Harold Berson

Larbi the mouse loved his pretty wife, Leila, working hard to provide her with all the beautiful things, from silver earrings to silk scarves, she desired. But when Leila takes a dip, one hot day, after a pleasant shopping expedition in the market, the foolish lady-mouse discovers that her decision to bathe fully clothed (for fear of someone stealing her finery), has serious consequences. As does her refusal to accept any help that might damage her beauty...

Although I am generally quite show more impatient with the "female vanity as cause of human misfortune" theme - sure, friend, it's the group with lesser power that has caused all these problems, throughout history - I actually found Larbi and Leila hilarious. Probably not the reaction that the original storyteller (and Harold Berson) were going for... But here you have a traditional Tunisian folktale, in which the female dies because she won't go skinny-dipping! Ha! I absolutely love it...

Note: sensitive younger readers may be quite distressed by the ending of this tale - with Larbi weeping over the drowned body of his very unwise wife - so please proceed accordingly, parents! show less

What is it with the French and these Devil tales? (No, don't answer that). The third diabolical legend I have read recently - following on Nanine Valen's The Devil's Tail and Charles Scribners' The Devil's Bridge - this entertaining folktale follows the devil, who, having been driven away from the city, settles into a broken-down castle in the country, and proceeds to work his servant almost to death. Luckily, the servant has a brother, who offers to take his place, cleverly making sure the show more devil gets his due...

I enjoyed this story of a young man who outwits the Devil, thereby saving his brother, and winning a wonderful new home for his entire family. Berson's illustrations, his depiction of the irascible red-haired Satan, and of his courteously unhelpful new servant, had real charm. There seems to be a real tradition of Devil legends in France, and the more I encounter, the more I want to learn more. I wonder if someone has done a study...? However that may be, How the Devil Gets His Due is an entertaining entry in the genre, sure to please young folklore lovers! show less

When Antoine the woodcutter, and his wife Antoinette, are blessed with their fourteenth child, they struggle to think of a likely candidate for godmother. Then the witch Grisnel appears, transforming little Claudine into a frog, in a fit of anger at having her offer to play that role refused. Eventually relenting, Grisnel lessens the force of her curse by granting Claudine's family three wishes. And so our heroine ends up a talking frog, living in a clean marsh, and destined to marry a show more handsome man. But will Charles, the farmer's son with whom Claudine eventually comes to live, be that man...?

This engaging French folktale reminded me of the the Grimms' The Frog Prince, although the solution - in which Charles becomes a frog, rather than Claudine a woman - is more reminiscent of contemporary revisionist retellings, like E.D. Baker's The Frog Princess. Fairy-tale fans will enjoy Charles and Claudine, both as an interesting variant on this tale-type, and as a vehicle for Harold Berson's full-color illustrations. show less

Based (according to the dust-jacket blurb) upon characters in an "old folktale," Balarin's Goat is the amusing story of a French farmer who was so devoted to his goat, Fleurette - feeding her delicacies, lavishing affection upon her, letting her do whatever she pleased - that his wife became jealous. Deciding that she must put a stop to this state of affairs, in which the goat is given hugs and flowers, while she herself is ignored or reprimanded, Marinette goes on goat-like strike!

Young show more readers with a taste for humorous tales will warm to this picture-book, and enjoy watching Marinette's strategy - of switching places with Fleurette, and answering all of Balarin's queries with a loud "B-A-A-A" - unfold. Harold Berson's signature illustrations, done in yellow tones this time around, add to the sense of fun. All in all, a pleasant little book, recommended to young folklore enthusiasts with a sense of humor. show less