Barbara K. Walker (1921–2007)
Author of The Mouse and the Elephant,
About the Author
Works by Barbara K. Walker
Watermelons, Walnuts and the Wisdom of Allah, and Other Tales of the Hoca (1980) 33 copies, 1 review
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Walker, Barbara Jeanne Kerlin
- Birthdate
- 1921-10-13
- Date of death
- 2007-01-24
- Gender
- female
- Education
- New York State Teachers College, Oneonta, NY
- Occupations
- teacher
curator
children's book author - Organizations
- Texas Tech University
- Short biography
- Biographical Sketch
Barbara Walker was born on October 13, 1921 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her bachelor's degree from the New York State College for Teachers in 1943 and her master's degree in 1947. In 1943, she married Warren Stanley Walker and had two children. She has taught English and children's literature from elementary school to college. Since 1980, she has been the curator of the Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative at Texas Tech University. She is best known for her children's books of tales and folklore from other societies, especially Turkish culture. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Place of death
- Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
Originally published in 1967, and then reprinted in 1991, Barbara K. Walker's Watermelons, Walnuts and the Wisdom of Allah contains eighteen folktales collected during her time in Turkey, all devoted to the exploits of the legendary religious teacher and philosopher, Nasreddin Hoca. Engaging, and full of pointed humor, these stories also teach a lesson, or offer some insight into the human condition. I understand that Hoca tales are immensely popular throughout the Middle East, with show more different Hoca traditions in different countries, and thousands of stories extant in the culture. This collection is a marvelous introduction!
Here, the reader will encounter the hilarious Tell Me, When Will I Die?, in which the Hoca, believing that he is near to death, participates in his own burial. This initial selection highlights the Hoca's status as a foolish wise man, or wise fool, who understands the human heart, but can sometimes still be silly. Shoes for a Journey sees the young Hoca outwitting his friends, who think to snag his footwear while he climbs a tree, demonstrating the hero's cleverness, and ability to out-think his peers. The titular Watermelons, Walnuts and the Wisdom of Allah shows the Hoca's ability to learn, when he imagines that he could arrange the growing of walnuts and watermelons better than Allah.
The Hoca is shown to be a fair judge in tales like The Sound Is Yours, involving two woodcutters and a dispute over profits; and must contend with a powerful ruler, in The Hoca As Tamerlane's Tax Collector, and Nasreddin Hoca and the Third Shot. An older Hoca once again outwits his friends, in The Hoca and the Candle, but is fooled by some mischievous boys in The Transformed Donkey. Full of fun, often eliciting a chuckle, these and other tales - along with Harold Berson's appealing illustrations, done in sepia tones - will keep the reader involved! Highly recommended to folklore lovers young and old! show less
Here, the reader will encounter the hilarious Tell Me, When Will I Die?, in which the Hoca, believing that he is near to death, participates in his own burial. This initial selection highlights the Hoca's status as a foolish wise man, or wise fool, who understands the human heart, but can sometimes still be silly. Shoes for a Journey sees the young Hoca outwitting his friends, who think to snag his footwear while he climbs a tree, demonstrating the hero's cleverness, and ability to out-think his peers. The titular Watermelons, Walnuts and the Wisdom of Allah shows the Hoca's ability to learn, when he imagines that he could arrange the growing of walnuts and watermelons better than Allah.
The Hoca is shown to be a fair judge in tales like The Sound Is Yours, involving two woodcutters and a dispute over profits; and must contend with a powerful ruler, in The Hoca As Tamerlane's Tax Collector, and Nasreddin Hoca and the Third Shot. An older Hoca once again outwits his friends, in The Hoca and the Candle, but is fooled by some mischievous boys in The Transformed Donkey. Full of fun, often eliciting a chuckle, these and other tales - along with Harold Berson's appealing illustrations, done in sepia tones - will keep the reader involved! Highly recommended to folklore lovers young and old! show less
Excited at the thought of the upcoming holiday, Hasan the Shoemaker closes his shop early, and goes in search of presents for the women in his life. But although his wife, mother, and daughter are all thrilled at his gifts, none have time to tailor his new trousers, purchased to replace his patched old ones. Will Hasan be the only member of the family without fine clothes at the holiday? Or will something unexpected happen...?
Folktale fans know the answer to that, of course, but they will show more still enjoy Barbara K. Walker and Ahmet E. Uysal's retelling of this Turkish tale, in which the unexpected happens, not once, but three times! Collected by Uysal in a village in southern Turkey, New Patches for Old (originally Trousers Too Long and Too Short) reads well, and is accompanied by Harold Berson's appealing color illustrations. Definitely one that folklore fans will want to look at! show less
Folktale fans know the answer to that, of course, but they will show more still enjoy Barbara K. Walker and Ahmet E. Uysal's retelling of this Turkish tale, in which the unexpected happens, not once, but three times! Collected by Uysal in a village in southern Turkey, New Patches for Old (originally Trousers Too Long and Too Short) reads well, and is accompanied by Harold Berson's appealing color illustrations. Definitely one that folklore fans will want to look at! show less
In this retelling of a modern Greek folktale, three young swineherds - Milo, Jason and Alexander - living on a beautiful island in the Aegean Sea, manage to outwit a group of marauding pirates intent on stealing their pigs.
This engaging picture book is accompanied by Harold Berson's charming and colorful illustrations, which convey a lively sense of motion and fun. I only wish that Walker had included some indication of her sources in her explanatory note.
This engaging picture book is accompanied by Harold Berson's charming and colorful illustrations, which convey a lively sense of motion and fun. I only wish that Walker had included some indication of her sources in her explanatory note.
Adapted from a Turkish folktale this version relates the story of a poor woodcutter and his unsatisfied wife who wants him to become Chief Stargazer to the Sultan. Through ingenuity the woodcutter is able to pass all tests that come his way and become the Chief Stargazer but he ultimately decides it is too much of a burden because he really is a woodcutter at heart. To keep his peace of mind he devises a way to keep the benefits but not the position. English speaking audiences will recognize show more the similarities between this tale and The Fisherman and His Wife. show less
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