Reviews: (by author)

(2 reviews)

Hoban, Russell. A Bargain for Frances. Illus. Lillian Hoban. New York: Scholastic, 1970. Paperback, hardback, and cassette available.

A Bargain for Frances is but one tale among the well-known series written by the Hobans about Frances the Badger. These stories are carefully crafted around Frances the Badger's early life experiences and serve to inform, educate, and entertain young readers.

In A Bargain for Frances, the action begins when little Frances goes off to play teatime with her best friend, Thelma. After a bit of fun playing teatime, Frances and Thelma become absorbed in a conversation debating the differences between tea sets. Frances asserts that china tea sets are better than the plastic one with red flowers that Thelma owns. This argument continues until Thelma convinces Frances that the china tea sets are no longer made, and that Frances would do well do buy the plastic one that Thelma owes. In a surprising twist, we learn that Thelma, upon receiving Frances' two dollars and seventeen cents for the plastic set, is discovered by Frances' sister, Gloria, in the act of purchasing a china tea set exactly like the one Frances desires. The cost of this tea set is exactly what Frances paid for Thelma's plastic one. In essence, Thelma only dupes Frances out of the two dollars and seventeen cents Frances has, only to fulfill her own selfish desire to own a china tea set. We know that Frances also believes that the china ones are far more expensive, and yet, desiring her very own set, acquiesces to purchasing Thelma's plastic one instead. Ultimately, Frances confronts Thelma and her deceitful scheme to obtain money for a tea set she knew that Frances wanted and could very well afford. They realize that friendship and caring are more important than self-betterment.

This gentle tale is slow-paced, well crafted, and engaging. The dialogue between these two badger friends is so perfect in its verisimilitude that one almost imagines the author transcribed it from a conversation he has heard himself between two youngsters. The piece is an excellent primer for second and third grade readers and uses dialogue, thematic involvement, and characterization with excellent detail. The teacher or parent would do well to investigate this wonderful piece. I recommend it for its literary merits, teaching potential, and communication of themes for young people.

Farhang Pernoon Nov. '02

 

Hoban, Russell. Bedtime for Frances. Illus. Garth Williams. New York: Harper and Row, 1960. Paperback, hardback, and cassette. Spanish version, too.

With Bedtime For Frances, Russell Hoban begins the Frances the Badger series. This sweet bedtime tale finds Frances the little badger cub unable to go to bed. She envisions tigers, giants, and monsters lurking in her room and strives to find solace from these imaginary creatures in the form of advice from her parents. After numerous attempts to evade these thieves of sleep (including alphabet rhyming games), she is still unable to fall asleep. Her father soon grows increasingly frustrated with little Frances and sternly reassures her that these phenomena do not exist. Moreover, he explains that the wind, another cause of Frances' distress, is doing its job by shaking the windowpanes. He also teaches her that everyone and everything has a job: his job requires that he arrive at the office at nine every morning, Frances' job is to attend school, and the wind's job is to blow. Reassured by this lesson, she understands that the most recent cause of her inability to sleep, a moth banging against her window, is not intent on haunting her sleep, but merely doing its job.

Russell Hoban helped create the initial prototype of modern children's literature that entertains, teaches important reading skills, and communicates moral and life lessons. The beauty of his style is that he accomplishes these goals simultaneously. Adults and children working with this text will find that Hoban's multi-layered approach to literature is simply a joy to immerse oneself in. The illustrations, opportunities for discussion regarding the badger family's concerns and conversation, and traditional content matter facilitate a quick, strong connection for young readers. Most importantly, this text serves as an excellent reading primer. Utilizing components such as dialogue, repetition, simple italicization, secondary alphabet review (Frances sings the alphabet to lull herself to sleep), as well as rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration, Bedtime for Frances both reinforces first through fourth grade skills and allows endless room for direct or primary teaching opportunities in the event that the student has not been exposed to any of the skills found within the text.

The strength of this piece lies in the fact that it accomplishes the communication of these skills via characters and a storyline that children can connect to with ease. What child has not been unable to fall asleep for fear of giants and monsters in the closet? This piece proves why Hoban's Frances series paved the way for many modern American reading primers. Bedtime for Frances teaches while it entertains, and comforts while it informs.

FP Nov. '02

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