A Tale of the Basque Pyrenees This delightful Basque folktale pits a quick-witted young heroine, Nekane, [ne-KAH-nay] against a mysterious and most unusual villain, the lamina. Believed to be the first Basque folktale storybook published in the U.S., cultural details are delicately woven through entertaining and educational text and exquisite watercolors to enthrall children and adults alike. Frank Araujo re-creates a classic Basque story he heard during his childhood. The theme is immediately familiar, but the Basque interpretation is unique. Nekane, a young Basque girl of the Pyrenees Mountains, must carry a basket of fish and olive oil to her Uncle Kepa.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Superficially the plot of this Basque folktale reads like Little Red Riding Hood, but its sharp heroine needs no hunter to rescue her. Nekane journeys through the forest to Uncle Kepa's house with a basket of olive oil and fish. Her "big bad wolf" is a lamina (forest spirit) that takes on the shape--and vulnerabilities--of other entities. First Nekane outsmarts the lamina when it appears to her in the guise of fog, and next she staves off a very real and hungry bear with the promise of honey at Uncle Kepa's house. There she deduces that her uncle is being impersonated by the lamina , and she cleverly manipulates one predator to thwart the other. The strong female character and nonviolent ending will gratify the politically correct, while a glossary emphasizes the book's multiculturalism. Araujo's well-paced telling is fresh and atmospheric, as are the unusual watercolor illustrations. One color seeps into another, creating a fluid, appropriately fanciful effect. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Sent by her mother to deliver a basket of fish and olive oil to her Uncle Kepa, Nekane is warned to beware the lami?a, a supernatural being who "loves olive oil and will try to get it by taking some shape, living or not." And indeed, first as a dense fog, then as a false Uncle Kepa, the lami?a does try to fool the child into giving up her basket. But, unlike Red Riding Hood, the heroine of this Basque folktale is resourceful and quick thinking. Outwitting the lami?a (as well as an all-too-real bear), she delivers the food intact to her pleased uncle. Araujo's text is nicely paced and reads aloud well, aside from the awkward and distracting insertion of Basque words with definitions in parentheses, which is unnecessary since the book has a glossary. Another minor complaint is the lightweight paper that allows the illustrations to bleed through. On the other hand, Li's pictures are strong and vibrant. The ethereal quality of the watercolor medium provides a fluidity that complements the story's shape-shifting motif. A fine addition that should prove useful in multicultural and comparative folklore curricula.
Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
As a former international economic development anthropologist working in 3rd World developing nations with nomadic societies,Frank P. Araujo has major interests in myth, folklore, language and cognition, along with writing fiction, judo, fencing and cycling, and playing the oboe, the tin whistle and the bagpipes.
The Q Quest is his first published novel but watch for more in the interests of young readers and children of all ages.
The Q Quest is his first published novel but watch for more in the interests of young readers and children of all ages.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very special book,
By Britta "Britta" (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nekane, the Lamina & the Bear: A Tale of the Basque Pyrenees (Toucan Tales) (Hardcover)
This book is very special and I could not review it better than was done in the Publishers Weekly critique above. I wholeheartedly agree. The artwork is as unsual and special as the story and the storytelling. I would not have found this unusal book had I not by chance met the author, a man with an extraordinary mutlicultural backgound and a Ph.D. in anthropology form UC Berkeley (besides many other academic accolades.) And his background shows in every facet of the story.My 4-year old daughter enjoys this book very much. I wish it could have a broader audience.
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