Genre 2 Traditional Tales: Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters

1. Bibliography
McKissack, Patricia. 2006. Porch lies: tales of slicksters, tricksters, and other wily characters. Ill. by Andre Carrilho. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375836190

2. Plot Summary
In this compilation of literary tales, McKissack takes the reader back in time to her grandparents' porch in Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by the "porch lies" she heard as a child, McKissack crafts her original tales in the same style. Each short story has a "slickster" or "trickster" who could charm his or her way through any situation and who, in the end, usually teaches the reader a lesson. One tale seems to out-do another with one sly character seeming more outrageous than the next. Each story is set in the Depression era in the south, and all involve African-American characters.


3. Analysis
Each of McKissack's ten original stories seems to have an authentic tone. While the narration is not written in dialect, bits and pieces of Southern African-American vernacular are sprinkled in to the character's dialogue to give the stories some sense of legitimacy. As her stories were inspired by the "porch lies" she heard throughout her childhood, these tales would best be conveyed read aloud, as they lend themselves to great oral storytelling. The stories are filled with humor, wit, and of course many different sly characters. In Aunt Gran and the Outlaws, an old southern grandma outwits Jesse James and his brother, Frank. In The Devil's Guitar, the familiar theme of selling one's soul to the devil is explored. McKissack's stories are rooted in history with mentions of KKK-like groups, the outlaw Jesse James, and segregation and prejudice in the South. Her "slickters, tricksters, and other wily characters" are sure to please a wide audience.
Carrilho's imaginative and unique illustrations add another layer of enjoyment to McKissack's yarns. His caricature, cartoon style black and white illustrations superbly capture the essence of each "slickster."

4. Review Excerpts
Booklist - "Great for sharing, on the porch and in the classroom."
School Library Journal - "These 10 literate stories make for great leisure listening and knowing chuckles."
Horn Book - "Grandly melodramatic black-and-white illustrations capture the mood of the stories and the flavor of the period."

5. Connections
*Students can be encouraged to share family stories passed down to them.
*Allow students to perfect their oral reading skills by choosing and practicing an excerpt from their favorite story to read aloud to the class.
*Compare and contrast the different sly characters in each of McKissack's tales. What qualities do they all possess and what makes each of them unique?

Genre 2 Traditional Tales: The Two Mountains

1. Bibliography
Kimmel, Eric A. 2000. The two mountains: an Aztec legend. Ill. by Leonard Everett Fisher. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823415045

2. Plot Summary
In this pourquoi tale, Kimmel retells an Aztec legend that explains the formation of the two mountains, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, located in the Valley of Mexico. The sun god, Tonatiuh, has forbidden his son, Ixcocauqui, from leaving their jade palace in the heavens. Ixococauqui defies his father one day and comes upon Coyolxauhqui, the daughter of the moon god. They fall in love and marry, but are forbidden to ever to leave the heavens and walk upon the earth by Tonatiuh, since he is still furious Ixococauqui had broken his first rule. If they break the second rule, they will not be gods anymore. The temptation is too great, and one day they descend to the earth. As warned, they are both turned into humans and are no longer immortal gods. Coyolxauhqui becomes very ill and dies, so the gods transform the two lovers into the two mountains so that they will always be together.
A pronunciation guide of the Nahuatl names is included at the end of the book.

3. Analysis
The bold, vibrant colors in Fisher's acrylic two page illustrations of Aztec people, gods, and lush scenery create an ideal backdrop for Kimmel's simple text. The vivid greens, blues, reds, and yellows enhance the retelling of this traditional tale. Readers will enjoy the "forbidden fruit" theme as, predictably, the characters break the rules and are punished; a familiar theme to children. Although the passing of Coyolxauhqui may seem a bit sad, the reader is reassured that the two protagonists found immortality again in becoming the two mountains. I was actually surprised when reading this story because I had read an alternate pourquoi tale about the two mountains that mirrors Snow White. Although I was taken aback at first that the story was different than the one I was familiar with, this tale was satisfying nonetheless.

4. Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly - "The team...offers a competent reworking of this tale explaining the formation of two mountains overlooking the Valley of Mexico."
School Library Journal - "This beautifully illustrated story will be enjoyed by folklore readers and enhance studies of Aztec culture."

5. Connections
* Compare and contrast this tale of the two mountains with the Aztec Snow White tale at this link http://home.freeuk.com/elloughton13/snow1.htm
* Include this book along with other Aztec legends during a study of the Aztec culture and its demise.
*Children can write their own pourquoi tale of the Franklin Mountains or of Mount Cristo Rey in El Paso.

Genre 2 Cinderella Variant: Yeh-Shen

1. Bibliography
Louie, Ai-Ling. 1982. Yeh-Shen: a cinderella story from china. Ill. by Ed Young. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399612033

2. Plot Summary
The Chinese variant of Cinderella appears to have been the original Cinderella according to an author's note in the beginning of the book. The story appears in a book dated from the T'ang dynasty in the years 618-907 A.D., far predating the European retellings of the story which appear in the 1600s.

Louie retells the story of the beautiful Yeh-Shen, an orphan living in Southern China in "the dim past, even before the Ch'in and Han dynasties." As the story goes, she is mistreated and abused by her stepmother and ugly stepsister. Her stepmother even kills her pet fish and cooks it for dinner. However, Yeh-Shen is told by a weary old man that the bones of her fish hold magical powers, and that she should pray to them in time of need. Yeh-Shen does just that and is awarded with golden-soled slippers and a beautiful cloak of feathers to wear to the spring festival to meet a husband.

As anticipated, she runs away from the festival for fear of being recognized and loses a golden slipper. The slipper is recovered and sold to a merchant who shows it to the king. He leaves the slipper outside to see whose tiny foot will fit into it. Yeh-Shen sneaks outside to recover her slipper, and king is able to see her in her beautiful feathered cloak. Yeh-Shen is married to the king and her stepmother and stepsister remain in their cave where they are killed by a cave-in.

3. Analysis
Knowing that the Chinese variant of the traditional Cinderella story could be the original one makes this retelling seem somewhat more authentic than other variants. Louie's retelling is simply written in traditional Chinese block style and beautifully illustrated by Young with pastels and watercolor. The graceful drawings illuminate the story in shades of green, blue, yellow, and red and show a deep admiration for Chinese heritage. The fish being the magical element in the story further embraces the Chinese culture in that fish represent prosperity. The conclusion of the stepsister and stepmother being killed is not written in a violent or threatening manner and should not frighten children away. In fact, it gives the story a closed ending that leaves no stone unturned and supports the theme of good triumphing over evil. This story is a delightful and essential addition to the Cinderella tradition.

4. Review Excerpts
Publisher's Weekly - "Misty, jewel-like illustrations evoke the mythic past in this Chinese Cinderella story."
Booklist - "A misty dreamlike air. A worthwhile addition to picture-book collections."
ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

5. Connections
*Compare and contrast Yeh-Shen to other Cinderella variants such as:
Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper by Marcia Brown ISBN 9780689814747
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo ISBN 9780064432795
The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo ISBN 9780064438537
Cendrillon by Robert D. San Souci ISBN 9782914692281

*Research Chinese culture and heritage and relate the findings to the story of Yeh-Shen