Author: - Arthur Ransome
Title: - The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
Illustrator: - Uri Shulevitz
Publisher: - Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Year: - 1968
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Folktale (Russian)
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Middle to Upper Elementary
Topics: - Caldecott Medal, folktales, extraordinary talents, Russia
Summary: - The Czar declares that he will give his daughter's hand in marriage to the man that brings him a flying ship. The Fool of the World, a simple peasant whose own parents don't even remember him most of the time, embarks on an adventure in search of this flying ship. Along the way, the Fool meets a magical old man who gives the Fool directions to find a flying ship and tells the Fool that he must give everyone he encounters a ride in the ship on his way to the Czar. The Fool follows the man's directions and encounters several men with extraordinary talents. At the palace, the Czar makes the Fool pass numerous tests in order to win the Princess's hand in marriage. With the help of the friends he made along the way, the Fool succeeds. After marrying the Princess, the Fool became clever and lived happily ever after with his new wife.
Illustrator: - Uri Shulevitz
Publisher: - Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Year: - 1968
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Folktale (Russian)
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Middle to Upper Elementary
Topics: - Caldecott Medal, folktales, extraordinary talents, Russia
Summary: - The Czar declares that he will give his daughter's hand in marriage to the man that brings him a flying ship. The Fool of the World, a simple peasant whose own parents don't even remember him most of the time, embarks on an adventure in search of this flying ship. Along the way, the Fool meets a magical old man who gives the Fool directions to find a flying ship and tells the Fool that he must give everyone he encounters a ride in the ship on his way to the Czar. The Fool follows the man's directions and encounters several men with extraordinary talents. At the palace, the Czar makes the Fool pass numerous tests in order to win the Princess's hand in marriage. With the help of the friends he made along the way, the Fool succeeds. After marrying the Princess, the Fool became clever and lived happily ever after with his new wife.
Extension Activities: -
--Students imagine what type of extraordinary talent that they would like to have. They will write a short story about an adventure or task in which their talent would prove useful and help save the day or solve a problem. The extraordinary talent should be more creative than the common ideas of having x-ray vision, flying, or being bullet proof.
--Students compare and contrast the hero in this story (the Fool of the World) with the hero/heroine in folktales from other countries (such as Snow White or Jack and the Beanstalk.) For example: How does having a peasant or having royalty as the main characters change the mood of the story? What are some themes that are similar across cultures? What are some that are different?
--Students imagine what type of extraordinary talent that they would like to have. They will write a short story about an adventure or task in which their talent would prove useful and help save the day or solve a problem. The extraordinary talent should be more creative than the common ideas of having x-ray vision, flying, or being bullet proof.
--Students compare and contrast the hero in this story (the Fool of the World) with the hero/heroine in folktales from other countries (such as Snow White or Jack and the Beanstalk.) For example: How does having a peasant or having royalty as the main characters change the mood of the story? What are some themes that are similar across cultures? What are some that are different?
