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Summary
Summary
Vain and selfish Cuckoo learns a lesson in humility and generosity when she undertakes a brave task in this tale told in both English and Spanish. "A book almost as much a piece of folk art as it is a folktale."-- Kirkus Reviews
Author Notes
Lois Ehlert was born November 9, 1934, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and the Layton School of Art. She has also worked as an art teacher, freelance illustrator, and designer. She has created 38 books for young reader and is known for her colorful collage artwork. Her work as an author and an illustrator has appeared in countless publications and has received numerous awards and honors.
In addition to creating books, Ehlert has produced toys, games, clothes for children, posters, brochures, catalogs, and banners. She has received the Caldecott Honor Book, 1989, for Color Zoo, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year for Snowballs, the Booklist Editors' Choice for Cuckoo/Cucú: A Mexican Folktale/Un Cuento Folklórico Mexicano, the IRA Teachers' Choice and NCTE Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts for Feathers for Lunch, the American Library Association Notable Children's Book and Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
The first book that she wrote and illustrated was Growing Vegetable Soup (1987). Some of her other works include Planting a Rainbow (2003), Feathers for Lunch (1996), Snowballs (1999), Leaf Man (2005), Moon Rope/ Un Lazo de Luna (2003), which is based on a Peruvian folktale, and Rrralph (2013), Rain Fish (2016), and Heart to Heart (2017).
Lois Ehlert died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 25, 2021. She was 86.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
A Mexican folktale about the evolution of a beautiful but vain bird inspires the bold and brilliant cut-paper designs in Ehlert's latest picture book. Gloriously plumed Cuckoo spends her time flitting about and showing off her gorgeous feathers instead of gathering seeds with all the other birds. But in the face of a natural disaster, Cuckoo unselfishly performs a "hot and scary job" that saves the season's seeds but changes her appearance forever. As in her Moon Rope/ Un lazo a la luna, Ehlert's easy-to-follow retelling appears simultaneously in Spanish and English on every spread. The bilingual approach to the text, combined with the influence of Mexican arts and crafts on the vibrantly styled artwork, helps bathe the proceedings in atmosphere. Ehlert assembles many of her simple shapes with brass pin-joints, giving the paper creatures a potential for movement that children will enjoy exploring. Other metallic-paper figures suggest Mexican hammered-tin ornaments. Sombreros off to this innovative artist for yet another eye-catching work. Ages 3-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
This well-written traditional Mayan tale explains how the cuckoo lost its feathers and is presented in both English and Spanish. The text has been translated with great care, and an attractive picture glossary appears on the title page. The unique illustrations showcase the vibrant colors and variety of Mexican artistry and folk art with refreshing style and simplicity. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 4^-7. This exhilarating bilingual adaptation of the well-known Mayan tale about Cucu, a colorful bird who sings her sweet song all day, tiring the other animals but ending up earning their respect and gratitude, is simply told in both languages. The bright paper-collage pictures convey the joyous Mexican crafts and folk art that inspired them.
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 4Cuckoo is beautifuland lazy. She also sings compulsively, irritating the other birds who want to sleep before beginning the arduous task of gathering seeds. They are so exhausted from the continual singing, in fact, that when a fire threatens the seed crop, they all sleep on. The only one awake is Cuckoo, who flies back and forth until all the seeds are safe. In the process, her rainbow plumage is scorched and her beautiful voice turns hoarsebut she earns the undying gratitude of the other birds. This tale, charmingly told in both English and Spanish, is boldly illustrated with large, brightly colored, cut-paper pictures. Inspired by folk art and crafts, the images evoke the tin work and cutout fiesta banners of Mexico. Apparently secured by paper fasteners, Cuckoo and some of the other birds look like jointed toys. A perfect companion to Ehlert's Moon Rope (Harcourt, 1992), this book provides a fine introduction to the pourquoi story form and to literature in Spanish. Given the amount of dialogue in the narrative, the story would adapt easily to readers' theater; as well, it is perfectly suited for use in ESL programs. Another sure winner from Ehlert.Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A festive bilingual offering from Ehlert (Moon Rope/Un lazo a la luna, 1992, etc.), with the Spanish translation by Gloria de Aragón Andújar, based on a Mayan tale explaining how the cuckoo became plain. Cuckoo has a lovely song and glorious plumage, but she is lazy. The other birds and animals enjoy her singing, but caw about her lack of ambition. When Owl, the ``bird boss'' (or ``el jefe de los pájaros''), announces that the next day will be seed collection, all the birds go to sleep dreaming of the work ahead. But Cuckoo stays awake, singing, and thus spots the fire that threatens the food supply. She works through the night alone, saving seeds. Her beautiful feathers and sweet voice are scorched; in the morning, her fellows almost don't recognize her. They all agree, as they rejoice in her deed, that ``you can't tell much about a bird by looking at its feathers.'' Ehlert's note says she was inspired by Mexican folk art, and echoes of Mexican papercuts, tinware, santos sculpture, and other forms appear in flat, collage-like patterns, vibrating with rich, bright color. Silver cutouts like tin ornaments illustrate the glossary that appears on the title page-spread. A book almost as much a piece of folk art as it is a folktale. (Picture book/folklore. 3-7)
