Gr 1-3-Another in a series of fairy tales that Collins has transformed into a Cajun tale, this one is not as successful as earlier efforts. It exhibits the usual drawback of too many Cajun words inserted into the text and explained at the bottom of each page, which tends to interrupt the flow of the story considerably. This time, however, the text also suffers from a rather inconsistent plotline, with the stepmother abruptly introduced between one page and another, an alligator that is totally superfluous, plus the treasure of Jean Lafitte, which also comes up out of the blue. In addition, the father tenderly tells his children a bedtime story about Lafitte-and then deserts them in the swamp the next day. The stepmother is conveniently killed off by the same swamp fever that killed the children's mother. Soper's colorful pastel illustrations delineate the text faithfully but are rather stiff and unimaginative. For those interested in the Cajun language, Collins's Les Trois Cochons and Jolie Blonde and the Three H‚berts (both Pelican, 1999) are of better quality and mirror the true fairy tales more closely, which is half the fun.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Reviewed with Mike Artell's Petite Rouge .
Ages 3-7. Set in the heart of the Louisiana swampland, this version of a classic folktale blend lots of Cajun French language and culture into the lively storytelling.
Hebert-Collins draws on her Cajun heritage, but neither her storytelling nor her art are as successful. In her version of "Hansel and Gretel," there are abrupt jumps in the text, and the legendary pirate's treasure that turns up in the witch's house seems to be patched on. It's the setting and the culture that carry the story: it's fast, rhythmic zydeco music that lures the children to the witch's house, which is made, not of gingerbread, but of the best Cajun food--beignets, gratons, and fried crawfish tails. In this story the alligator, named Cocodrie, is a friend who helps the children find their way home. The Cajun French words are italicized and translated right on the same page, which will help readers unfamiliar with the language. Hazel Rochman
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