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Bearhead: A Russian Folktale
Bearhead succeeds in outwitting the witch Madame Hexaba and a frog-headed goblin.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
36 people want to read
About the author
Eric A. Kimmel
162 books112 followersEric 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews
January 14, 2019
4.5 stars. This was one of the most hilarious folktales I've read, and from what I know of the original Mikolaycak sticks to it with only a couple or so changes, namely the use of a witch in place of the original's villain, and that Bearhead has a bear's body in the original whilst he has a bear's head in this retelling.
I can't yet fully decide whether Bearhead is messing with Hexaba the witch, or if he's truly as literal as he behaves. But since I've had a good time and laughed myself silly reading this, I'm leaning a bit more towards the "messing with her head" option, and for a more serious reason it's also that I can see the imprint of Slavic "trickster tales" in this one. I've seen comments about how odd the military-esque outfit for Bearhead looks, something I'd not paid attention to, but now I can see he does wear a cap that gives him a little Comrade Commissar air. That's probably just an artistic licence on the illustrator's part, but it has to be taken into account that the book was published when the Soviet Union still existed and the bear was associated with Russia as their national totem.
I can't yet fully decide whether Bearhead is messing with Hexaba the witch, or if he's truly as literal as he behaves. But since I've had a good time and laughed myself silly reading this, I'm leaning a bit more towards the "messing with her head" option, and for a more serious reason it's also that I can see the imprint of Slavic "trickster tales" in this one. I've seen comments about how odd the military-esque outfit for Bearhead looks, something I'd not paid attention to, but now I can see he does wear a cap that gives him a little Comrade Commissar air. That's probably just an artistic licence on the illustrator's part, but it has to be taken into account that the book was published when the Soviet Union still existed and the bear was associated with Russia as their national totem.
August 5, 2020
A childless couple adopt an unusual foundling that the woman finds in the forest in this adaptation of a Russian folktale. With the head of a bear and the body of a man, Bearhead is not an ordinary child, but he eventually becomes the son they had always wanted. When his father is summoned to serve the evil witch Madame Hexeba, Bearhead goes in his place, and his literal interpretation of the witch's orders eventually lead him to his freedom, after a confrontation with the local lake troll. In the end, Bearhead returns to the forest, to live as a bear...
Pairing an engaging and humorous narrative from author Eric A. Kimmel with striking artwork from illustrator Charles Mikolaycak, Bearhead: A Russian Folktale is an entertaining picture-book, one sure to please young folklore enthusiasts. According to the brief author's note, the story is adapted from the Russian tale of Ivanko the Bear's Son, although Kimmel has inserted his own creation, in the form of Madame Hexeba, and reversed his hero's physical characteristics, by changing him from a figure with a bear's body and a man's head, to one with a man's body and a bear's head. Leaving that aside, this was an amusing tale, offering a folkloric example of a story type - the contretemps created by a wholly literal interpretation of everything said - that is quite popular in other forms of childhood storytelling. One thinks here of figures like Amelia Bedelia , for instance. The artwork is immensely appealing, as is always the case with Mikolaycak - expressive, colorful, full of unexpected detail.
All in all, a delightful addition to any folklore devotee's shelf! Highly recommend to folklore enthusiasts, as well as to admirer's of Mikolaycak's work.
Pairing an engaging and humorous narrative from author Eric A. Kimmel with striking artwork from illustrator Charles Mikolaycak, Bearhead: A Russian Folktale is an entertaining picture-book, one sure to please young folklore enthusiasts. According to the brief author's note, the story is adapted from the Russian tale of Ivanko the Bear's Son, although Kimmel has inserted his own creation, in the form of Madame Hexeba, and reversed his hero's physical characteristics, by changing him from a figure with a bear's body and a man's head, to one with a man's body and a bear's head. Leaving that aside, this was an amusing tale, offering a folkloric example of a story type - the contretemps created by a wholly literal interpretation of everything said - that is quite popular in other forms of childhood storytelling. One thinks here of figures like Amelia Bedelia , for instance. The artwork is immensely appealing, as is always the case with Mikolaycak - expressive, colorful, full of unexpected detail.
All in all, a delightful addition to any folklore devotee's shelf! Highly recommend to folklore enthusiasts, as well as to admirer's of Mikolaycak's work.
January 23, 2019
This children's tale was loosely based on the Russian fable, Ivanko the Bear's Son.
Bearhead was just that. A boy who grew into a man but had the head -and strength- of a bear. The wonderful illustrations were colorful, clear and concise. The word-building was a special plus.
Bearhead was found as a baby in a forest by an elderly, childless peasant woman. Lonely, she and her husband raised him. With their help, he became a good (bear)man.
When his father was told he must become Madame Hexaba's servant, Bearhead took his place. The fun began when Bearhead took everything Madame Hexaba said literally. And I do mean in the literal sense. The topping on this story of morals and lessons learned? The ending.
Thank you, Marquise, for your recommendation!
Bearhead was just that. A boy who grew into a man but had the head -and strength- of a bear. The wonderful illustrations were colorful, clear and concise. The word-building was a special plus.
Bearhead was found as a baby in a forest by an elderly, childless peasant woman. Lonely, she and her husband raised him. With their help, he became a good (bear)man.
When his father was told he must become Madame Hexaba's servant, Bearhead took his place. The fun began when Bearhead took everything Madame Hexaba said literally. And I do mean in the literal sense. The topping on this story of morals and lessons learned? The ending.
Thank you, Marquise, for your recommendation!
October 24, 2018
Another underappreciated treasure. This is the kind of art I love, full of humorous details that bring the settings and characters to life, clear and bright. I believe Bearhead is messing w/ Hexeba, and is really not as literal as Amelia Bedelia. I just want more adventures... most tales have sets of three, but his is only one quest, and one trick.
Author's note explains the liberties taken with the traditional folk tale. Kimmel is one of my favorites on the 398.2 shelves, and he almost always works with fantastic illustrators.
Author's note explains the liberties taken with the traditional folk tale. Kimmel is one of my favorites on the 398.2 shelves, and he almost always works with fantastic illustrators.
June 24, 2008
Mikolaycak is one of my favorite children's book illustrators, so that right there would have sold me on Bearhead. The folktale itself is very amusing, though, what with outwitting the witch using Amelia Bedilia-esque literalism. Plus the guy has a bearhead! I want a bearhead!
August 27, 2016
A part-man, part-bear foundling defeats a tyrannical witch by interpreting all her orders literally.
Mikolaycak's illustrations are excellent, although I'm not sure what's up with Bearhead's vaguely militaristic outfit; he's supposed to be raised be raised by forest-dwelling peasants.
Mikolaycak's illustrations are excellent, although I'm not sure what's up with Bearhead's vaguely militaristic outfit; he's supposed to be raised be raised by forest-dwelling peasants.
October 3, 2019
This is a humorous Russian fairy tale about a tricky Bearhead that fools a wicked witch various which ways.
June 24, 2019
A man's body . . . a bear's head - pretty wack, eh? No wonder the poor guy also seems to suffer from Amelia Bedelia disease, and takes every command quite literally. Despite his handicaps, he manages to "outwit" a witch and a goblin before heading off to make his mark on the world. If you can get over the weirdness of seeing human hands on what appears to be a bear clad in traditional Russian garb, you'll probably enjoy this one.
Nice artwork by Charles Mikolaycak.
Nice artwork by Charles Mikolaycak.
February 17, 2021
Interesting story. I like how the bear/man was similar to Amelia Bedelia in that he took orders literally, but I didn't understand why he cheated the goblin when he could have easily won.
December 3, 2023
Beautiful
March 5, 2019
A woman one day finds a boy with the head of a bear. She adopts him even though her husband does not want her too. They raise him as their own and grow to love him. One day a rich lady calls for the man of the house to come work for her but the father is too old to do so. So bearhead goes in his place. But he takes everything seriously and does exactly as he is told. Like "kiss my feet" he will actually kiss her feet and so on. He messes a lot up because of this and it is funny. This one was very odd but pretty good. I wouldn't recommend it or not recommend it.
May 15, 2014
My 6-year old son and I love this story!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews