Product Description

In this West Indian version of the Rumpelstiltskin story, Lit'mahn spins thread into gold cloth for the king's new bride.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #605565 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

Amazon.com Review
A lovely peasant girl named Quashiba is spinning thread and laughing with her mama one day when young Big King comes riding through the trees, wondering what all the noise is about. Quashiba's quick-thinking, fast-talking mama tells a terrible fib. "Oh, great Big King, my daughter is spinning a whole field of finest golden thread to make cloth for his Highest. And we are so happy, we are rejoicing about it, don't cha know." And before Quashiba knows what's happening, Big King decides that he must have her as his queen so that she may spin him rooms full of golden thread. In despair, Quashiba agrees to a near-impossible bargain with a demonic, pointy-toothed little imp who shows up, promising to help her make the golden things.

The universal "Lit'mahn" folktale has many variants around the world, including the best-known German version, Rumpelstiltskin. In this West Indian version, the award-winning team of Virginia Hamilton and Leo and Diane Dillon, who, among them, have received the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honors, the Coretta Scott King Award, two Caldecott Medals, and many others, has created a spectacularly beautiful and delightful rendering of the favorite tale. Hamilton translates the language into a lilting colloquial style, perfect for reading aloud, while the Dillons use metallic paint and gold leaf to produce stunning, frame-worthy paintings replete with patterns, textures, and lavish colors. In a charming, strong-woman twist, the story concludes with Quashiba demanding (and her husband giving) an apology for his greedy, unfair behavior, and the two of them live "fairly happily ever after." (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
In this evocative picture book, Hamilton (Her Stories; Bluish) spins a new tale from old, as she adapts a West Indian version of "Rumpelstiltskin." The warm Caribbean climes are home to Quashiba, a young spinner woman who becomes wife to the ruler of the land, Big King, having been chosen for her supposed ability to spin gold. When Big King expects her to actually produce rooms full of golden cloth, help arrives in the form of Lit'mahn, a troll-like creature with a wooden leg and a long tail. Lit'mahn extends the familiar "guess my name" challenge and, in keeping with other versions of the story, winds up on the losing end. Readers will enjoy the familiar feel and the gentle cadence of the story here, made all the more rhythmic by the West Indian dialect Hamilton employs ("Don't cha know!"; "For true!"). In opulent illustrations, the Dillons (To Every Thing There Is a Season) take it to the gilt, incorporating copious amounts of gold paint in their creamy acrylic compositions. They frame each right-hand, full-page scene with a luxurious gold-leaf border that extends partway onto the previous page. Gloriously colored garments from an imperial era gone by plus the truly hideous appearance of the wild-eyed, sharp-toothed Lit'mahn add drama and depth to the proceedings. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-After Quashiba's mother tells Big King that her daughter can spin golden thread, the lovely young woman finds herself wed to the handsome ruler. She enjoys a year of marriage but then must fill three rooms with gold cloth or remain imprisoned forever. Lit'mahn, a tiny devil-like creature that lurks in the shade of old trees, comes to her aid but challenges her to discover his name within three nights or he will carry her away. True to his promise, he fills the storerooms and Quashiba fulfills her part of the bargain. Luckily, on a royal outing Big King hears Lit'mahn chant his full name and shares his odd tale with his wife. The source of this folktale is apparent in the distinctive and lilting West Indian dialect that pervades this humorous and, at times, scary telling. The lavish use of gold within the acrylic illustrations and their frames is sumptuous and the royal formality is further enhanced by the page layout. The stylized and flat depiction of fabrics and backgrounds contrasts effectively with the expressively rendered people. And Lit'mahn, with his jagged teeth and pointy tail, is a cruel-looking creature indeed. The author explains the derivation of this variant on the final page, which also includes an interesting description of the illustration process. Readers familiar with "Tom Tit Tot" and "Rumpelstiltskin" will enjoy this island cousin, but it easily stands on its own as a charming and visually stunning tale of cunning, greed, and quixotic good fortune.
Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

beautiful!
What a beautiful book! Beautiful language, beautiful pictures. Even my 3-year-old son, who usually just likes books about trucks, wanted me to read it over and over. I like it better than the German version (Rumplestilskin); Quashiba acts much more like a real person here.

A fine example of children's literature!
WARNING: SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

Quashiba finds herself in a precarious situation. Due to a slight untruth told by her mother to a visiting king, the young lady is forced to marry to king with the promise that she can weave fine golden cloth.

Though she is attended by handmaidens and receives her every want, her new husband demands that she come through with her mother?s promise after they are married one year and a day.

The time arrives and the girl knows not what to do. A little man with a wooden leg, a tail and wearing striped trousers magically appears one evening. He offers to help her make the fabric but with a price for his assistance: she has three nights and three chances per night to guess his name; if she doesn?t, she will be his tiny companion?forever.

After two days of successfully presenting the golden thread to her spouse, as well of two days of unsuccessfully guessing the little man?s name, the Quashiba feels impending doom. However, during dinner, her husband tells of his unusual encounter with a little man named "Lit'manhn Bittyun."

Quashiba is relieved and that evening when the little man comes, she toys with him with two fake names, finally announcing his real name.

The sprite storms off and is never seen again.

Knowledgeable readers will automatically see the similarity between this tale and the European ?Rumplestiltskin?. The book's illustrations are vivid and thought-provoking, making this book a KO for the primary classroom, combining fantasy, familial relationships, and effective use of dialect/language.

The late Hamilton has scored another winner that will embellish the home as well as the classroom.

Perhaps the Best "Rumpelstiltskin" Story
In this West Indian version of Rumpelstiltskin, Queen Quashiba marries the rich and powerful Big King, but must produce three rooms full of gold cloth after a year and a day or be locked away forever and a year. How will she ever accomplish such a supernatural feat?

The book is richly illustrated with vibrant colors and the words are pleasing to read silently or aloud. Both Virginia Hamiltion and the Dillons prove to be masters of their respective crafts and together produce a winning combination in their version of this classic tale.

Crazy James