what happened to the first fortune teller was a bit too much. But, I enjoyed the humor throughout.

Once I got past the cover, I thought that the illustrations were amazingly beautiful. They’re intricate, colorful, interesting, and just beautiful. According to the note at the beginning of the book, they’re created with ink, acrylic, and crayon, and are painted on Arches watercolor board. The final effect is even better than it sounds. The illustrations are definitely 5 stars worthy, but the story just wasn’t quite good enough for me to assign this book that rating.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great folk tale! We enjoyed the story as well as the illustrations.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyman's charming illustrations enliven a rather weak story about a discontent young construction worker who visits a scam fortune teller. The young man is too dumb to notice that the predictions are worthless, but when the fortune teller disappears the young man takes his place and ends up becoming rich and famous after all.

Cute, but it didn't work for me on any emotional or moral level. The young man is a dumb cluck who just wants to be rich and have a hot wife, so I didn't feel any particular concern for his fate. And as a fortune teller he is just as much a cheat as the original, so why are we supposed to be happy for his success while the old man suffers various injuries? Just because he is young and handsome? Not good enough, sorry.

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an odd one. A young man goes to a fortune-teller because he's unhappy with his life. The fortune-teller offers him predictions that are 100% worthless, but he's not smart enough to realize that. Then when he himself is mistaken for the fortune-teller, he all-of-a-sudden catches on and gives the same type of fortunes to everyone in the village. At least, I think he catches on. Maybe he doesn't. Maybe he just says them without realizing their ridiculous nature. Just...not sure. Either way, it works for him, because he gets a beautiful wife and becomes rich.

As for the old fortune-teller, his fate is...well, a little extreme.

Is there a moral to this folktale? Nope. Not that I can see. Unless it's, "You can get rich off of stupid people." Again, I'm just not sure.

But it's worth a read simply to gaze at Trina Schart Hyman's gorgeous artwork. The woman was gifted.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trina Schart Hyman beautifully illustrates this clever and humorous tale from Cameroon.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully detailed full-color illustrations, created using a combination of ink, acrylic, and crayon, and painted on Arches watercolor board, are the highlight of this humorous tale that shows that we truly make our own fortunes.

The narrative is humorous and the story has an unusual, but mostly happy ending. I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm sure it would be fun to read aloud with a group of elementary school-age children.

This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2018 - Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Picture Book Winners 1991-1999 discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. This beautiful, stunning book. I don't normally review picture books but this one is by Lloyd Alexander and it has the most incredible art I've ever seen. You should go and find a copy and stare at it for the rest of the day.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

As others here have pointed out, the book fails because the "hero" is a cheat. Why would one fraud get his just deserts and the other be successful? It makes no sense.

[Hollowell Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This pairing of fantasy writer Lloyd Alexander with renowned illustrator Trina Schart Hyman is brilliant. The narrative follows a young man, who is accidentally thrust into fortune telling. He remains unperturbed, flexible, and grateful for the opportunity. Ms. Schart Hyman has chosen to set the book in Cameroon, where her own author/daughter once worked. The brilliant colors of Africa compliment the text. Look for a miniature illustration of Lloyd Alexander, the author, hidden on a page. (Hint - He's under an umbrella.) This is one of the most gorgeous picture books of the 20th century.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids love it, but it is silly and goofy.
They love to laugh at the misfortune of the fortune teller.

Gorgeous illustrations!

[Will Keech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good picture book

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally wanted to read this because I really like Lloyd Alexander, and I hadn't realized he wrote some picture books! When I started reading this, I was immediately charmed by Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations. Such wonderful details and colors! Then the story made me laugh. What a great fortune teller! He says things like: "Rich you will surely be . . . on one condition: that you earn large sums of money," and "You shall wed your true love, if you find her and she agrees. And you shall be happy as any in the world if you can avoid being miserable." He is a fortune teller I can believe in! :) A great story and wonderful, detailed illustrations combine to make a picture book that I enjoyed reading very much.

[Virginia Hertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of beautiful pictures that depicted scenes in an African village and peoples. They were colorful and bright.

The Author is from Australia. His words teach a lesson that is practical and humors as he depicts human dilemma in his story.

The Illustrator born in the U.S, has a daughter that married a man from Cameroon. She visited the African village and fell in love with the culture and landscape. Her grandchildren appear in many of her illustrations as well as the African people and culture. Although she is not African, she is a credible first-hand-witness to the culture and people.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I not ever rated this book before!? I'm sure I've read it dozens of times over the years. And it lives up to the expectations I'd have for a book that combines the talents of two of my own childhood favorites. I love Hyman's illustrative detail (I especially like finding Lloyd Alexander himself in there), as always, and I like that the tale feels a bit like a trickster tale, but without any of the guilt of loving the trickster as our protagonist here has nothing to do with the old teller's downfall. Ha ha ha. Brilliant.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious story, showcasing Alexander's sly wit, which is evident in every book that he wrote, whether picture book or chapter book. Alexander did not intend this to be a morality tale, but a humorous tale, poking gentle fun at "fortune-tellers" who really cannot foretell the future. The wonderful and richly detailed illustrations, rendered in ink, acrylic, and crayon, feature the people and culture of the West African country of Cameroon.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrator was the one who chose to set the story in Cameroon since she had just visited there to attend her daughter's wedding. She drew herself, some family members, and the author in some of the scenes!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young carpenter unhappy with his current life as a carpenter goes to the next village, to have his fortune told. What the fortune teller tells him changes not only the carpenter's fate, but the fortune tellers as well. Witty!

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little tale of some sillies and a man who discovers the trick of being a fortune-teller.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short Summary: A young man in Cameroon finds a fortune-teller. When he goes back to ask him more questions, he is mistaken for the old man-turned young man. He assumes the life of the fortune-teller (who disappeared--his fate is not good), becomes rich, marries a beautiful woman and occasionally wonders about the old man.

What I liked: Loved the illustrations. Beautiful images by Trina Schart Hyman. Rich and colorful, a wonderful sense of what this village and its people look like, cute funny bits to look for.

What I didn't like: I did not enjoy this story at all. It comes off as a "folk-tale" but it does not say "retold by." It's full of deceit--that is rewarded. I'd be curious to do more research to see if it based on an actual Cameroon folktale--maybe there's more to it. Perhaps the fate of the first fortune-teller is due to HIS life of lies, and the new one will get his comeuppance at some point, too. But not in this story.

If I were to read this to children: I would point out the wonderful artwork, the colorful clothing, the people, the animals doing silly things. I would also ask or "wonder" with the kids--"this man is not telling the truth and getting rich, is that OK?" (Hmmm, a lot like someone else we know...) What do you think happened to the first fortune-teller after he was dropped in the river by the eagle? Do you think something bad might happen to the new fortune-teller?

Would I choose this to read to a class of children?: No. Plenty of other real folktales to read to kids during my folktales section.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fortune-Tellers presents a clever little story that's probably a riff on a plot that's existed since time immemorial. Essentially, a young carpenter goes to a shifty fortune teller who tells him exactly what he wants to hear in sneaky language that removes all certainty. But the carpenter doesn't notice, and soon he's telling fortunes himself and, well, all's well that ends well.

A sweet story, quite fun and easygoing, with exceptional art. Highly recommended!

(This being 2024, I of course pondered the racial subtext of 1992's The Fortune-Tellers, which features a black African cast who lead dusty, rural lives and are easily swindled. But I probably thought way too hard. The plot is silly and could have been set anywhere.)

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young man seeks a fortune-teller to ask about his career, happiness, and health. The answers are very clear, and speaking the simple truth that "one will be rich, as long as you gain money, you don't lose it", and so forth. He returns to the fortune-teller to ask more, but finds he has gone. The owner of the shop sees him and believes him to be a miracle worker-- she won't hear otherwise.
Soon, many people come to him for their fortunes to be told, and he tells them all the very same things as he was told.
From this he becomes, healthy, wealthy, and wise. He wonders what ever happened to the first fortune-teller...well, you'll have to read the book to discover that.

[Lauryn Hoegger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fortune-Tellers was a very thought provoking story of folklore. I found the illustrations to be eye-catching, intricate, and beautiful. However, I found the story itself to be a little bizarre for children especially. The way in which the first fortune teller dies is gruesome and extreme, and I am not sure there is any moral behind it. If an adult struggles to find the morality of the story, I am sure it would fly over a child’s head too. The book is worth a read for its humor and gorgeous illustrations, but I feel it could stand on its own without the story.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young man, tired of his lot in life, goes to the next town to see a fortune teller. There, he learns about his future. But the most captivating part is the fact that the fortune teller disappears shortly after telling the young man his fortune.

The beautiful thing about this tale is how the fortune teller tells the man his fortune. Does he tell him what his true future is? Or does the young man have to create his own fortune?

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fortune Tellers is a lovely story of how our fortune is what we make of what we have; it’s in our own power to succeed or fail. The story is brought to life through the vivid colors, patterns, and landscapes of West Africa.

Set in Cameroon, the illustrations somehow feel misleading that the story represents a West African “folk tale,” which is not indicated. This is a reminder to me that navigating cultural stories is complex and can’t be taken at face value.

[Courtney Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Morrison used this book to teach vocabulary games. A young carpenter gets his fortune told and rushes home to see it all to come true, but he rushes back to the fortuneteller to ask her other questions. The lady is gone, and someone mistakes the carpenter as the fortuneteller. He takes over her position and the rest of his life pans out interestingly. Gorgeous illustrations.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A self-fulfilling prophecy set in Cameroon. The illustrations are typical of TSH, whose King Stork and Saint George books are amongst my favorite artworks. But the plotline itself was a bit dull for me, personally. I love Alexander's Prydain Chronicles and Prince Jen. I think I'll stick to his chapter books.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, set in Cameroon. This one is better than the cover might lead you to believe. It's a delightful fairy-tale like story about a young carpenter who sets off to make his way in life. What happens when a fortune teller foretells his future? Will all that the carpenter is told come to past? Sometimes wishes do come true.

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is incredible! Colorful, rich, realistic, and beautiful. Five stars for the artwork.

The story was about three stars for me. I don't love that the young man basically cons his way to his dream life, but the story is clever and funny at times.

Overall I enjoyed it, even if it was to just sit and admire each page's art.

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations (of course). The folktale was fun. It was a full on tale with a beginning, middle, and end. A clear lead character with depth. The characters are complex and have complex (but child appropriate in the complexities) fates.