The Magic Storysinger: A Tale from the Finnish Epic Kalevala (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This retelling of the Finnish epic Kalevala unfolds a search for true love against an elaborate blend of myth and sorcery. Vaino, born to the daughter of the air, is an old man when, via unorthodox procedures, he comes out of his mother's womb ("He turned the lock with his toe, slid the bolt with his finger, crawled through the door, and with his knees he pushed himself headlong into the ocean"). A storysinger with a talent for magic, he has only to sing his desires for them to be realized, and yet he is unable to convince young women of his charm. His first love leaps into the sea to avoid marriage to him, while the second demands seemingly impossible tasks before taking a blacksmith as her husband. Incorporated into Vaino's adventures are Finnish creation tales, legends about the origins of fire, iron and the wealth of Finland, until the narrative is a patchwork of stories. The text is overly complicated at first, but humor and vivacious language eventually assert themselves as it becomes clearer that Vaino's is a mystical, magical realm where anything might happen. Stylized gouaches in unusual shades capture both the comic and mythic undertones. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3 Up-A retelling of the Finnish epic Kalevala, a sequence of folktales that Elias Lonnrot (1802-1884) combined into a poem full of transformations, magical objects, creation myths, and tall tales. The hero, Vainamoinen, whose origins and adventures the work chronicles, is a storysinger and a magician. He is not exactly a typical epic hero-he is old, and fights with wits and magic instead of a sword-but here he is portrayed as something of a buffoon, and it is hard to feel sympathy for him. In an unexpected and welcome twist of usual folkloric events, he meets his greatest defeats at the hands of women. The beginning of the book is likely to turn readers off-the writing is awkward, disjointed, and stiff. And while it is admirable to stay as true to the source as possible, some details may appear illogical and confusing to modern readers. Interest picks up once the story gets going, but the style is choppy throughout. There are some poetically beautiful sequences, and some sections are quite lively and irreverent, but others seem mundane. Brightly colored gouache-and-pencil illustrations, usually covering one or two pages, accompany each chapter. While they are representational, the compositions often create pleasing abstract designs. At times people are rendered clumsily; the picture of Death's daughter, however, is wonderfully gruesome. Since this title is likely to be of more interest to folklorists than to children, it is suggested only for those libraries with extensive collections.
Annette Curtis Klause, Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries, MD
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Stemmer House Publishers; 1st edition (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880451289
• ISBN-13: 978-0880451284
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,405,259 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A difficult myth, now accesible for young readers, April 22, 1999

By A Customer

This rendition of the Finnish epic won the Aesop Accolade Prize from the Children's Folklore Section of the American Folklore Soiciety. I am in awe of the clear and authentic storyline relayed in this publication, knowing the complex nature of the original narration.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flavorful, January 21, 2004

By	cfair (healdsburg, ca USA) - See all my reviews

As a storyteller, I was most impressed. Lots of translations are out there - some too scholarly to want to wade through, and some too dumbed down. McNeil's version is a
pleasure. It keeps the flavor and tone of the epic and its poetry in a very tellable style.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read-aloud tale of adventure for all ages, June 8, 2004

By	Ann Hedreen (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

The Magic Storysinger is a riveting introduction to the high adventure and drama of the Finnish epic tale known as the Kalevala. We read it aloud to our children when they were very young and have re-read it many times since. Mea McNeil's luminous paintings and vivid writing are like a fresh breeze blowing through the old stories of the Finnish folk heroes. It has also become a great source for our kids when doing "roots" projects at school, just as it was a source and inspiration for me in writing a documentary film ("Quick Brown Fox," distributed by Women Make Movies)about my Finnish-American mother and her struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Buy this book!