Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-9. In the first of several equally fine volumes, Lester ressurects earthy, humorous, vibrant stories drawn from African American tradition in a nearly perfect combination of traditional and modern vernacular that makes them wonderful for reading aloud or storytelling.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Using what he refers to as a modified contemporary southern black English, Julius Lester gives a first-rate reading of this book (Dial, 1987). Through his retelling of Joel Chandler Harris's tales, Lester has made this unique collection of African-American folktales accessible to today's listeners. Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and a host of critters come to life under Lester's auspices. His full, rich voice is friendly and inviting. With vocal inflections, he gives each character a distinct voice and attitude. Through his slow, precise timing, listeners are able to savor the wit and humor of each story. Tales are smoothly linked together by introductory paragraphs that connect each story to the one preceding it. In keeping with black storytelling tradition, contemporary references become part of the story. Thus, Brer Rabbit dons his Nike sneakers to run the race with Brer Turtle, and takes off like a 747 jet. Listeners can only wonder why 14 years elapsed between the publication of the book and the audiobook. Hopefully the hiatus will not be as lengthy before Lester's More Tales of Uncle Remus and The Last Tales of Uncle Remus are recorded. The cassettes are clearly labeled and contain helpful on-tape listening instructions. Although the range of stories is listed on each cassette, a list of all 48 titles would have been a nice addition. This thoughtful presentation of these classic tales is an excellent choice for school and public libraries.-Bonnie Bolton, Cleveland Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In a beautifully produced collaboration between an eminent author and artist, a splendid new retelling of these unquenchable tales--controversial as they have been, they defy attempts to suppress them, like the ebullient trickster himself. In a foreword, Lester explains his decision to omit the narrator, Uncle Remus (a realistic depiction of the ""faithful darky"" who became a negative stereotype), using instead an adaptation of his own voice-"" . . .a modified contemporary southern black English, which is a combination of standard English,"" He honors folk-tale tradition not by preserving the ""original"" intact but by allowing it to grow within his style and in the present; thus, his interpolations of contemporary notions (Bret Bear going for welfare because his family's too big to support; the undesirable Bret Tiger moving in and lowering property values) are not anachronistic travesities; rather, they are delightful incongruities that make the stories more immediate. This collection includes 48 stories; the projected second volume will add 37. Lester has achieved his goal of a style appropriate for either reading or oral presentation; it's hard to imagine better stories for sharing than these brief tales, with humor in almost every line plus a wealth of twists and surprises. Pinkney's occasional soft pencil drawings are just right to prompt the visual imagination; three double-spread watercolors bring the rural world to glowing life. In a nice touch, Uncle Remus makes his only appearance in a frontispiece, not with Harris' little white boy but with Bret Rabbit. Augusta Baker, herself a grand teller of these stories, contributes a fine introduction that places them in context. Every library should have a copy of this comic celebration of the indomitable spirit that is part of the black heritage. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
