Summary
Betrayed by his own father, the infant son of a lowly miller narrowly escapes death and is lovingly adopted by a faithful she-bear. Raised on her nourishing milk, the boy becomes the strongest man in the land -- and the only one brave enough to battle the kingdom's bloodthirsty three-headed dragon. Yet it is wit, not just courage and might, that the hero must employ to win his true desire: the delicate hand of a princess already betrothed to another.
Nothing could be more delicious than the marvelous quest that ensues -- a tale of romantic valor, stolen glory, and sweet justice. Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman has created a pictorial drama that is alive with good humor and splendid characters as forever memorable as Howard Pyle's timeless story. Here is a winning revival from the classic book The Wonder Clock that will surely be savored again and again.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review:
"Ages 6^-9. From Howard Pyle's classic collection The Wonder Clock comes this original story, which combines elements from many traditional tales. Ordered by his king to kill an infant, a huntsman kills a small animal and brings back its heart. The baby boy is laid in a basket and set adrift on a river. A bear finds him, suckles him, and raises him into a strong, handsome lad called Bearskin, who goes to work for the king's swineherd. The bear has magical powers and can grant his foundling's wishes for a horse, fine clothes, and a suit of armor. Brave and clever, Bearskin kills a dragon who threatens the countryside and the princess, outwits the wicked steward who tricks the king, and wins the heart and hand of the princess. With Pyle's colorful language left intact, the story reads aloud well, and the addition of illustrations makes it accessible to younger children than those who might pick up The Wonder Clock. Using india ink and acrylic paints, Hyman has made a series of pictures as spirited and good-hearted as the tale. The line is fluid and graceful, the content is dramatic and sometimes humorous, the landscapes are achingly lovely, and the scenes are filled with lively details and individualized characters. The artwork opens a window on a long-ago-and-far-away land with a multicultural cast of characters, a concept that works beautifully. Hyman's magic lies in making this neverland so real. An intriguing new edition of a fine, original fairy tale. --Carolyn Phelan"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review:
"Decidedly American and far sunnier than the Grimms' tale of the same name, this is the first of Pyle's original tales in The Wonder Clock (published in 1887). A king casts the miller's son into the wilderness to avert a wise man's prophecy that the boy will one day marry the king's daughter. The miller's son is then raised by a bear, and though he is loved, he yearns for his own kind. With the help of his wits and some gifts from the bear, he slays a dragon and, of course, marries the princess. No European prince or peasant, Bearskin speaks with the no-nonsense dialect of a true American, even when about to fight the dragon: "Just go in back of the bushes yonder, and leave it with me to talk the matter over with Master Dragon." Hyman (St. George and the Dragon) paints him as Native American in appearance, and indeed populates the book with a pointedly multiracial cast: most of the royal types and peasants look European, while all the wise and understanding characters do not (e.g., the princess and the chief forester's clever wife are of African descent). Hyman proves her mastery with paintings that range from the bountiful picture of the chief forester's kitchen, ducks, rabbit and chili peppers hanging from the rafters, dogs at his feet, wife advising him with wooden spoon in hand; to the sweet picture of baby Bearskin drifting like Moses on the river; to the manly Bearskin assuming St. George's stance as he charges into the three-headed dragon. Hyman infuses these memorable characters with just the right visual touches of humor and intelligence to meet the standards of Pyle's classic American tale. Ages 5-up. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved"
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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