PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS by Patricia C. McKissack
Book Review: Traditional Literature
PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS by Patricia C. McKissack, Illustrated by Andre Carrilho
Bibliography
McKissack, Patricia C. 2006. PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS. Ill. By Andre Carrilho. Schwartz & Wade. New York. ISBN 0375836195
Plot Summary
In the twilight of the warm summer evenings, family, friends, and neighbors gather to share tall tales or porch lies, "tales of humor and exaggeration told to listeners of all ages gathered together on the porch,". Grab a cool glass of lemonade, a comfy spot and prepare to listen to ten folktales about slicksters, tricksters and other wily characters from decades gone by.
Critical Analysis
McKissack transports the reader to the past when radio shows and porch lies were an evening’s entertainment. Tales deep in African American history range from rib-tickling humor to cool-prickly spookiness. The reader is mesmerized by the super-sized tales that show humanistic qualities of goodness, mercy, courage, and love. The author has memorialized these porch-spun tales of old in a manner that leaves the reader wanting more.
Carrilho provides black and white, full-page illustrations that complement the stories. These illustrations portray many of the characters in shadowy silhouettes, which are elongated in an eerie, off-balanced manner thus providing harmony between the text and pictures. The overall effect of the illustrations provides an excellent, yet sometimes disturbing visual to the reader.
This book is clearly meant to be shared with older children (9 years old and up) due to the several tales that include the devil, death and dying, and the background knowledge needed regarding history of the KKK and the James Brothers (Frank and Jessie).
Review Excerpts
“These 10 literate stories make for great leisure listening and knowing chuckles.” - School Library Journal
“…the nine original tales in this uproarious collection draw on African American oral tradition and blend history and legend with sly humor, creepy horror, villainous characters, and wild farce.” Booklist. (Starred Review)
Connections
Encourage readers to share tales that have been told by their parents or grandparents.
Discuss what important lessons are learned by each character in the story.
Compare and contrast various characters in the book.
Other folktales for children:
McDermott, Gerald. ZOMO THE RABBIT: A TRICKSTER TALE FROM WEST AFRICA. ISBN 0152010106
Kharif, Sharia. COON TAILS. ISBN 0976911728
Cole, Joanna. BEST-LOVED FOLKTALES OF THE WORLD. ISBN 0385189494
Photo courtesy of http://www.amazon.com/
Book Review: Traditional Literature
PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS by Patricia C. McKissack, Illustrated by Andre Carrilho
Bibliography
McKissack, Patricia C. 2006. PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS. Ill. By Andre Carrilho. Schwartz & Wade. New York. ISBN 0375836195
Plot Summary
In the twilight of the warm summer evenings, family, friends, and neighbors gather to share tall tales or porch lies, "tales of humor and exaggeration told to listeners of all ages gathered together on the porch,". Grab a cool glass of lemonade, a comfy spot and prepare to listen to ten folktales about slicksters, tricksters and other wily characters from decades gone by.
Critical Analysis
McKissack transports the reader to the past when radio shows and porch lies were an evening’s entertainment. Tales deep in African American history range from rib-tickling humor to cool-prickly spookiness. The reader is mesmerized by the super-sized tales that show humanistic qualities of goodness, mercy, courage, and love. The author has memorialized these porch-spun tales of old in a manner that leaves the reader wanting more.
Carrilho provides black and white, full-page illustrations that complement the stories. These illustrations portray many of the characters in shadowy silhouettes, which are elongated in an eerie, off-balanced manner thus providing harmony between the text and pictures. The overall effect of the illustrations provides an excellent, yet sometimes disturbing visual to the reader.
This book is clearly meant to be shared with older children (9 years old and up) due to the several tales that include the devil, death and dying, and the background knowledge needed regarding history of the KKK and the James Brothers (Frank and Jessie).
Review Excerpts
“These 10 literate stories make for great leisure listening and knowing chuckles.” - School Library Journal
“…the nine original tales in this uproarious collection draw on African American oral tradition and blend history and legend with sly humor, creepy horror, villainous characters, and wild farce.” Booklist. (Starred Review)
Connections
Encourage readers to share tales that have been told by their parents or grandparents.
Discuss what important lessons are learned by each character in the story.
Compare and contrast various characters in the book.
Other folktales for children:
McDermott, Gerald. ZOMO THE RABBIT: A TRICKSTER TALE FROM WEST AFRICA. ISBN 0152010106
Kharif, Sharia. COON TAILS. ISBN 0976911728
Cole, Joanna. BEST-LOVED FOLKTALES OF THE WORLD. ISBN 0385189494
Photo courtesy of http://www.amazon.com/
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