A Jewish folktale from Morocco When a grumpy old bachelor loses his last bean down a well, he is hopping mad. To his amazement, a devilish imp leaps out of the well and gives him a magic pot to keep him quiet. After hearing what the pot can do, a neighbor – a mean, jealous old lady – steals the bachelor’s pot, replacing it with a useless one of her own. The grumpy old bachelor is incensed, but when he eventually butts heads with the grumpy old thief, it turns out she is more of a match for him than he had ever bargained for. The shenanigans in this sprightly illustrated folktale demonstrate with aplomb that romance, like magic, sometimes lurks in unexpected places. We challenge you to find a lesson in this Jewish folktale about a grumpy old bachelor from Morocco who drops his bean snack down a well. Perhaps it is a morality tale condemning greed? One might think so, since the bachelor gets so upset about dropping one cooked bean that he incurs the wrath of the well-dwelling imp. But... no. The imp (who hates a racket) simply gives him a magic pot so that he can eat all the snacks he could ever want, bean or otherwise. Perhaps it is a lesson of discretion, since when the bachelor brags about his pot to all the villagers, a jealous woman steals it. No. The imp just gives him another pot, this time one that will give him all the plates and cups he demands--gold, silver, the works. When the jealous woman steals that one, the imp gives him yet another one, this time a pot that reveals the reflection of the thief in possession of the bachelor’s two pots. Ah. Will it be a lesson in justice? No. The bachelor who rushes to confront the old thief is so enchanted by her nasty temper and bad manners that he asks her to marry him: "And from then on, I am happy to say, their quarrels could be heard from one end of town to the other!" As charmingly perplexing as this tale is, readers will perhaps be most taken by Shelley Fowles’s gorgeous, quirky illustrations, as rich and vibrant as anything ever painted on the side of a magic pot. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson PreSchool-Grade 3-A grumpy old bachelor drops a bean down a well inhabited by an imp. To stop his complaints, the imp gives him a magic pot that produces food on command. The bachelor's jealous neighbor steals the vessel and its replacement. A third pot reveals the thief's identity to the bachelor. But when he confronts the nasty old lady, he realizes that he has found a woman as bad-tempered as he, and their marriage results in a "quarreling ever after" conclusion. Loosely based on a Jewish folktale, the story is set in Morocco. The full-color, bright illustrations offer some sense of locale; the use of patterns in clothing design and in the borders for text blocks adds visual interest, and viewers can also follow the activities of the bachelor's dog. This is an acceptable addition for large folktale collections, but neither plot developments nor illustrations are compelling enough to make the book a first purchase. Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. PreS-Gr. 2. When a "grumpy old bachelor" in Morocco accidentally drops a stew bean down a well, his whining rouses an imp. In exchange for the lost bean, the imp offers a magic pot that produces food on command, much to the delight of the bachelor and his neighbors, one of whom, a "jealous old lady," steals the pot. When the bachelor returns to the well to complain, the imp offers him another pot; this time one that produces dishes and cups. Again the old lady steals it. The imp's third pot reveals the thief's identity, and when the bachelor confronts her, he is smitten by her "nasty temper" and "awful manners." The two sourpusses marry and assume joint ownership of the pots. Fowles' retelling of this Jewish folktale is lively, funny, and perfectly paced for read-alouds. But it's her watercolor-and-ink illustrations that are most distinctive. Young children will enjoy the shimmering colors and swirling patterns, reminiscent of Jane Ray's artwork, that show the town bustle and the humor as sparks fly between the crabby, adoring couple. Gillian Engberg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Lively, funny, and perfectly paced for read-alouds...young children will enjoy the shimmering colors and swirling patterns." -- Booklist "Fowles retells this Jewish-Moroccan tale with a twist of humor, enormous splashes of color, and a finale that has the couple marrying under a huppah...a clever twist that will bring smiles during each reading." -- Kirkus Reviews Shelly Fowles was born in South Africa and lives in London, England. This is her first book.