This is a wonderful multicultural picture book! Virginia Hamilton has created a version of the West Indian tale that is similar to the German version of Rumplestiltskin. Her writing begs to be read out loud, with her reflection of the West Indian speech pattern. This story would be great for students because most of them have heard one version or another of this story and this one is told in such a way that is gripping and familiar at the same time. Even though you know how it eventually ends, you are unable to put it down! The story begins by describing in detail about the tiny fellow known as "Lit'mahn". The girl named Quashiba and her mother are out under a tree, spinning thread. They are talking and laughing, when Big King rides by and asks, almost rudely, what all the noise is about. Her mother then tells the king that they are celebrating because her daughter is spinning gold thread for the king. The king then says he will marry her because he wants all that for himself. Quashiba is very upset at her mother's fib, but marries Big King. The king tells his new wife that at the end of a year and a day, she must start filling three rooms up with golden things. At the end of a year and a day, Big King locks Queen Quashiba in a room and demands that she fill it with golden things. She is sad and afraid because she only knows how to spin plain thread. Lit'mahn overhears and makes an appearance, offering to solve her troubles. He gives her three days and three guesses each day to say his name. If she is unable to, he will turn her tiny just like him and take her off to live with him. She agrees and he proceeds to put her to sleep and then creates golden things within the room. This version of a familiar folktale has a different twist on the ending than the usual American version that you may have grown up reading. I'm not going to give it away, you will have to read it for yourself! The illustrations are very vibrant and almost seem to pop off the page. Leo and Diane Dillon, the illustrators, used metallic paint and also gold leaf to help convey texture and enrich the mood and meaning of the story. I chose this book because of the author and her reputation of being a great writer. This is the first story I have read by Virginia Hamilton and I would definitely read more!
Big Question(s): How would you compare/contrast this version of the folktale to the German version? The English version?
How do you think the king feels toward at Quashiba at the beginning of the story? The middle? The end?
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