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Summary
Summary
A young cowboy makes a seemingly unkeepable deal and wins the hand of his true love.
Author Notes
Eric Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1946. He received a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Lafayette College. He also has a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Illinois.
He was an elementary school teacher and college professor before becoming a full-time writer. He has published over fifty titles, many of which have won state and national awards. His titles "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" won the Caldecott Honor Medal, "The Chanukkah Guest" and "Gershon's Monster" won the Sydney Taylor Picture Book Award and "Anansi and the Talking Melon" won the Utah Children's Choice Award.
Kimmel travels nationally and internationally visiting schools and talking about his books and telling stories.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-In this rough-and-tumble version of "The Bearskin," cowboy Lucky Doolin is just not good enough to marry his boss's daughter, Shelby. So he leaves Oregon for Denver and meets a sinister traveler on the train, who convinces him to accept a mortal wager: if he doesn't groom himself for seven years, he'll receive a lifetime of good fortune. But break this vow, and his soul is forever lost. Lucky agrees and luck and riches abound, but he grows more grizzly and frightening each year. Back at the ranch almost seven years later, Shelby is about to wed a shifty lawyer in order to extricate her father from financial ruin. In the nick of time (and one hour before the wager is up), Lucky arrives and convinces Shelby to marry him. He willingly condemns his soul to the devil in order to clean up for the ceremony. His luck holds though, for the devil hadn't reckoned with the one-hour change in time zones. As the newlyweds head off on their honeymoon, the dastardly attorney is seen cutting a deal with you-know-who. Down-home dialogue, humorous understatement, and the requisite amount of suspense result in a brisk and lively read. Glass's oil-stick and watercolor illustrations are aptly exaggerated and melodramatic; as Lucky becomes Grizz, he is both terrifying and deserving of sympathy. An author's note credits the sources of the folktale and provides a brief history of time zones. A fine addition to storytimes, and a worthy companion to Anne Isaacs's Swamp Angel (Dutton, 1994) and Diane Stanley's Saving Sweetness (Putnam, 1996).-Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Complemented by Glass's offbeat, textured illustrations, this tall tale about Lucky Doolin, a lovelorn cowboy who makes a deal with the devil, hinges on the difference between time zones. For a lifetime of good fortune, Lucky can't wash or shave for exactly seven years, or he'll lose his soul, but the devil forgets the hour's difference. This cumbersome time-zone twist doesn't provide the clever payoff you'd expect. From HORN BOOK Fall 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The 'Bearskin' fairy tale by the Grimm brothers is retold with a western flavor. Rejected by Shelby's father as a suitor for his daughter, Lucky Doolin makes a pact with the devil in return for her hand and countless riches. The deal is that he can't wash, shave or trim his hair and nails for seven years. Yuck! Shelby is about to marry a despicable lawyer before her 25th birthday just to receive her inheritance, but Lucky Doolin shows up, looking like a grizzly bear. Despite his unkempt appearance, Shelby recognizes her sweetheart instantaneously and agrees to marriage. The Devil eagerly cuts Lucky's hair and helps him bathe believing the seven years are not yet up, but the one-hour time change between Pacific Standard Time is in Doolin's favor. Andrew Glass's (Bad Guys, 1998, etc.) illustrations of a man turned beast will make even the strong squeamish. The importance of patience and perseverance is underscored in a story that proves goodness will prevail despite all odds and is sometimes funny as well. (Fiction. 4-8)