Wednesday, May 24, 2023

A Tale of Two Brothers by Eveline Hasler, illustrated by Kathi Bhend - ESSENTIAL

A Tale of Two Brothers
by Eveline Hasler, illustrated by Kathi Bhend
. PICTURE BOOK  NorthSouth Books. 2006. $18. 9780735844803 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

A Swiss/Italian tale of two brothers, Morris and Boris, who both had humps upon their backs. Both looked similar, almost like twins, however, they were very different. Morris was helpful, kind, and thoughtful. Boris was mean, thoughtless, and never had a kind word for animal or human. The brother's hut needed work before winter, Morris spoke to Boris about it, explaining he had gone to the hut in the spring and now it was Boris’s turn. Of course, Boris refused, so Morris set out on the long journey. Morris was kind to the ants, admiring the toadstools and gently untangling the thorny bushes that scratched and tore at his clothing. Morris was complimentary to the forest and marveled at the big toad hidden in the bushes. As Morris slept through the noisy night, strange figures crept out to look at him and wonder. The creatures know Morris and his kind ways and gave him a gift. Morris quickly fixed the hut and returned back to the valley. Boris wanted the gift Morris had received from the forest witch and made his way to the hut. He, however, was less than kind to the toad, thorny branches and toadstools. The forest witch and other strange creatures gave Boris a gift he would never forget. 

Bhend’s illustrations are classic fairytale illustrations. Black and white pencil drawings, some with color, showcase this 150-year-old story beautifully. Many faces and figures are hidden in the intricate drawings, which will capture the young reader on every page. The illustrations are so intricate and engaging, children will be captivated. The text and illustrations are classic, complementing each other well. This is a fabulous read, a must for elementary school libraries. A wonderful book to share with students to teach about fairytales and folklore. Students will want to check this book out over and over again.
The characters are white. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech. 

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