The Fisherman and the Turtle

by Eric A. Kimmel, Martha Aviles (Illustrator)

Overview

In the tale of “The Fisherman and the Turtle,” set during the time of the Aztecs, a fisherman catches a magical turtle who grants wishes in exchange for being released. The fisherman’s wife nags her husband to ask for increasingly extravagant wishes, and in the end learns that greed is not the road to happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781477816721
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	07/23/2013
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Author Eric A. Kimmel is a master storyteller who has adapted, retold, or written more than eighty tales. He visits schools all over the world, entertaining children with his banjo while telling them stories from different cultures. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Doris.

Editorial Reviews

The Grimms' familiar tale of "The Fisherman and His Wife" gets an Aztec setting enhanced by Mexican artist Aviles's simple, cheerful illustrations. The fisherman captures in his net a green sea turtle who is one of the seven sons of Opochtli, god of the sea. In return for releasing him, the turtle grants the fisherman a wish-for (all he can think of) four fish. The greedy wife scolds him for asking for so little, and orders him to return to ask for a stone house. She is happy "for now" but soon wants to be the king, and then a god. The result of her final wish is a satisfying surprise. Kimmel concludes that while the mighty Aztec empire is long gone, the great turtle still swims in the sea "as he has since the beginning of time," and asks, "If you met him, what would you wish for?" This welcome variant is well-suited to reading aloud, discussion and comparison. (author's note) (Picture book/folklore. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews