Bernal and Florinda: A Spanish Tale

by Eric A. Kimmel, Robert Rayevsky (Illustrator)

A clever but poor cavalier wins the hand of his true love by outwitting her father, the wealthy mayor of Seville.

Genres: Picture Books, History, School, Fairy Tales, Geography, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Eric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by the picaresque tales of Spain, author Eric A. Kimmel and Robert Rayevsky spin an original fairy-tale in this entertaining picture-book. The eponymous Bernal and Florinda love one another, but the former is a poor man whose only possession is a field full of grasshoppers, while the latter is the daughter of the greedy mayor of Seville. When Bernal's suit is denied by the mayor, he vows to make his fortune using those grasshoppers, and to win the hand of Florinda, in spite of her father...

Although the story in Bernal & Florinda: A Spanish Tale is an original one, certain elements, such as the series of exchanges that Bernal conducts, reminded me strongly of various traditional tales I have read over the years. The story is engaging, with a happy ending for the lovers, and an unexpected resurrection for the tinker whom Bernal encounters. Rayvesky's artwork is colorful and expressive, ably capturing the humor of Kimmel's story. This is one I would recommend to young folk and fairy-tale lovers, particularly those looking for picaresque stories set in Spain.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original (and very humorous) tale written in the style of a traditional Spanish picaresque tale, illustrated in a slightly exaggerated style, as if all the action were taking place on a stage.

[Chelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I got confused about halfway through when Bernal was portraying someone else though. Due to my own confusion, I would suggest this to students at least in the 4th or 5th grade. Yes, it's a picture book, book there are words in there that the younger students might not understand.