Love and Roast Chicken

Starred review from November 1, 2004
K-Gr 4-Cuy, a clever guinea pig, manages to escape three times from a hungry fox. In their final encounter, Cuy, trapped by a sticky doll and tied to a tree by a farmer, talks T'o Antonio into switching places with him. The plot moves along smoothly and is punctuated by humorous dialogue. An author's note includes a simple map of the region, an explanation of a trickster tale, and several sources for the story. A glossary provides a pronunciation guide for the Spanish and Quechua words incorporated into the text. Knutson's boldly outlined, vibrant woodcut-and-watercolor artwork captures the mischievous nature of the guinea pig. Observant children will delight in the visual and cultural details and in the energy of these illustrations. A thoroughly enjoyable tale that deserves a place in most libraries.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2004
PreS-Gr. 2. With echoes of "Tar Baby" and other African American trickster tales, this lively yarn from Peru and Bolivia focuses on Cuy, a wily guinea pig that uses its brain to outwit a hungry fox and a powerful farmer. The dramatic wood-block artwork, with thick black lines and bright watercolors, first shows tiny Cuy, high in the Andes Mountains, in search of something to eat. Along comes the fox Tio Antonio hunting Cuy, who escapes by convincing the fox that the sky is falling and tricking him to hold it up with a rock. Later, after being trapped by a farmer's sticky gum doll and marked for the farmer's dinner, Cuy deceives the fox into taking his place. Knutson, who has lived in Peru, includes an author's note as well as a glossary and pronunciation guides for the Spanish and Quechua words that are part of the text. An appealing tale of a trickster being tricked, this has solid child appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

Starred review from November 1, 2004
In this delightfully sly Peruvian folktale, Cuy the Guinea Pig twice tricks Tio Antonio the Fox to avoid being eaten; afterward, not wanting to push his luck, Cuy (pronounced kwee, Quechuan for guinea pig) heads down to the valley to keep out of the fox's way. Disguised in a poncho and hat, devious Cuy is hired to tend an alfalfa field ("'What a small man,' thought the farmer"). It's the perfect scheme: Cuy plans to work by day and gorge himself on alfalfa by night. But the farmer has a trick of his own -- involving a sticky gum doll (cousin to Brer Rabbit's tar baby) -- to catch the alfalfa thief. The plot twists and turns energetically; in the end, Cuy saves himself from becoming dinner by fooling Tio Antonio yet again. Knutson's robust prints, characterized by heavy black lines and subdued colors, are remarkably effective in conveying expressions and humor. An author's note discusses sources (Knutson says she "combined and rearranged my favorite versions"), and a glossary/pronunciation guide translates the Spanish words and phrases that infuse the narrative. As the farmer says about Cuy, Que tramposo! What a trickster!

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2005
The plot twists and turns energetically in this delightfully sly Peruvian folktale in which Cuy the Guinea Pig, to avoid being eaten, tricks Tio Antonio the Fox three times. Knutson's robust prints are remarkably effective in conveying expressions and humor. An author's note discusses sources, and a glossary/pronunciation guide translates the Spanish words and phrases that infuse the narrative.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)