The Great Race (review)

In this Indonesian folktale, Kanchil the mouse deer, who is certain that he is the fastest animal in all the forest, challenges the other forest animals to a race, a challenge met only by Pelan the Snail. Cocky Kanchil mockingly agrees to race the snail, but he loses both that race and the rematch he indignantly insists upon. A double-page spread reveals the punchline and the trickster's secret: the snail has a twin brother ("The two snails were happy to have taught Kanchil a lesson!"). A note explains that Kanchil is a legendary trickster in his own right, so this tale is actually turning the tables by making him the butt of the joke. This clever adaptation is brought vividly to life in the artwork of Jagdish Chitara, an Indian artist from Gujarat, India, who uses a traditional textile format: the palette is exclusively deep red and black set against cream colored pages, and the compositions are block printed and then hand painted. Similar to Arni's Sita's Ramayana (BCCB 12/11), this is a remarkable vehicle for introducing a lesser-known folk art form to children as well as being a wonderful addition to trickster-tale collections. An extensive note about Chitara's craft is included, along with photographs of the process.