Jolie Blonde and the Three Héberts: A Cajun Twist to an Old Tale
Kindergarten-Grade 4  In this version of the story, Goldilocks is called Jolie Blonde (pretty blonde), and the Three Bears are actually three humans the Heberts (pronounced AY-bair)who live on the bayou. Mama Hebert makes gumbo that is left to cool while the family goes for a pirogue (boat) ride, with the predictable results. The text is sprinkled with Cajun expressions that are explained at the bottom of each page. First published with black-and-white illustrations (Blue Heron, 1993; o.p.), this edition is a big improvement, with Sopers colorful drawings in glowing pastels. The appended gumbo recipe is easy enough for any jolie blonde. Of especial interest to Louisiana libraries, this story can also serve as additional material for large collections. It will work well as a one-on-one lesson on Cajun-French words or as a group read-aloud sharing of a unique bit of culture.Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.