The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale

by Carole Kismaric, Charles Mikolaycak (Illustrator )

When cruel Pavel wins a wager against his kind twin brother Paali, he exacts a terrible price, but greed soon leads Pavel to his downfall.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Ukraine

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1988

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale (published 1988 but that the wording of the book title, I do find this just a trifle strange, as there is in my opinion nothing regarding rumour to be encountered in The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale) Carole Kismaric's text verbally and Charles Mikolaycak's artwork visually tell and show the Ukrainian folktale of identical in appearance but completely different in attitude and philosophy twin brothers and where Pavel is depicted as greedy and despotic while Paali is kind and gentle.

Now Kismaric's words and Mikolaycak's images for The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale expressively and with much both folkloric and also realistic detail focus on how the nasty twin, how Pavel (when Paali seemingly loses a wager regarding good versus evil) takes absolutely everything from his brother, begrudging his twin even life's bare necessities when Paali and his wife are starving, with Pavel actually taking his brother's eyes in return for a bit of wheat. But yes and in typical folklore fashion, The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale then presents how while lost in the forest at night after begging for alms (since he is now of course blind) Paali overhears a group of demonic spirits revealing various secrets that allow Paali to both reclaim his vision (and to also help a village regain their water and a Tzar's daughter be cured of her withered leg, thereby of course reclaiming his fortune and more) and that the ever-greedy Pavel, hurrying into the forest to duplicate his twin's success instead and justifiably so becoming one of the demons of forest (since Pavel unlike Paali is noticed by the spirits and subsequently punished for spying on them).

And yes, Carole Kismaric's cadenced narrative for The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale combined with Charles Mikolaysik's illustrations (which are colourfully dramatic and emotionally intense) present a very engagingly readable but also harsh tale of greed, abject fraternal cruelty and a final terrible and eternal punishment for Pavel that feels (even though Paali, even though the good twin indeed totally succeeds and perseveres) a bit like traditional Indo-European mythology (like Greek tragedy or like the Norse tales of Asgard) and that younger children may well find the themes of The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale rather disturbing, although older readers should be able to appreciate and to enjoy Kismaric's gripping narrative and Charles Mikolaycak's intense illustrations (but just to say that if I had encountered The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale as a child, while I would not have had an issue with the presented text, well and to be honest, the powerful and visually gripping artwork would have been more than a bit visually frightening for me).

Four stars for The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale, and just to point out that the only reason why my rating is not five stars is that I do wish Carole Kismaric would include an author's note for The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale, since in folktales and in mythology twins often represent the duality of good and evil, with folkloric and mythical twins frequently engaging in conflict or competition, with one often embodying positive and life-sustaining aspects, while the other featuring negative and destructive traits (and since there are indeed very many folk and fairy tales around the world that show the twin versus twin thematic as it is depicted and described in The Rumor of Pavel & Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale, yes, I do wish Kismaric would point this out).

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story and illustrations. Probably not for younger children.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin brothers Pavel and Paali debate whether good or evil will be rewarded, in this powerful Ukrainian folktale. When wicked Pavel wins their wager, he deprives his brother of all his possessions, eventually demanding both his eyes in exchange for two meager portions of grain. Blinded, betrayed, and close to starvation, Paali eventually finds himself lost in the great forest. Has Pavel triumphed? Or does fate have something else in store for the two brothers...?

A harsh tale of greed, fraternal cruelty and terrible punishment, The Rumor of Pavel & Paali has something of the Greek tragedy about it. Sensitive younger children may find the themes too disturbing, but older readers will appreciate Carole Kismaric's gripping narrative, and Charles Mikolaycak's intense illustrations. Mikolaycak is an artist with a talent for capturing emotion, and his faces - whether evil or good - have real power. Beautifully designed, with colorful folkloric accents, this is a book that readers will find visually hypnotic.

[Chelsea Counsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful artwork. I want Pavel’s clothes lol. Also in my headcanon, cats are part of the “marvelous treasures” that Paali gets lol

[Vyviane Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. The tale is a bit dark for tiny kids but it's just so gorgeously illustrated.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely bold illustrations and a satisfactory story. I'm puzzled, however, by the choice of title.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rumour of Pavel and Paali: A Ukrainian Folktale by Carole Kismaric, Illustrator Charles Mikolaycak- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of two Ukrainian brothers. After the death of their father, both brothers face the question of whether in life they should be good or bad. Pavel favours bad and Paali favours the good. Whoever gets less votes from leave all his property in favour of the other. They put this question to three persons from the market first a farm labour, second shopkeeper and third a Judge. They inform them that somewhat bad succeeds. Paali delivers all his property to Pavel. Paali has nothing to eat. He buys two bags of corn in exchange of both his eyes. Paali sat under a tree to beg for alms as a beggar but he lost the way and reached a forest. It was getting dark. For his safety from wild animals, Paali climbed on a tree and rested on a large branch. After midnight, he heard the three informations, (1) if Paali picks up and rubs the dew on his eyes, he will regain his eyesight, (2) under a rock there is source of water. If the rock is moved, the whole village will get water for the whole year, (3) Czar’s daughter’s foot is suffering from a disease, she will recover if a root of this tree is touched with her foot. In the morning, Paali first regains his eyes, second, with the help of villages, he removes the rock and all get year round water, third, the reaches the Czar’s palace to help. Czar says that he has tried may medical experts but all have failed. If Paali fails, then Czar will announce death penalty to him. Paali succeeds. When Paali returns with gifts to his village. Paveli still does not agree. He leaves for the forest to locate that tree and he never returns back. I have read Hindi language translation of this book.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly beautiful illustrations, and a fairy tale with a lesson and no brutality held back.

[Offbeat Modest Dress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mikolaycak was an amazing illustrator.

http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/kerla...