Medio Pollito

Bibliographic Data: 

 

Kimmel, Eric A. 2010. Medio Pollito: a Spanish tale. Ill.by Docampo, Valeria. Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish.
ISBN 9780761457053

Plot Summary:

Medio Pollito: a Spanish tale is an adaption of a Hispanic folktale. The adaption begins with a strange shaped egg. After the egg hatches an odd looking chick is revealed; a half-chick with only one wing, one leg, one eye, and half a beak and comb. He is appropriately named Medio Pollito, which means half-chick. Medio Pollito, having an adventurous spirit, decides to set out on a journey and visit the king in Madrid, despite the disparaging remarks made by the other barnyard animals. Along the way, Medio Pollito encounters water in a stream that needs weeds cleared in order to flow, a fire that needs rekindling, and wind caught in the trees. Reluctantly, he helps each and is promised future help should he need them. Once he arrives in Madrid, a cook promising to take Medio Pollito to the king ends up trying to make him for dinner and places him in a pot to simmer. Fortunately, the favors Medio Pollito did earlier pay off because he is not boiled by the water in the pot and the fire refuses to burn under the pot. The cook angrily throws Medio Pollito out. Now discouraged and alone, Medio Pollito meets the wind once again who takes Medio Pollito to the top of the tallest cathedral in Madrid. Medio Pollito enjoys the view and decides he will stay at the top forever. The people of Madrid can now use Medio Pollito as a weather vane seeing which way the wind is blowing because he will be turned to the wind to discuss any news from home.

Critical Analysis:

Eric Kimmel’s adaptation of the pour quoi tale concerning an explanation for the weather vane is an interesting retelling that reveals positive themes including persistence, friendship, and gratitude. While Kimmel admits in his end note of the book that previous versions portray Medio Pollito to be “rude” and “selfish”, the “half-chick’s spirit of adventure” is what he chose to celebrate in his retelling. There is definitely a much more positive representation in Kimmel’s version. Valeria Docampo’s illustrations of the little half-chick are rich in detail and color using acrylic paints. Each illustration follows the story effectively and enhances the overall experience of Kimmel’s storytelling.

Review Excerpt(s):

Children’s Literature review, 2010:
“Both the density of the text and the complexity of the tale make this a welcome addition to collections of folktales for late primary and middle school rather than preschool classrooms.”
 

Kirkus review, September 2010:

“The lush acrylics complement the veteran re teller's engaging, straightforward unfurling of the tale. Definitely make room for this wholehearted book on the shelf.”

 

Booklist, September 2010;

“The question ultimately answered here—how did weather vanes come to be?—may not be one that naturally occurs to many kids, but it serves as a happy ending for Medio Pollito.”
 

Connections:

*Before reading the story aloud, bring in a weather vane to display. Ask students what it is and if they have seen one before. This will serve as a good introduction to the folktale and a nice “prop” to refer to after the story.

*Make some decorative weather vanes. Here is a website with instruction and an example: http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/craftdetails3.cfm?CraftID=228

*Refer to the Vimeo reading of Medio Pollito; a Spanish Tale told by the author: http://vimeo.com/15007234

Another version of the Medio Pollito folktale:

Ada, Alma Flor. Medio Pollito/Half-Chick ISBN 9780440413608