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Loading... The Green Gourd: A North Carolina Folktaleby C.W. Hunter
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An old woman in need of a water dipper defies the old caution not to pick green gourds before they're ripe and soon regrets it. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)398.22Social sciences Customs, Etiquette, Folklore Folklore Folk literature Legendary or mythological personsLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Pairing a story full of rollicking good fun from author C.W. Hunter with amusing artwork from illustrator Tony Griego, The Green Gourd: A North Carolina Folktale is a pleasure to read. It is only the second folktale I can recall reading from the Tar Heel State, following upon the lovely Moss Gown, retold by William H. Hooks, and is in a far more lighthearted vein than that latter story. I enjoyed both the down home dialect used here, and the colorful visuals, which emphasized the madcap humor. According to the foreword by Tomie dePaola, Hunter first encountered this tale in the writings of one R.M. Ward of Wautauga County, North Carolina. It can be traced back to early settlers of that area, and has some similarities to the Native American folktale of The Offended Rolling Stone. Whether the latter had an influence on this story, or is just one example of countless cases of cultural convergence through traditional tales, is unknown. Leaving aside issues of origin, this is one I would recommend to all folklore enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy humorous tales. ( )