Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks [Hardcover]

Heinz Janisch (Author), Lisbeth Zwerger (Illustrator), Anthea Bell (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Till is a prankster, a town jokester in the grand old tradition. Quick of wit, light of food, ready to get as good as he gives, full of crazy ideas, and bold enough to put them into action, Till Eulenspiegel's pranks are merrily traced in these 12 tales of his life. Winner of the 1990 Hans Christian Andersen Medal.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hans Christian Andersen Medalist Zwerger cunningly illustrates 11 folktales about the famous German prankster--from Till's triple dunking at his baptism, to his funeral, at which he leaves a last trick for his mourners. Both art and text are distinctly quaint and European. Although the stories are told colloquially, as if by a villager who knew Eulenspiegel well, there is a forced merriment to the narrator's intrusions: " 'What a crazy fellow!' " folks say when they hear of Till's merry pranks." he too frequently tells the reader. However, Zwerger's bright paintings, bordered by gaily patterned, thin ribbons, are tightly designed and populated by a rich panoply of German peasants and kings, who laugh with Eulenspiegel even as they are being duped. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-6-- In 11 single-page vignettes, Till Eulenspiegel captures the imaginations of another generation of children. Recounted are his three baptisms, Till on the tightrope, baking owls and monkeys, and other lesser-known prankster tales. Bell's elegant translations are full of meaning, and can be read aloud to young listeners with enjoyment, while older children will howl at the double entendres that characterize these traditional stories. Missing, however, is any folkloric background, and only intrepid hunters will discover from the CIP that Till is of German origin. Zwerger's illustrations relay impish human expressions wonderfully, but overall her delicate, wispy pictures fail to snatch the vivacious energy of the practical joker. Handsome individual borders emphasize the contained quality of the watercolors, but are a visual treat in themselves. While these tellings may be the only ones available for this audience, older readers will also enjoy Jay Williams's The Wicked Tricks of Tyl Uilenspiegel (Four Winds, 1978; o.p.), which sports more dynamic art by Friso Henstra. --Carolyn Noah, Worcester Public Library, MA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 22 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Juv); First US Edition edition (November 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887081509
• ISBN-13: 978-0887081507
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,832,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice!, January 9, 2006

By 

Antony Witheyman (Classified) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Merry Pranks of Till Eulenspiegel (Hardcover)

Ideal for people who are amused by merry pranks or people who are amused by the name Till Eulenspiegel.