Tag Archives: Folktale

Elem. – Carina Felina

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Deedy, Carmen Agra. Carina Felina. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Scholastic, 2023. 978-1-338-74916-8. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades PK-3.

Oh, Carina Felina. The cat who believes, “I do what I like and earth what I wish.” Carina Feliina. She behaves badly and eats anyone who objects, from the parrot whose crackers she consumed, to the florist whose lilies she destroyed. When the oxcart man objects to her bad behavior, he, too, is consumed.  No one in her community seems to be safe from Carina Farina… until she meets two clever crabs who decide to take a stand and rescue those she has eaten. Carina Felina learns her lesson and becomes a very picky eater. Back matter shares the history of the Carina Farina story, the pronunciation/meaning of Spanish words included in the story, and a recipe for Cuban Crackers.

THOUGHTS: Carina Felina has much for young readers to love. Henry Cole’s illustrations bring the story to life in a boldly colored village filled with expressive characters. Portions of the text repeat and rhyme as the story builds, inviting developing readers to join in the reading. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the story, adding to its Caribbean feel and appeal to those who love language. Carina Felina is just naughty and arrogant enough to keep the pages turning as readers ask “What next!?,” and the crabs are unlikely heroes that make the reader think about cleverness hidden in small packages. The premise of the story will be familiar to those who have sung about the Old Lady and the Fly, but different enough to feel fresh and new. Recommended to those looking for a fresh take on an old favorite as well as those seeking books that incorporate Spanish language into storytelling.

Picture Book 

Elem. – I’s the B’y

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Soloy, Lauren. I’s the B’y. Greystone Kids, 2022. 978-1-771-64833-2. Unpaged. $18.95. Grades K-3.

Illustrator Lauren Soloy takes readers young and older on a rollicking exploration of a traditional Newfoundland folk song, “I’s the B’y”. A charming parade of characters, both human and animal, wander through the pages of the book as the song unfolds, revealing insight into Newfoundland culture. Readers can’t help but smile along with the exuberance reflected in the illustrations. Puffins, a fiddle-playing fish, and a cuddle Newfoundland dog mingle with joyful Newfoundlanders, participating in the fun. The book is a visual smorgasbord, with Soloy’s watercolor images radiating warmth and humor. While readers may not understand the vernacular of the song, and its many references, Soloy neatly solves the problem by including a lengthy Note From the Illustrator that walks the reader through the lyrics, explaining both terms and what the individuals are doing in each illustration. For this reader, the Notes were at least as interesting as the book, and ensure that readers do a second pass through the book, reexamining the lyrics as well as the artwork. For the musically inclined, Soloy also includes the music to the song, so an interested reader can pick out the tune. This book is a delightful exploration of a culture that should not be as alien to Americans as it is.

THOUGHTS: This book can be appreciated for Soloy’s artwork alone, but the addition of the Notes turns the experience into a merry delve into Canadian culture. The book also would have an application in music classes exploring folk songs.

Picture Book          Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor SD