LIBRARIES ARE FUN?: Module 2/Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

Don Quixote and the Windmills

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A., Leonard Everett Fisher, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. 2004. Don Quixote and the windmills. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN0374318255

Plot Summary

Don Quixote and the Windmills is a cautionary, but amusing tale of someone who loves adventure stories so much that he loses touch with reality. The delusional Don Quixote fights his infamous windmills with a gullible sidekick, Sancho. Quixote loses to his enemies disguised as windmills, or so he thinks, but presses on for more adventure so he can eventually win the love of his sweetheart.

Critical Analysis

This tale is an abrupt take that feels like it is missing the back story, but leaves the ending open for anyone’s imagination. The lesson to be learned is so prominently stated as well as being emphasized on almost every page that exhibits how silly Quixote is. Having working knowledge of this story would help anyone appreciate it more. The section in the very back of the book gives the history of Don Quixote and the original author, Miguel de Cervantes Saaverdra. That section also explains the windmills, the image most people think of when hearing, “Don Quixote.”

The story’s art, by Leonard Everett Fisher, is amazing. Even though the pictures are not overly detailed, great expressions convey so much with the help of the use of contrasting colors. Sancho’s eyes proclaim how frightened he is while hanging onto Quixote who is hanging from a windmill arm. Rocinante’s, his horse, face displays clear displeasure at the end of the book when Quixote continues on for more adventure.

Overall, this is a decent, brief introduction to the story of Don Quixote for young children. They would appreciate most the silly humor Eric Kimmel uses. The handsome illustrations would be appreciated by all, especially the great facial expressions throughout.

Review Excerpts

BookList: “The telling here is staid, leaving the art to express most of the excitement.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: “This retelling won't send kids scurrying off to read Cervantes, but those taken with knightly deeds (and not yet ready for the ironic epics of Gerald Morris) may find a taste for this streamlined adventure.”

School Library Journal: “Kimmel's narrative maintains the wry tone of Cervantes's original, ensuring that readers see the "truth" while the Don is deluded. … An ideal appetite whetter for older students, this version also makes an iconic literary figure accessible to younger students.”

Connections

Have a discussion on whether students know anyone who is too enthralled with something like Don Quixote was with adventure (reading Harry Potter books, playing video games, etc.).

Have children take a well known story, like Snow White, and have them pick out the one part that could represent the story as a whole well.

Other Eric Kimmel books:
Anansi and the Talking Melon ISBN 0874993393
I Took My Frog to the Library ISBN 0874994047
Gershon's Monster: A Story For The Jewish New Year ISBN 043910839X
Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan ISBN 0064421317