Great folk tale! We enjoyed the story as well as the illustrations. ( )

This original folktale set in Cameroon is full of adventure and sly humor. Lloyd Alexander's story of a young man visiting -- and then becoming -- the village fortune-teller is brought to vibrant life with some of Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman's most memorable artwork.

This is a humorous and clever story set in Africa about a fortune teller. A carpenter goes to the fortune teller to ask if he will be rich, and the response is "Rich you will surely be, on one condition: that you earn large sums of money." All of the answers to his questions are similar, such as telling him once he's well known, he'll be famous. I enjoyed the play with language and the clever replies. My students also enjoyed the part that describes what happened to one of the characters; he suffered a series of unfortunate situations.

Summary: A young carpenter goes to see a fortune teller. He hears many good things and heads back home, only to go right back for more answers. But the old man mysteriously disappeared. The family that was renting out the room to the old man believe that the old fortune teller turned himself into the young carpenter. He begins giving people fortunes like the old man did for him. The old fortune tellers predictions come true for the young man and he lives happily ever after.
Critique of genre: Folktale; This is an African based folktale about a man that gets his dreams fulfilled in an expected way. In a comical way, and without much effort, he gains wealth, a wife and family, and happiness.
Age: primary, intermediate, middle school (mostly older to understand the humor) ( )

The humorous tale of a carpenter who wants a change and becomes a fortune teller by accident. Beautiful illustrations depicting traditional life in Cameroon. ( )