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brucefarrar's review
5.0
Hernández retells and draws three Spanish American folktales. In the first a bold young woman turns misfortune into success using determination and courage. It just takes outwitting two monsters with the aid of a magic wand to win her prince. In the next another young lady finds a coin and buys herself a hair ribbon to enhance her natural charms. It’s all she needs to attract the mouse of her dreams for a husband, only to have him fall in a pot of boiling soup. In the final tale the youngest of three brothers uses brains instead of brawn and many small friends to find his fortune.
Hernández’s sharp bold lines are filled with bright color. Aztec designs and motifs enhance the comics. The notes provide context, and the bibliography supplements the tales. This is a superlatively designed book.
Hernández’s sharp bold lines are filled with bright color. Aztec designs and motifs enhance the comics. The notes provide context, and the bibliography supplements the tales. This is a superlatively designed book.
hypops's review
4.0
Three, young-person-friendly, Latin American folks tales written, drawn, and adapted by comics legend Jaime Hernandez.
The eponymous first story is passable, but nothing exceptional. It’s a mostly predictable story about a poor servant woman marrying a prince after slaying a dragon.
The last two stories, however, are outstanding. One is a fun morality tale about a young woman whose husband (a rat) falls into a pot of soup. She mourns his loss and spreads her sadness to others. In case you don’t already know how the story ends, I won’t spoil it, but the moral of the tale is a twisted variation on “not counting one’s chickens before they’re hatched.”
I especially love the last story. I’m a big fan of children’s stories in which immoral behavior is rewarded, and wow does this little spit get rewarded for his immorality! The story is a riff on some of the great trickster folk tales. Again, I won’t spoil it for those who don’t already know the story, but the main character—the youngest of three brothers—is pathologically lazy, but he is also heroically savvy about preserving his laziness.
Everything in the book is drawn in a simplified and cartoonishly exaggerated version of Hernandez’s usual style. A fantastic and quick read that I hope to come back to and revisit in the future. Absolutely worth your time.
The eponymous first story is passable, but nothing exceptional. It’s a mostly predictable story about a poor servant woman marrying a prince after slaying a dragon.
The last two stories, however, are outstanding. One is a fun morality tale about a young woman whose husband (a rat) falls into a pot of soup. She mourns his loss and spreads her sadness to others. In case you don’t already know how the story ends, I won’t spoil it, but the moral of the tale is a twisted variation on “not counting one’s chickens before they’re hatched.”
I especially love the last story. I’m a big fan of children’s stories in which immoral behavior is rewarded, and wow does this little spit get rewarded for his immorality! The story is a riff on some of the great trickster folk tales. Again, I won’t spoil it for those who don’t already know the story, but the main character—the youngest of three brothers—is pathologically lazy, but he is also heroically savvy about preserving his laziness.
Everything in the book is drawn in a simplified and cartoonishly exaggerated version of Hernandez’s usual style. A fantastic and quick read that I hope to come back to and revisit in the future. Absolutely worth your time.
richardmtl's review
3.0
My kids didn’t like this one too much, but maybe they’re too old for it. The characters were a little tontitos, even though I know it’s based on some folktales. I liked the last story the most.
alenka's review
4.0
I love the toon books series, Mouly's crew of artists always knock it out of the park, and this is no exception! Jaime Hernandez retells three delightful folktales and, in the back matter, discusses how Latin American folktales celebrate strong women and teach practical and moral lessons. His art is as lovely as usual; clean lines, well balanced color work that will appeal to young readers and great facial expressions! A joy to read.
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