The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding: A Latin American Folktale

The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding, illustrated by Kathleen Kuchera.

Setting out for his uncle's wedding in this cumulative folktale from multiple Latin American traditions, Rooster is confronted with a quandary when he comes across an appetizing kernel of corn. Should he eat the kernel, even though it will make his beak muddy, and therefore ruin his appearance? Deciding to indulge, Rooster gets himself dirty, and then asks the grass to help him clean up. Rebuffed, our galline hero thinks to scare the grass into compliance, by asking a lamb to eat it. Rebuffed here as well, Rooster asks a series of creatures and objects for help, all to no avail, until finally he appeals to the sun, who agrees to aid him...

Originally published show more in 1993, The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding: A Latin American Folktale is a story that author Alma Flor Ada first heard from her Cuban grandmother, and that she then encountered in the folklore of multiple Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. This original edition, which is the one I read, was illustrated by artist Kathleen Kuchera, using an engraving method involving zinc plates. The resulting engravings were then colored in, in a process that is described in the forward by creative director Tomie dePaola. There is a subsequent edition of this book illustrated by Claudia Legnazzi, that I have not examined.

I found this an enjoyable tale, and was reminded of many other such cumulative stories, in which a series of exchanges or other interactions become necessary, in order for the hero to achieve his goals. The artwork is brilliantly colorful, and quite expressive, anthropomorphizing the various animals and objects in interesting and entertaining ways. I don't know that this one is destined to become a personal favorite, but as a folklore lover, I am glad to have read it. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy animal stories. show less

I read the Houghton Mifflin Paperback Plus edition and it enhanced my appreciation by a full star to see the bilingual poem, another poem, the creators' biographies, and a photo-essay about exotic chickens. (Though I must say I'm not a fan of the overbreeding of animals.)

The illustrations are terrific fun. The story threatens violence, but the lesson to be learned is that: If you can easily do a favor for someone, just do it! Save everyone a lot of grief, while making the world a happier place.

We defined a folktale as a story passed down through generations that talks about people and their lives. I would say this story is not a good example of a folktale, I would say it's more of a legend or a tall tale because it's not really about someone's daily life. I do like this book because it's from a different culture so it can add to a multicultural classroom.

Media: Ink and watercolor

★★★★The Rooster who went to his uncle's wedding by Alma Flor Ada

This a a bright, color book, with creative pictures. The lesson of the story is that your actions, no matter how small, effect others. We all must work together to make the world go round.