The Lion and the Gypsy

Gr 2—4—Halfway between an easy reader and a chapter book, The Lion and the Gypsy tells the tale of a Gypsy named Fatima who uses her cunning to avoid becoming a hungry lion's dinner. She fools the creature into believing that she has cast a magic spell on him, and she leads him on with her trickery until she is on the other side of the river, safe from his eager jaws. The story reads like a folktale, but the authors explain in an endnote that the idea for it came from Rousseau's painting at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. There are some instances of really sparkling prose ("The sand lies rippled like folded silk"), and the full-color folk art illustrations add a lovely visual component. The book is a quick, enjoyable read, but probably won't circulate much without hand-selling. It might be most effective as a teaching tool—it would be useful in explaining how and where authors draw inspiration for their books. It could also be used as a jumping-off point for having children write their own folktales. In short, this title is best suited for use in conjunction with a program, or for individuals with a strong interest in folktales, both new and old.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY