Gecko's Complaint: A Balinese Folktale [Hardcover]

Ann Martin Bowler (Author), I Gusti Made Sukanada (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Kept awake one night by flashing fireflies, Gecko complains to the jungle's lion chief. Raden questions the fireflies in an effort to resolve Gecko's troubles, but the fireflies blame Woodpecker's incessant tapping for their misbehavior, and the cycle continues until Raden finds himself atop the highest peak, questioning the Rain itself. From his mountaintop vantage point, Raden sees the importance of Rain to every jungle creature and recognizes his folly. He returns home to chastise the whiny animals-"Quit your complaining! Go home and live in peace with one another!" Bowler retells this folktale in simple, yet skillful prose. Sukanada's acrylic paint, pen, and ink illustrations show leafy landscapes saturated with color, and have depth and beauty. Unfortunately, this lovely art seems hemmed in by the book's smallish format, and the absence of any notes indicating sources or cultural context limits the book's usefulness for cross-cultural comparison. Although Gecko's Complaint is not an essential purchase, its Balinese roots and accessible story line may sufficiently recommend it to libraries collecting multicultural folktales.
Eve Ortega, Cypress Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

ôGeckoÆs Complaint is a sparkling retelling of a classic Balinese folktale.öùBali Advisor

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Periplus Editions (May 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0794601650
• ISBN-13: 978-0794601652
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,762,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful artwork., December 4, 2009

By 

T.W.M. (S.F. Bay Area, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gecko's Complaint: A Balinese Folktale (Hardcover)

I bought this book because of my personal connections to Bali and I wanted something I could read with my young child that would give her some exposure to the culture there. While I LOVE the artwork and think the book is worth getting just for that, I was somewhat annoyed when the lion was portrayed as a king of the jungle. There are no lions in Bali and there never have been lions in Bali. Tigers? Yes (extinct now). I would speculate that perhaps the author was grappling with how to portray a Barong to western readers and I was just disappointed that the cliche lion was chosen and introduced as being part of Bali. It took me out of the context of the setting and as I was looking for a children's book about Bali, that sort of ruined the illusion for me.

Other than that, it's a cute tale and it does present a number of misunderstandings the animals have with each other in such a way that you can see both sides of the issues and point out the different perspectives to your child. I'm a little put off by the lion calling the misunderstandings "complaints" but I can get past that...just can't get past that it's a lion...in Bali.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great artwork with a wonderful message for all, June 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Gecko's Complaint: A Balinese Folktale (Hardcover)

My 7 and 10 year old loved this book. We thought the jungles of Bali were beautifully illustrated. My sons thought the best picture was of the Rain's face. They also enjoyed the ending when Gecko no longer complained. This folktale is well written and it reinforces the importance of learning to live in peace with one another, to stop complaining, and to be content with what you have. Both children and adults will benefit from this important message.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read enhanced by soft, full-color artwork, May 23, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gecko's Complaint: A Balinese Folktale (Hardcover)

Set on the beautiful island of Bali, Gecko's Complaint: A Balinese Folktale is an engaging picture book retold by Ann Martin Bowler about a gecko whose sleep is disturbed by hundreds of fireflies. He complains to the kindly lion who rules the jungle, and the lion's efforts to unravel the situation brings to light a host of complaints - can peace ever be restored to the jungle? An enjoyable read enhanced by soft, full-color artwork by I. Gusti Made Sukanada.