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Seven Fathers
In the midst of a fearsome blizzard, a weary traveler seeks refuge from the cold.
"Good evening, Father, I'm so glad I found you. Would you, by any chance, have a room where I could spend the night?"
"Oh," said the old man. "I'm not the father of the house, You'll have to ask my father. He's around back, in the kitchen."
And so the traveler is sent on a journey within his journey, arriving at a surprising destination.
Ashley Ramsden's eloquent retelling of a Norwegian folktale is handsomely complemented by Caldecott Medalist Ed Young's masterful cut paper collages in this unusual and haunting book, Seven Fathers.
"Good evening, Father, I'm so glad I found you. Would you, by any chance, have a room where I could spend the night?"
"Oh," said the old man. "I'm not the father of the house, You'll have to ask my father. He's around back, in the kitchen."
And so the traveler is sent on a journey within his journey, arriving at a surprising destination.
Ashley Ramsden's eloquent retelling of a Norwegian folktale is handsomely complemented by Caldecott Medalist Ed Young's masterful cut paper collages in this unusual and haunting book, Seven Fathers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2011
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 15, 2020
A weary traveler, battling through a terrible snowstorm, seeks shelter at the first house he comes to in this Norwegian folktale, finding that he must ask for a warm room not once, but seven times, before his request is granted. Directed each time to the speaker's father, the traveler must ask permission to stay from progressively older men, but his patience and good manners are eventually rewarded with a kingly feast, and a comfortable bed...
Originally collected by Norwegian folklorists Asbjørnsen and Moe, this tale is presented here by English storyteller Ashley Ramsden, founder of The School of Storytelling, and illustrated by the Caldecott Medal-winning Chinese-American artist Ed Young. It is intriguingly open-ended in its meaning, although folklore enthusiasts will undoubtedly recognize the structure, in which the hero must repeat a specific task a certain number of times, as a familiar one. I'm not sure just what to make of Seven Fathers, when it comes to interpreting the traveler's encounter with the seven old men, unless it is intended to be read as a test of his courtesy, when his weariness might be supposed to have made him impatient. The conclusion, in which the fathers are transformed, and the traveler prays, expressing his thankfulness at having found the "true father," seems to hint at some religious subtext. But perhaps I am reading too much into it? In any case, this is just a fascinating folktale, with gorgeous cut-paper collage art! Recommended to anyone with an interest in the genre, and to fans of Ed Young's work.
Originally collected by Norwegian folklorists Asbjørnsen and Moe, this tale is presented here by English storyteller Ashley Ramsden, founder of The School of Storytelling, and illustrated by the Caldecott Medal-winning Chinese-American artist Ed Young. It is intriguingly open-ended in its meaning, although folklore enthusiasts will undoubtedly recognize the structure, in which the hero must repeat a specific task a certain number of times, as a familiar one. I'm not sure just what to make of Seven Fathers, when it comes to interpreting the traveler's encounter with the seven old men, unless it is intended to be read as a test of his courtesy, when his weariness might be supposed to have made him impatient. The conclusion, in which the fathers are transformed, and the traveler prays, expressing his thankfulness at having found the "true father," seems to hint at some religious subtext. But perhaps I am reading too much into it? In any case, this is just a fascinating folktale, with gorgeous cut-paper collage art! Recommended to anyone with an interest in the genre, and to fans of Ed Young's work.
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October 4, 2011I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one. Ramsden's Seven Fathers is a retelling of a Norwegian myth. A cold, tired traveler stumbles across a home. He asks for a place to spend the night and an old man tells him to ask his father. And so the man does, finding another man, even older, who tells him to ask the father of the house. This happens six times until he finally finds the father of the house. He is granted a magnificent feast and then (and this is where I feel that I'm missing something), each of the fathers becomes a man and gives the traveler a crown. The next morning, the man awakens to a rainbow of seven colors.
Ed Young's artwork is, as expected, interesting and a wonderful compliment to a cold, cold story. Recommended for grades 3 - 5, I will probably skip this one for my school collection.
Ed Young's artwork is, as expected, interesting and a wonderful compliment to a cold, cold story. Recommended for grades 3 - 5, I will probably skip this one for my school collection.
April 28, 2011
Much like Jon Muth, Ed Young is able to illustrate profound themes without being didatic or preaching. In Seven Fathers his soft monochromatic collages allow Ashley Ramsden's retelling of the Nordic tale to take center stage. This story may not get the oohs and ahhs of immediate gratification but the enigma of the story is sure to make young readers ask for it again and again.
October 9, 2011
While I appreciate the spiritual theme in this Norwegian folktale I wonder how much kid appeal the story has. The illustrations are dark and so abstract that they don't really add to the story, either.
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May 24, 2021According to the included note, based on a Norwegian folk tale as collected by A&M.
According to http://www.storytellingresearchlois.c... you can read it as "The Seventh Father of the House, by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen" right there. Thank you Lois Keel!
Ramsden and Young made the story eerie and metaphysical. Maybe some kids like Spiritual Quests but I didn't appreciate it.
So I read the version on Keel's blog. It's even more opaque there. Unless you accept Keel's suggestion that it's just a big of nonsense. Or maybe you prefer one of the other ideas she mentions.
I have no idea what to rate it. I didn't care for it all, as I say, but I think I'm missing a big something.
According to http://www.storytellingresearchlois.c... you can read it as "The Seventh Father of the House, by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen" right there. Thank you Lois Keel!
Ramsden and Young made the story eerie and metaphysical. Maybe some kids like Spiritual Quests but I didn't appreciate it.
So I read the version on Keel's blog. It's even more opaque there. Unless you accept Keel's suggestion that it's just a big of nonsense. Or maybe you prefer one of the other ideas she mentions.
I have no idea what to rate it. I didn't care for it all, as I say, but I think I'm missing a big something.
September 26, 2018
Seven Fathers is a story about a Norwegian folktale. The story was simple and the illustrations matched to the story was well. Ed Young is a great illustrator and Ashley Ramsden did a great job of retelling this tale. I would categorize this book under Traditional Literature because it is a Norwegian folktale. As a teacher, I would have this book in K-5 classrooms as the story seems to be designed towards a younger audience.
December 31, 2018
Illustrstions are choppy and unclear, story is weird and ending is vague.
October 11, 2019
This book might be about death. I liked the multimedia aspect in the pictures. Good class library book.
Copyright: 2011
Copyright: 2011
November 4, 2019
I am very very confused by the ending. I appreciate that I don't come from a Nordic background and so therefore do not have a deeper cultural understanding, but still, "what the what?"
May 24, 2021
Interesting story, rather strange ending. Not sure if this had any moral or lesson. "Perseverance and respect are good," I suppose.
March 25, 2011
A lone man walks in a snow-filled night, desperate to find shelter from the cold and weather. With the last of his strength, he approaches a house that appears out of the darkness. There he finds an old man chopping wood. When the traveler asks if he can stay the night, the old man replies that he is not the father of the house. His father is in the kitchen. The traveler heads to the kitchen where he meets an even older man and asks him if he can stay. But the man replies that he too is not the father of the house and sends him to the parlor. This pattern continues until each man more wizened and elderly than the last has sent him on to the next. Finally, the traveler reaches a horn hung on the wall with a speck of dust resting on it, and then he gets his answer.
Ramsden’s story telling skill is very apparent with this retelling. The text glides, moves and soars, allowing the story to truly be told. He creates moments where readers will feel the cold, the wind and the snow. He creates other moments where the smell of stew and the warmth of a kitchen enter aching bones. Unlike some folklore stories with repeating patterns, Ramsden writes each encounter as a special one, yet keeps them tethered to one another. It is a necklace of unique gems.
Young’s illustrations are done in mixed-media collage. They hearken to the Nordic origins of the story with their furs, wools, and woods. The lines Young has created are so simple, creating faces and expressions with a minimal number of details. All of the art is on dark paper that evokes a traditional, aged feel to the entire book.
A beautiful, moving and vivid retelling of folklore, this book is definitely a jewel among picture books. Appropriate for ages 5-9.
Ramsden’s story telling skill is very apparent with this retelling. The text glides, moves and soars, allowing the story to truly be told. He creates moments where readers will feel the cold, the wind and the snow. He creates other moments where the smell of stew and the warmth of a kitchen enter aching bones. Unlike some folklore stories with repeating patterns, Ramsden writes each encounter as a special one, yet keeps them tethered to one another. It is a necklace of unique gems.
Young’s illustrations are done in mixed-media collage. They hearken to the Nordic origins of the story with their furs, wools, and woods. The lines Young has created are so simple, creating faces and expressions with a minimal number of details. All of the art is on dark paper that evokes a traditional, aged feel to the entire book.
A beautiful, moving and vivid retelling of folklore, this book is definitely a jewel among picture books. Appropriate for ages 5-9.
August 10, 2016
Description: A traveler in the middle of a snow storm seeks shelter in a mysterious abode where he seeks to find the father of the house.
Genre: Traditional Literature - Folktale
Intended Audience: Preschool - 3rd Grade
Curriculum Connection: Within the kindergarten curriculum, students must be able to make predictions about stories using illustrations and the text. Using the cover picture and the title, students could predict a vast array of plots and themes. Even the ending of the story leaves room for interpretation where students could also be tasked to answer "What happens next?"
Personal Reaction: I was entralled with this book and had the feeling that I was reading a mystery. It kept me wondering to myself, what is about to happen? And where will this end? I did find the ending a bit confusing but the rest of book had me so interested that I had to do some extra research on this story. I discovered that it is a folktale and that added to the strange ending. A story passed down through oral tradition may have strange twists and turns that is not the case in other genres of literature.
Assessment of Visual Appeal: The artwork is very indicative of folk art. The backdrop is mainly brown but with few splashes of color on some pages. Bold black lines sketch characters and select objects important to the story. These remind of cave drawings and add to the mystique of a folktale.
Genre: Traditional Literature - Folktale
Intended Audience: Preschool - 3rd Grade
Curriculum Connection: Within the kindergarten curriculum, students must be able to make predictions about stories using illustrations and the text. Using the cover picture and the title, students could predict a vast array of plots and themes. Even the ending of the story leaves room for interpretation where students could also be tasked to answer "What happens next?"
Personal Reaction: I was entralled with this book and had the feeling that I was reading a mystery. It kept me wondering to myself, what is about to happen? And where will this end? I did find the ending a bit confusing but the rest of book had me so interested that I had to do some extra research on this story. I discovered that it is a folktale and that added to the strange ending. A story passed down through oral tradition may have strange twists and turns that is not the case in other genres of literature.
Assessment of Visual Appeal: The artwork is very indicative of folk art. The backdrop is mainly brown but with few splashes of color on some pages. Bold black lines sketch characters and select objects important to the story. These remind of cave drawings and add to the mystique of a folktale.
November 27, 2011
This was a beautifully illustrated book and I am a fan of Ed Young's artwork. His work reminds me of Eric Carle. The illustrations are muted and fit the theme of the story. The story itself was confusing for me but I did like the end. It is the story of a traveler who is looking for a place to stay for the night. He finds a house and asked the first person he sees for permission to stay and is told he must ask the man's father. The traveler does so only to be told the same thing by that person. The traveler does this until he gets to the 7th father and is given the wonderful gift of food and shelter. The story keeps the reader guessing by telling the reader that the end is another story. It is an interesting traditional Norweigean tale.
June 2, 2012
Age: 1st - 3rd grade
"In the midst of a fearsome blizzard, a weary traveler seeks refuge from the cold." Each old gentleman he asks for a room, he is sent to their father. Meant as a storytale, Seven Fathers loses its clarity and intent. The author explains that "we are all connected to the ones who came before us and the spiritual origins that underpin our entire existence." But the story ends too mysteriously without character development. Perhaps in the story told aloud, characters are given in voice but there is nothing to indicate itself in this picture book. Earthy, darker pictures also fail to reveal much characterization. Unfortunately, the author fails to give alternate titles that may lead to other tellings.
"In the midst of a fearsome blizzard, a weary traveler seeks refuge from the cold." Each old gentleman he asks for a room, he is sent to their father. Meant as a storytale, Seven Fathers loses its clarity and intent. The author explains that "we are all connected to the ones who came before us and the spiritual origins that underpin our entire existence." But the story ends too mysteriously without character development. Perhaps in the story told aloud, characters are given in voice but there is nothing to indicate itself in this picture book. Earthy, darker pictures also fail to reveal much characterization. Unfortunately, the author fails to give alternate titles that may lead to other tellings.
October 1, 2011
A traveler is desperately seeking shelter from the cold when he stumbles on a dwelling place. When he asks to spend the night, he is sent from one person to the next. This retelling of a Norwegian folktale leaves readers wondering what happened the next morning and prompts readers to ask several questions about the whole ordeal. Ed Young's cut paper collages perfectly replicate the traveler's battle with the cold and the snow, and some of the illustrations are stunning in their beauty. Young readers are likely to be confused or annoyed by the story, but older ones may relate to having a request passed on someone else and then someone else.
October 19, 2011
2011 - Traditional Literature
This is a retelling of a Norwegian folk tale, where a desperate traveler finds himself in need of a place to stay to avoid dying in the harsh snow storm. The traveler finds a house and asks if he may stay the night. However, the man he asked was not the father of the house. The man leads the traveler to the next father, who leads him to the next, and so on. I will be honest and say that I really did not understand the ending or the point of the story. I would need to do a lot more research before I would present this to my students.
This is a retelling of a Norwegian folk tale, where a desperate traveler finds himself in need of a place to stay to avoid dying in the harsh snow storm. The traveler finds a house and asks if he may stay the night. However, the man he asked was not the father of the house. The man leads the traveler to the next father, who leads him to the next, and so on. I will be honest and say that I really did not understand the ending or the point of the story. I would need to do a lot more research before I would present this to my students.
December 22, 2011
This was another selection for the Mock Caldecott awards from my local library system. I had never heard of the story, which was based off a Norwegian folktale about a young man lost in a snowstorm who finds himself at a house seeking shelter and rest, and has to ask everyone in the house before he can do so. The story just dragged on for awhile and then I didn't really understand parts of the ending. I hesitate to give any Ed Young illustrated book this few stars, but I liked the cut-paper illustrations but not the story. Recommended for ages 7+, 2 stars.
July 21, 2013
A cold and weary traveler seeks refuge from the harsh winter weather and inquires about a room, but is sent on a journey within a journey to find the right father to grant his request.
I liked the language of this tale, the familiar replies that make up the refrain, the progressive aging of the fathers, the long-awaited yes to the traveler's desperate inquiry.
Illustrations consist of cut-paper collage.
Young reader may be frustrated by the many questions this tale invites, but older audiences (upper elementary-middle school) should be able to have a good discussion.
I liked the language of this tale, the familiar replies that make up the refrain, the progressive aging of the fathers, the long-awaited yes to the traveler's desperate inquiry.
Illustrations consist of cut-paper collage.
Young reader may be frustrated by the many questions this tale invites, but older audiences (upper elementary-middle school) should be able to have a good discussion.
April 19, 2016
The lovely illustrations of Caldecott award winner Ed Young augment the telling of this Norwegian folk tale wherein a weary traveler is stranded in a huge snow storm. As the precipitation pounds his face and clothes, he is greatly relieved in finding shelter.
Entering, he asks for a room to stay, he is sent to successive fathers. His patience is rewarded with a large feast and lovely shelter.
While the tale is open ended in meaning, I tried not to be frustrated, and instead focused on the incredible art work of this incredible artist.
Entering, he asks for a room to stay, he is sent to successive fathers. His patience is rewarded with a large feast and lovely shelter.
While the tale is open ended in meaning, I tried not to be frustrated, and instead focused on the incredible art work of this incredible artist.
December 17, 2011
I read this one as a consideration for a picture book award. I did not like it. I felt the story needed more details. As is I don't think kids will grasp the meaning nor find it terribly exciting. I did like the ending in that it leaves the child to ponder what will happen the next morning.
Premise of book is a Norwegian folk tale about a traveler who is looking for a place to spend the night and must ask each succesive father whether he can stay.
Premise of book is a Norwegian folk tale about a traveler who is looking for a place to spend the night and must ask each succesive father whether he can stay.
April 18, 2013
better for lap time or independent reading than story time. Pictures are largely monochromatic (browns) and done in mixed media, which makes for interesting textures up close but likely blurs into a mess from farther away. Also, tale is kind of wordy on some pages. Story is comfortably predictable though, and silly (ridiculous) in places, which may help hold interest.
May 18, 2011
I think this is a beautiful read-aloud for elementary school kids, in a classroom, or one-on-one at home. My wish: That every child who asks, "What does THAT mean?" at the end of the book gets this answer from their grown-up: "What do YOU think?"
December 12, 2011
Genre: Traditional Literature Picture Book. This book has the most gorgeous illustrations!!! The spiritual quest of the traveler has so many layered meanings it could be used in many ways in the classroom. One of my favorite picture books so far.
May 12, 2012
While the illustrations are evocative and beautiful, and the narrative smooth and full of lovely repeating elements, ultimately this left me confused and perplexed. I can't see young children being able to connect with it or figure out the metaphorical meanings of the many fathers.
May 22, 2013
I didn't get this one at all, illustrations are dark and text is hard to see on the page. While I appreciate the attempt to retell a traditional tale from Norway, I feel this has book has little appeal for children.
January 29, 2016
I would love to see more spareness in the book's language and more specificity in the books illustrations. Even so, it's a lovely book that could open up many interesting discussions in a second or third grade classroom, and the textures in the collage illustrations are compelling.
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April 16, 2011This is different. It will be interesting to see how a variety of readers respond to it. I think it might be more appreciated by older readers who might be able to analyze it on multiple levels.
May 2, 2011
A beautifully illustrated Norwegian folktale about hospitality.
July 1, 2011
A cold and tired traveler is looking for the father of the house to have a place to stay and learns a lot in the process.
September 25, 2011
With unique illustrations by Ed Young, this retelling of a Norwegian folktale about a lone traveler on a snowy night makes for an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews