The Rooster Prince Of Breslov Pj Lib Ed 2015

by Ann Redisch Stampler

This picture book brings a light touch and engaging silliness to the story of a prince who rejects the lavish luxury of his upbringing in favor of a life as . . . a rooster. The only person who can persuade the prince to reconsider is neither a doctor nor a magician but a wise teacher who is willing to become a rooster too. Told to the author by her grandmother, who brought it from Eastern Europe a century ago, this traditional tale is accompanied by strikingly witty and graceful illustrations that add their own folkloric flavor. Author's note.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Childrens, Judaism, Folk Tales, Folklore, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2010

About the author

Ann Redisch Stampler is the author of the young adult novels Afterparty and Where It Began as well as half a dozen picture books. Her work has garnered an Aesop accolade, the National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor honors, the Middle East Book Award, and Bank Street Best Books of the Year mentions. How to Disappear (Simon Pulse, 2016), her first young adult thriller, will be released in June. Ann lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband Rick.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young prince is fed up with getting more than he wants and turns into a rooster. The king and queen are beside themselves with this strange turn of events and offer a gold reward to anyone that can fix him. After several failed attempts, an old man spends 7 days with the young rooster to help him return to his regular self, the prince. In the author’s note we learn that this is another remake of a well-known Yiddish folktale and that this folktale’s purpose is to teach a moral lesson. The lesson in this version of the folktale is “how to nurture a child so he or she will grow up to become a good person”.

This book would be appropriate for grades 1-3 to learn more about the Jewish culture through a time-treasured folktale. I will say that on a personal level I was not a fan of the illustrations. The pointy noses on EVERY character were somewhat stereotypical to me.

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This traditional Jewish tale is a good telling. The illustrations are good and the story has the right amount of silliness and the right amount of wisdom.

I enjoyed the book and I think kids will like it.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one! I loved the wierd and wild illustration style and honestly so much about the illustration. I love that if you looked on the sides of the pages, you could see the king and queen's servants preparing the NeXT stage for learning! Another cute story with a repetitive structure, which can be quite fun but also calming, adding a new level each time! Also takes place in the Old Country, which I love. I love the illustrations of chickens and even more of the townspeople!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rooster Prince of Breslov is a ton of fun. The general story is really entertaining and humorous. The art suits the book (although it isn't a style I generally prefer). The author goes over some of the morals of the story that make a lot of sense, as well as how she views it as a coming-of-age tale.

Recommended!

[Danette · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/12/18 Read with Naomi & Julia

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming retelling of a Yiddish Folktale about sharing.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was on display at the public library, and caught my husband's attention. Initially I thought the illustration to be strange and not really my taste. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the story. A young prince was fed up by the "royal treatment" and decided to live like a rooster (no clothes, clucking, eating corn kernels) - to the dismay of his parents.
An old wizened man promised to not only bring him back to "normal" but make him fit to be a king. He took off his clothes and acted like a rooster, pecking on corn kernels, till the prince took noticed of him. When asked who he was, he answered "I am a rooster, just like you" Day by day they did "rooster" things side by side, but each day a "human" factor was introduced. First a mattress, then bread, then table and chairs. In each instance, the prince explains what the human element can provide (eg, a mattress to sleep on) , and then gives permission for the Old rooster to be comfortable "I suppose it's OK for an old rooster like you to sleep on the mattress" and then follow suit. On the 7th day, A Sabbath meal was prepared - special food was laid out on the table. I LOVE that! The Sabbath is a special day for the Jews, and should also be special for Christians (me).
The old man said his goodbye, and said that the prince is a man not because he sleeps on a mattress and eats at the table, but because of the compassion towards the old rooster. And because of the encounter with this wise old man, the prince became a wise and compassionate king.

This short story is so filled with wisdom! And none was overt or preachy.
- The prince had everything he could ever want (food, toys, attention) but he had no want, and no purpose in life. To him it did not matter whether he was a prince or a rooster.
- The old man met the prince on his turf (on the floor). He made himself vulnerable, even laughable. But because of his humility and persistence, he earned the prince's trust.
- The old man let the prince "serve" him by sharing his food, explaining about the mattress, the bread, the table and chairs, giving permission to have the comfort of the human elements. By this act, the prince had the opportunity to care for someone else other than himself.
- The old man taught his pupil one day at a time, through actions, with no harsh criticism.
- At the end the old man exhorted him, and made the prince realize that he has changed, for the better.
- The illustrations are superb! The style is unusual, but the illustrations really depict the different scenes well.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the prince decided to leave the splendor of his life as royalty behind and become a rooster, only one man could save him. The king and queen had tried doctors and magicians, but nothing worked. Only one old man was left to try. The old man joined the prince in his fantasy, also acting like a rooster by removing his clothes and pecking at the floor. This went on for a day. At the end of the second day, the old man pointed to two mattresses that had been placed in the room and asked the prince what they were. The man then asked why people should be the only ones to sleep comfortably and the prince agreed. They both slept on mattresses that night. The next day, black bread arrived. And through similar persuasion, the man got the prince to eat. This progressed until there was a table and chairs and a warm blanket. On the sixth day, they wore clothes again. And on the seventh day, there was the Sabbath feast. In the end, the prince returned to being a prince, but always remembered that he had once been a rooster.

Stampler has taken this beloved Yiddish folk tale and tuned it for modern audiences. She allows the humor of the situations to stand on their own, not overplaying it at all. Her writing has a nice arc that speaks to the overwhelming nature of indulgence and the need to sometimes throw it all away. She also honors the teachers of the world, those that listen and understand, those that join us right in the trenches of life and help us navigate them. The book reads aloud nicely with each day carrying repetition from the first, underlining the folk tale heritage of the story.

Yelchin’s illustrations are wonderfully peculiar, suiting the story well. He uses interesting perspectives to show the man and the prince together, sometimes from above, sometimes from behind, sometimes from the side. It lends a lot of dynamism to the book. The illustrations are brightly colored and unique.

A book about finding wisdom and learning to be a man by becoming a rooster, this folk tale is a delight to read. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Winta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good for all ages but ESPECIALLY for teachers! This Yiddish folktale has a great moral: "...for a teacher to raise his student to the heights of spiritual ecstasy, that teacher must approach the student at the student's own level, no matter how low" (the author, Ann Redisch Stampler). All students must go through a developmental process no matter how privileged he/she is. The prince in this book got everything he glanced at (plus much more) until he one day yelled for it all to stop and began acting like a rooster. Magicians and doctors couldn't help turn him back to acting human. Then, an old man arrived who did just that; he acted just like the kid and slowly reasoned with the kid making the kid think all was his ideas until he convinced him of not only being a boy but turning into a man.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this folktale quite a bit. In it, the young prince is overwhelmed with more then he ever wants and so he rejects it all by deciding he will be a rooster. His parents try everything to save him, but he is only cured by an old man who joins him in acting like a rooster. A very nice tale, but somewhat icky with naked old man in lots of pictures (though nothing inappropriate is shown it is still icky) I especially liked the afterword about the history of this yiddish tale and how it encourages teachers to go down to a student's level to lift them up.
Kirkus Best Children's Books 2010

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You're right! replied the old man. "It's the way you treated a cold, hungry, achy old rooster that makes you a man. For it was you, Your Majesty, who wrapped me in a blanket and shared you Sabbath feast with an old traveler."

I love this story of a prince who has-it-all, and yet doesn't have enough. What does he lack? Simply the chance to share and give to others.

THE SKINNY:::
This traditional Jewish tale will have kids smiling and thinking. It's a great read-aloud. And Eugene Yelchin's whimsical artwork is both colorful and intriguing.

Pam T
mom/blogger

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here you have the tale of a prince who claims he's a rooster but is transformed through his interactions with a wise man who pretends to be a rooster. This is great teaching in action -- stooping down to your student's level to raise them up. The author probably didn't have this in mind, but it strikes me as very biblical as well. In Christianity, you have a God who stooped down to our level, became a little babe, in order to raise up and redeem all who accept and believe in Him.

[Aishe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my son's favorites. It tells the story of a prince who rebels from the comforts of his class to become a rooster, and under the guidance of an old man, discovers what it means to be a man. It was a perfect way to introduce a conversation about Jewish values with a preschooler from a secular mixed home!

[Lisagarden · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE AMAZING!! Eugene Yelchin does a remarkable job illustrating this classic folk tale. Fun images with lots of humor and Amazing colors and design.
TRuly creative in his approach. Enjoy!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming retelling of a Yiddish folktale.

[Anne Beier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yiddish tale. About sharing.

[Melissa Messner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and thought it was beautifully done.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep finding books that I have read this year and have forgotten to mark. *sigh* And this was a good one. A good one to have in a folktale collection.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smart, silly, accurate looking Jewish pictures, good folktale about human connections and values

[Lisbeth Solberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Yiddish folktale about what makes us human.