Children's Books discussion

Recently, I read two beautifully illustrated picture books from India's Tara Books that featured Indonesian trickster tales, Mangoes and Bananas, and The Sacred Banana Leaf. I wasn't familiar with trickster tales before (with the exception of the Tortoise and the Hare, which is supposedly considered one), although they have their place in cultures all over the world, are are said to teach morals, give insight into humanity, and often show brains over brawn. However, I can't help but question what "morals" the two books I read were teaching. Kanchil the mouse deer is clever, yes, but he achieves his goals by lying and trickery, and in the case of Mangoes and Bananas, lying by repeatedly and continuously insulting the appearance of his friend. Yes, his friend was doing something selfish and wrong, but how is Kanchil any better for insulting his friend's appearance as a solution to the problem?

Any insights or thoughts you may have about trickster tales? Do you think they're good for kids, or does it simply depend on the tale?

I love Br'er Rabbit. Of course some older editions are controversial, but I think ones by Lester & Pinkney would be appropriate. Tales of Uncle Remus (Puffin Modern Classics): The Adventures of Brer Rabbit

When I was in teacher-training we shared James the Vine Puller: A Brazilian Folktale which was clever and fun.

I agree that actual lying and insults are not so good, at least for younger & more impressionable readers. Perhaps the theme could be explored with interested children, and the different kinds of trickery could be compared. Which kinds of tricks are most effective? Which are so mean they're not worth doing?

I agree, in that I feel an older child, and especially an adult, can read a story like that and not necessarily be influenced to do the things in it, but I definitely would hesitate to read it to a young child. I'm afraid it'll encourage them to do things like lie or play tricks that might be cruel. But as you noted, it could open up a good and healthy discussion, as well, not to mention the traditional art methods used in the book are really beautiful, and I do like introducing kids to different culture.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Cheryl!

I think Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti might be a trickster tale. Another one I know is Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest. I think part of the reason for studying these tales is that they are composite characters that appear all over literature--and to some extent in real life. It gives students a chance to understand and evaluate these kinds of actions.

I am reading a book called "American Folk Tales" right now to DS. It is published in English by Kodansha so it doesn't show up on Goodreads, being officially a Japanese book. It is really interesting!

First was about Maui and how he fished out the Hawaiian islands--I did not know this story!

Yesterday I read the Brer Rabbit story. DS loved it. The English is cleaned up, and I much prefer it over the dialect in the original.

Today is Davy Crockett.....somebody I did not know much about.

As a child, I loved to sing the Davy Crockett song. First verse still rattles about my head. No idea why we liked it. Something to do with Disney probably. My brother had this fake "coonskin" cap.

Michele wrote: "I think Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti might be a trickster tale. Another one I know is Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest. I think part o..."

There's a whole series by Eric Kimmel. The best part is that Anansi never gets away with it. Anansi Goes Fishing

I was in love with the Southern Jack Tales when I was little. I loved the fact that he used his brains to get what he wanted and outwitted the devil every time. I'm pretty sure it's why "Devil Went Down to Georgia" is one of my favorite songs.

For an inverted trickster tale, where the trickster (a coyote) is the one who ends up being hoodwinked, Borreguita and the Coyote is to be recommended.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock is another by Kimmel. I have loved the text of everything I've read by him so far. Usually the pictures are good, too. They're hilarious in this one!

Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol


In Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol Eric A. Kimmel appreciatively and unlike in his Hershel and the Hanukah Goblins provides a short introduction with information on Hershel of Ostropol (a Ukrainian schochet, a ritual livestock butcher who lived in the early 19th century and is known in Yiddish folklore as a trickster akin to the German Tyll Eulenspiegel, as someone who with wit, wile and not generally with magic tricks and trounces others and actually often the elites). A fun anthology of ten Hershel of Ostropol trickster tales nicely engagingly retold by Kimmel and with good accompanying artwork by Trina Schart-Hyman but considering that the ten stories take place in the Ukraine, I am kind of wanting a much more solid sense of place and time (and I also would want more folkloric detail in the introduction).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This is my shelf of trickster tales I have read and reviewed.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Interesting tidbit I learned in a children’s literature class, but Brer Rabbit actually came with the slaves from Africa as Zomo the Rabbit.

https://a.co/d/35taqb5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickster

Basic information, but the real gem is the links to multiple trickster figures in diverse mythologies and cultures.

Shoshana wrote: "Interesting tidbit I learned in a children’s literature class, but Brer Rabbit actually came with the slaves from Africa as Zomo the Rabbit.

https://a.co/d/35taqb5"

I did not know that, but it makes sense!