Fool of the World and the Flying Ship

When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way.

When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-When the Tsar announces that he will give his daughter's hand to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World takes the challenge. He meets an old man and follows his advice, resulting in the appearance of the flying ship. He picks up seven passengers, each with a unique power that helps him complete the impossible tasks the Tsar requires before the suitor can wed the Tsarevna. This picture-book retelling of a Ukrainian tale uses pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations to portray images of the artist's native Ukraine. The pictures show simple country peasants looking much the same in brown coats as they board the ship. This simplified version of a classic tale abandons many of the rich details of the original story. Gone are the Fool's two smart brothers, gone are the words that tell readers why the Fool is such a fool. The art lacks the great sense of flight and fantasy found in Uri Schulevitz's Caldecott Award-winning version of the same title (Farrar, 1968). Recommended as an additional purchase for those whose collections strive to offer variants of traditional tales or to provide a simpler version of the story for younger patrons.-Susan M. Moore, Louisville Free Public Library, KY