Ashley Ramsden

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.… (més)

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.… (més)