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Brer Tiger and the Big Wind
Greedy Brer Tiger refuses to let the other animals eat from his pear tree or drink from his spring. Then Brer Rabbit comes up with a magnificent plan to create a "big wind" and teach Brer Tiger a thing or two about generosity and sharing. "Faulkner's text demonstrates the work of a consummate storyteller....Wilson imbues her illustrations with measured peace that brings resonance to the almost mythical atmosphere."--Kirkus Reviews.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 1, 2016
Title: Brer Tiger and the Big Wind
Author: William J. Faulkner
Illustrator: Roberta Wilson
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Tigers, Rabbits, and Sharing
Opening Line/sentence:
In olden days, the creatures used to plow the fields and plant their crops the same as menfolks.
Brief Book Summary:
The animals work hard to gather and harvest their own food when suddenly a famine strikes and the only place to get food and water is Clayton Field. However, a greedy tiger that refuses to share his supply guards the luscious field. The animals seem devastated until a clever Brer Rabbit comes up with a plan to fake a hurricane through the field. As all the animals pitch in to beat things and create wind, the trickster rabbit convinces the tiger that he will be blown off the world by the great big storm. The tiger begs to be tied down even to the point where he is hugging the tree he wants to be tied to. The rabbit reluctantly agrees to tie down the tiger as part of the act. When the tiger is tied up the animals stop the show and come gather supplies from the greedy tiger who is held captive by the ropes.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Barbara B. Disckind (Children's Literature)
The author, a Southern folklorist, recounts this story first told to him by Simon Brown, a former slave. In a time of scarcity, the greedy and ferocious Brer Tiger keeps all the starving animals away from the one remaining source of food and water. But Brer Rabbit enlists his friends in teaching this mean-spirited creature a lesson in sharing. This folktale can be understood and enjoyed by reading the engaging story and viewing its illustrations, full of energy and spirit. Or on another level, it can provide the basis for a valuable discussion on fairness, equality, retribution (or justice, depending on the reader's point of view), and slavery.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1995)
Faulkner (1891-1987) heard this story in the style of Uncle Remus from a former slave who worked on his mother's farm. It's a dry summer, and there's no food anywhere except for a big pear tree -- but Brer Tiger won't let any of the other animals near it. When Brer Rabbit learns of this, he has the other animals assemble in the woods and make a big noise. Brer Tiger wakes up and asks what's going on. Brer Rabbit replies: "Oh, Lord, oh, Lord, there's a great big wind that's a-coming through the woods, and it's going to blow all the people off the earth!" Brer Tiger then persuades Brer Rabbit to tie him to a tree, whereby the other animals gain access to his supplies. Faulkner's text demonstrates the work of a consummate storyteller. His narrative -- richly ornamented with comic touches, full of turns of phrase that instantly define a character -- displays a perfect certainty of touch. Attending to every blade of grass and to every hair on Bret Bear, Wilson imbues her illustrations with a measured peace that brings resonance to the almost mythical atmosphere. This is a peculiar world of talking animals, painted in glowing oranges and browns; the book is not only an example of great storytelling, but a minor work of art.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviewers make very insightful comments to what Brer Tiger and the Big Wind is really about. This book can be understood on many different levels of depth, and like the second reviewer stated this book certainly has the style of a talent oral storyteller, not just an author. Both reviewers comment on the full experience of this book and how, when all things are considered, the book has an energy about it that entices the reader into this fictional world.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The theme of this tale reflects a touch of retribution as the tiger receives treatment that reflects his greedy behavior; however one could connect the theme to a deeper almost spiritual concept of respecting all and being grateful for our talents and blessings. This is reflected when the animals all gather after capturing the tiger to praise the Lord. The author’s style of writing has a southern feel with a deeply spiritual tone especially when the rabbit walk through the field saying “Oh, Lord, oh, Lord, there’s a great big wind that’s a-coming…” This story could be consider a very creative take on the effects of slavery with the rabbit and the animals representing the hard working individuals who are dominated and oppressed by the greedy and apathetic tiger. The plot is unique and carries the reader through the book with a sense of curiosity as the reader figures out what Rabbit’s plan is to capture the tiger. Each illustration is a work of art as the very detailed penciling expresses the “wind” storm masterfully. Also this style of art captures every characteristic of each animal right down to the individual hairs on the hare.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Introducing this book with a class could tie into a history lesson that discusses how slavery affected the individuals who were slaves. It could also be used to teach children how the “slave culture” was heavily shaped through songs and stories to capture the feelings and experiences under slavery. If using with younger children this book might be used to teach the concept of sharing and why it is important to share what we’ve been given. This story could also show the importance of teamwork and how when all the animals worked together they were able to overcome the wickedness of the tiger. This book has a variety of uses when it comes to lesson planning.
Author: William J. Faulkner
Illustrator: Roberta Wilson
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Tigers, Rabbits, and Sharing
Opening Line/sentence:
In olden days, the creatures used to plow the fields and plant their crops the same as menfolks.
Brief Book Summary:
The animals work hard to gather and harvest their own food when suddenly a famine strikes and the only place to get food and water is Clayton Field. However, a greedy tiger that refuses to share his supply guards the luscious field. The animals seem devastated until a clever Brer Rabbit comes up with a plan to fake a hurricane through the field. As all the animals pitch in to beat things and create wind, the trickster rabbit convinces the tiger that he will be blown off the world by the great big storm. The tiger begs to be tied down even to the point where he is hugging the tree he wants to be tied to. The rabbit reluctantly agrees to tie down the tiger as part of the act. When the tiger is tied up the animals stop the show and come gather supplies from the greedy tiger who is held captive by the ropes.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Barbara B. Disckind (Children's Literature)
The author, a Southern folklorist, recounts this story first told to him by Simon Brown, a former slave. In a time of scarcity, the greedy and ferocious Brer Tiger keeps all the starving animals away from the one remaining source of food and water. But Brer Rabbit enlists his friends in teaching this mean-spirited creature a lesson in sharing. This folktale can be understood and enjoyed by reading the engaging story and viewing its illustrations, full of energy and spirit. Or on another level, it can provide the basis for a valuable discussion on fairness, equality, retribution (or justice, depending on the reader's point of view), and slavery.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1995)
Faulkner (1891-1987) heard this story in the style of Uncle Remus from a former slave who worked on his mother's farm. It's a dry summer, and there's no food anywhere except for a big pear tree -- but Brer Tiger won't let any of the other animals near it. When Brer Rabbit learns of this, he has the other animals assemble in the woods and make a big noise. Brer Tiger wakes up and asks what's going on. Brer Rabbit replies: "Oh, Lord, oh, Lord, there's a great big wind that's a-coming through the woods, and it's going to blow all the people off the earth!" Brer Tiger then persuades Brer Rabbit to tie him to a tree, whereby the other animals gain access to his supplies. Faulkner's text demonstrates the work of a consummate storyteller. His narrative -- richly ornamented with comic touches, full of turns of phrase that instantly define a character -- displays a perfect certainty of touch. Attending to every blade of grass and to every hair on Bret Bear, Wilson imbues her illustrations with a measured peace that brings resonance to the almost mythical atmosphere. This is a peculiar world of talking animals, painted in glowing oranges and browns; the book is not only an example of great storytelling, but a minor work of art.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviewers make very insightful comments to what Brer Tiger and the Big Wind is really about. This book can be understood on many different levels of depth, and like the second reviewer stated this book certainly has the style of a talent oral storyteller, not just an author. Both reviewers comment on the full experience of this book and how, when all things are considered, the book has an energy about it that entices the reader into this fictional world.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The theme of this tale reflects a touch of retribution as the tiger receives treatment that reflects his greedy behavior; however one could connect the theme to a deeper almost spiritual concept of respecting all and being grateful for our talents and blessings. This is reflected when the animals all gather after capturing the tiger to praise the Lord. The author’s style of writing has a southern feel with a deeply spiritual tone especially when the rabbit walk through the field saying “Oh, Lord, oh, Lord, there’s a great big wind that’s a-coming…” This story could be consider a very creative take on the effects of slavery with the rabbit and the animals representing the hard working individuals who are dominated and oppressed by the greedy and apathetic tiger. The plot is unique and carries the reader through the book with a sense of curiosity as the reader figures out what Rabbit’s plan is to capture the tiger. Each illustration is a work of art as the very detailed penciling expresses the “wind” storm masterfully. Also this style of art captures every characteristic of each animal right down to the individual hairs on the hare.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Introducing this book with a class could tie into a history lesson that discusses how slavery affected the individuals who were slaves. It could also be used to teach children how the “slave culture” was heavily shaped through songs and stories to capture the feelings and experiences under slavery. If using with younger children this book might be used to teach the concept of sharing and why it is important to share what we’ve been given. This story could also show the importance of teamwork and how when all the animals worked together they were able to overcome the wickedness of the tiger. This book has a variety of uses when it comes to lesson planning.
July 4, 2017
I love this book!
I am an adult PK (pastor's kid) of Irish descent. My father was a conservative Presbyterian minister. In the early 1970s, he pastored a racially integrated church in Wildwood, NJ. I remember Dr Faulkner used to come and tell us Brer Rabbit stories. Of course, we loved them but I never realized that Dr Faulkner was such a renowned folklorist.
This book tells a tale so relevant for today it isn't funny. How powerful people claim the natural resources of our planet as their own. How the powerless suffer because they have no access to the resources that truly by right belong to all. How the powerless who are many can work together to overcome the greed of the powerful few and ensure that ALL can share in the natural abundance of the planet, but we have to set aside our differences and work together.
I am an adult PK (pastor's kid) of Irish descent. My father was a conservative Presbyterian minister. In the early 1970s, he pastored a racially integrated church in Wildwood, NJ. I remember Dr Faulkner used to come and tell us Brer Rabbit stories. Of course, we loved them but I never realized that Dr Faulkner was such a renowned folklorist.
This book tells a tale so relevant for today it isn't funny. How powerful people claim the natural resources of our planet as their own. How the powerless suffer because they have no access to the resources that truly by right belong to all. How the powerless who are many can work together to overcome the greed of the powerful few and ensure that ALL can share in the natural abundance of the planet, but we have to set aside our differences and work together.
June 8, 2016
The clever rabbit saves the other animals from thirst and starvation. This book could be used with other Bret books to discuss how children of the slaves were taught how to get to freedom or just as a tale to encourage thinking of solutions to problems
June 20, 2013
Great and classic tale! :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews