Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains

by Barbara Knutson, Barbara Knutson (Illustrator)

Overview

One day, high in the Andes Mountains, Cuy the Guinea Pig is searching for wild spinach to eat when Tío Antonio the Fox comes in search of Cuy to eat! Tío Antonio thinks he's found dinner, but crafty Cuy has other plans. Quick-witted Cuy fools Tío Antonio not once, but three times. Combining striking wood block artwork with an authentic South American voice, this sly trickster tale shows that clever thinking is key when you're out-foxing the fox. Discover more about this title and Barbara Knutson at www.barbaraknutson.net.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728493008
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,157,097
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 0.13(d)
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

Barbara Knutson was the award-winning author and illustrator of many children’s books, including How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots and Love and Roast Chicken. A resident of St. Paul and a cherished member of Twin Cities literary community, Ms. Knutson grew up in South Africa and traveled extensively throughout the world. She drew on her firsthand experiences abroad to create the rich, multicultural stories and folktales for which she became so well known. She passed away in 2005.

Barbara Knutson was the award-winning author and illustrator of many children’s books, including How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots and Love and Roast Chicken. A resident of St. Paul and a cherished member of Twin Cities literary community, Ms. Knutson grew up in South Africa and traveled extensively throughout the world. She drew on her firsthand experiences abroad to create the rich, multicultural stories and folktales for which she became so well known. She passed away in 2005.

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 4-Cuy, a clever guinea pig, manages to escape three times from a hungry fox. In their final encounter, Cuy, trapped by a sticky doll and tied to a tree by a farmer, talks T'o Antonio into switching places with him. The plot moves along smoothly and is punctuated by humorous dialogue. An author's note includes a simple map of the region, an explanation of a trickster tale, and several sources for the story. A glossary provides a pronunciation guide for the Spanish and Quechua words incorporated into the text. Knutson's boldly outlined, vibrant woodcut-and-watercolor artwork captures the mischievous nature of the guinea pig. Observant children will delight in the visual and cultural details and in the energy of these illustrations. A thoroughly enjoyable tale that deserves a place in most libraries.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

From Anansi the Spider to B'rer Rabbit, trickster tales appear in cultures the world over. Knutson offers a less familiar trickster in the lovable Cuy the Hamster of Peru. The gullible T'o Antonio the Fox is his most constant victim, for the quick-thinking Cuy can ever turn near defeat into smashing victory. He manages to get the fox to hold up a rock to prevent the sky from falling and to hide in a den to await the fiery end of the world. He also fools a farmer into thinking he's a very small field worker so he can eat an endless supply of alfalfa. Even an encounter with a sticky figure a la "Tar Baby" turns into triumph. Using heavy black outline and tones of blues, browns, and yellows, the wood-block illustrations zoom in on the characters and capture all the humor of the zany situations. An all-around laugh-out-loud delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews

Robert Ramirez’s voice does a superb job of animating the characters in LOVE AND ROAST CHICKEN. The setting is South America; the main characters are a pleasant twist on those who inhabit typical folklore. Tio Antonio, the fox, is after his dinner, guinea pig Cuy. Ramirez’s portrayal of Tio Antonio is sly and sneaky. When the fox is outsmarted, you can feel his rage in the tone of his voice. Cuy, the quick-witted prey, escapes many times. Ramirez gives him a wonderful mixture of nervousness and happiness. Ramirez not only brings emotions you can hear, but also skillfully intertwines the Spanish words with the English. M.J.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

DEC 06/JAN 07 - AudioFile