To her series of retellings (The Egyptian Cinderella, 1989; The
Korean Cinderella, 1993) Climo adds this Irish version featuring a
large-footed male character sometimes called Billy Beg and here
named Becan. The magical being that aids the cinderlad is a
speckled bull that, like the fish in the Chinese variant, Yeh-Shen,
dies, leaving Becan with its tail as a weapon of extraordinary
power. Becan wins the heart of Princess Finola by rescuing her from
a sea serpent in a scene reminiscent of the story of Perseus and
Andromeda; the princess traces him by means of his giant-sized
boot; they live happily ever after. The sturdy, forthright telling
is accompanied by pretty, predominantly blue, green, and purple
paintings that show simply drawn human figures surrounded by highly
detailed animals and landscape. Thousands of brush strokes render
flower-spangled turf, the downy feathers of geese and seabirds, and
the shaggy hides of cattle, horses, and donkeys. With an author's
note on sources, this is a good addition to folklore collections
and a must for collectors of Cinderella variants. (Kirkus Reviews)
A hero's feats?Ever since he was a baby, Becan's only worry has been his big feet--until his widowed father remarries. His new stepmothr and her three daughters feed him crusts of bread and banish him to work in the fields. So Becan runs away.
With the help of his only friend, a magical bull, he defeats a giant, slays a dragon, and rescues a princess. But before she can thank him, Becan disappears, leaving behind him one of his enormous boots. The princess scours the kingdom for the owner of the giant boot. Will Becan's feet give him away? And what will his fate be if they do?
Folklorist Shirley Climo retells an age-old Irish tale that is an unusual twist on the popular Cinderella story. Just like his female counterpart, Becan has a mean stepmother and stepsisters. Unlike Cinderella, Becan has large feet and a magical bull for a fairy godmother. He defeats a sword-swinging giant, slays a fire-breathing dragon, and rescues a princess. But before the princess can thank him, he runs off, leaving her with only an enormous boot to aid her in the search for her rescuer. And, as in all Cinderella stories, true love prevails.
Folklorist Shirley Climo retells an age-old Irish tale that is an unusual twist on the popular Cinderella story. Just like his female counterpart, Becan has a mean stepmother and stepsisters. Unlike Cinderella, Becan has large feet and a magical bull for a fairy godmother. He defeats a sword-swinging giant, slays a fire-breathing dragon, and rescues a princess. But before the princess can thank him, he runs off, leaving her with only an enormous boot to aid her in the search for her rescuer. And, as in all Cinderella stories, true love prevails.
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