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Synopsis
In this story from Peru, we meet a baker who is so stingy that he wants to charge people just for smelling his baked goods. When the baker takes his case to court, the wise judge decides to teach the greedy man a well-deserved lesson.In this story from Peru, we meet a baker who is so stingy that he wants to charge people just for smelling his baked goods. When the baker takes his case to court, the wise judge decides to teach the greedy man a well-deserved lesson.
Children's Literature
The popular storytelling duo retells a Peruvian tale of resourcefulness and fairness. A greedy baker is jealous of his friendly neighbor who is willing to share what little he has with others. Angry that the man should enjoy the smell of his sweet cinnamon buns, he presents him with a bill for stealing the aroma. When the man refuses the pay, the baker takes his case before a respected judge. Listening intently to both sides and carefully weighing the facts, the judge surprises the man and the townsfolk by finding him guilty. His punishment? It is to take five gold pieces from his pocket and let them fall from one hand to the other. When the baker admits that he enjoys the sound of the jingling coins the judge declares that for stealing a smell the reward of the sound of the coins is a fair recompense. The wise and clever judge admonishing the greedy and foolish man is commonly found in folklore and this simple well-told tale is accessible to young readers. The flat, unexceptional illustrations, that appear to be computer generated, add little to the story or the Peruvian origins of the tale. Beginning storytellers will find this ideally suited to their talents and in classrooms where children are encouraged to explore folklore and become storytellers; this retelling will be easy to learn. The paperback format and inexpensive price of this series will make it easy for teachers with a limited budget to build a good classroom collection of folktales. Teachers and parents may want to explore August House's Story Cove, a website that brings stories from various cultures to life though movies, read-along segments, games, and activities. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey