tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post8230627006627780136..comments2023-12-13T02:57:32.461-08:00Comments on Book Aunt: Trickster FictionKateCoombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584944601221466789noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-23853820250834851872010-07-10T12:02:37.039-07:002010-07-10T12:02:37.039-07:00If you like Molly Whuppie, read about her even spu...If you like Molly Whuppie, read about her even spunkier Appalachian cousin Mutsmag at http://www2.ferrum.edu/applit/texts/mutsmag_story/mutsback.htm. I have lots of information about tricksters, including Clever Beatrice, in my web site AppLit. You can read an archive version called "Munsmeg" or an adaptation illustrated by school children in the web site.Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08755314838026479621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-11339925708971440082010-04-22T17:17:15.486-07:002010-04-22T17:17:15.486-07:00Margaret, so nice of you to stop by! Yay, Heather ...Margaret, so nice of you to stop by! Yay, Heather Solomon! And yay, Beatrice!<br /><br />It doesn't surprise me that you've met kids who don't get the idea of a trickster tale--of course, it's not like you want them to go home and say, "Guess what I learned in school today, Mom? That it's okay to lie!"<br /><br />As you said, even folktales and their tropes are less well known these days--I added an author's note to my latest MG, which is based on fairy tale motifs, after I realized that even my editors were wondering what the heck I was alluding to in spots. E.g., why the girl in the tower with the super-long hair is named Spinach. :)Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-11418836806496882422010-04-22T15:31:09.903-07:002010-04-22T15:31:09.903-07:00Hey, thanks for mentioning CLEVER BEATRICE, illust...Hey, thanks for mentioning CLEVER BEATRICE, illustrated by a certain fabulous illustrator, one I'm sure we both admire. "Trickster tales" have been on my mind lately because I did many school visits this spring with CLEVER BEATRICE and more and more often children are asking me with real confusion why it is okay for Beatrice's to "lie to the giant." Then I have to explain the whole concept of a trickster tale--explain that it is an ancient type of story that appears in all cultures. I always feel like I need an extra hour to fully explain the concept and supply examples and explain that in our real lives, it is never a good idea to lie your way out of things (or into things). Very challenging and (I think) confusing to children who are not familiar with this type of story. For some, even the concept of a folktale is unfamiliar.Margaret Willeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00162692903534534182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-439472485706881272010-04-19T20:24:44.513-07:002010-04-19T20:24:44.513-07:00Biblauragraphy--Thanks! A themed storytime sounds ...Biblauragraphy--Thanks! A themed storytime sounds great! I should take some of these picture books to my third grade student, speaking of which.Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-83792557086306768732010-04-18T11:35:28.321-07:002010-04-18T11:35:28.321-07:00What a wonderful list. I think I feel a themed st...What a wonderful list. I think I feel a themed storytime coming on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-41466455016986816952010-04-18T08:14:21.372-07:002010-04-18T08:14:21.372-07:00Runemarks isn't as good as the other two, but ...Runemarks isn't as good as the other two, but there were a lot of things I liked about it. Happy reading, Chachic!Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-1551762162360612962010-04-18T06:57:56.344-07:002010-04-18T06:57:56.344-07:00Yes, Changeover has been recommended several times...Yes, <i>Changeover</i> has been recommended several times, I just have to find a way to get it. I'm interested in <i>Eight Days of Luke</i> because it's a Diana Wynne Jones book and I don't think you can ever go wrong with that. :) I actually have a copy of <i>Runemarks</i> but I haven't gotten around to reading it. I will probably move it up my TBR list because of this post!Chachichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216391673830772231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-64318122182829699172010-04-18T00:31:48.640-07:002010-04-18T00:31:48.640-07:00Chachic--Yay, Sounis! And thanks! Don't know w...Chachic--Yay, Sounis! And thanks! Don't know which books you're thinking about reading from the post, but if you haven't read anything by Margaret Mahy, her very best book is Changeover.Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-61485117349935149522010-04-18T00:24:12.688-07:002010-04-18T00:24:12.688-07:00Thanks, SQ! I actually had Brazilian BBQ with my s...Thanks, SQ! I actually had Brazilian BBQ with my sister and watched TIVOed episodes of Castle. I do a mega-post every so often, then take a few months to recover before doing another one. (My goal is to post reviews and miscellaneous items every weekend. I keep reminding myself to resist the urge to post more often because if I did escalate, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get my own books written!)<br /><br />Gen definitely has mitigating qualities--he's one of my favorites, too. I can't think of a character I like better, actually. :)<br /><br />You know, I see Solsticia and want to call you Sol, which reminds me of Dogsbody--will the book madness never end? I hope not!Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-17166465141734095352010-04-18T00:18:22.201-07:002010-04-18T00:18:22.201-07:00Here via Sounis. Great post about tricksters! I do...Here via Sounis. Great post about tricksters! I don't have any recommendations but I am noting down the books that you mentioned above, I should definitely check them out.Chachichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216391673830772231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-4949142416338283472010-04-17T22:01:47.434-07:002010-04-17T22:01:47.434-07:00What an interesting post! And what a comprehensiv...What an interesting post! And what a comprehensive list. I'm exhausted just thinking about the effort you put into writing this. I hope you treated yourself to chocolate chip cookies or a massage when you were finished!<br /><br />Until you pointed out that Eugenides is a trickster, I honestly hadn't thought of him that way. I usually think of tricksters as big fat liars and really annoying to boot. I've never liked them. Gen definitely fits the bill for being a trickster, but I do like him. He's one of my favorite characters of all time.<br /><br />So I'm thinking about this whole trickster thing differently now and I'm putting some of your recs on my TBR list. Good job, Kate, your work here is done. -SQSolsticia Quartermanus and Dianarama Ottoriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07451073276841116693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-29427541696387280552010-04-17T18:50:33.630-07:002010-04-17T18:50:33.630-07:00Laurie--Isn't Janet Stevens great? I also like...Laurie--Isn't Janet Stevens great? I also like her Three Billy Goats Gruff, with the largest goat wearing dark glasses and a black leather motorcycle jacket. Thanks for the book suggestion; I'll add it to the list!Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-28392835326735758482010-04-17T18:11:27.717-07:002010-04-17T18:11:27.717-07:00So glad to see "Tops and Bottoms" on her...So glad to see "Tops and Bottoms" on here! It's one of our favorites. We also like "My Lucky Day" by Keiko Kasza. :o)<br /><br /><a href="http://sibleyweb.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">sibleyweb.wordpress.com</a>Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825740792977733751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-63308181589189465272010-04-17T08:37:42.250-07:002010-04-17T08:37:42.250-07:00Thanks, Natalie, and thanks for the suggestions!Thanks, Natalie, and thanks for the suggestions!Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-78168755638917604672010-04-17T08:01:44.306-07:002010-04-17T08:01:44.306-07:00What a wonderful post on tricksters! Third grade i...What a wonderful post on tricksters! Third grade is when we really focus on trickster tales - you've mentioned some of my favorites; Brer Rabbit, Anansi, and Jack & the Beanstalk. Some others that students have enjoyed include <i>Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains</i> by Barbara Knutson and <i>The Tale of Tricky Fox: A New England Trickster Tale</i> by Jim Aylesworth. I think you're absolutely right about the appeal of tricksters to children - they see themselves in the characters, even if they don't realize it.NatalieSaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13992326607932492183noreply@blogger.com