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We challenge you to find a lesson in this Jewish folktale about a grumpy old bachelor from Morocco who drops his bean snack down a well. Perhaps it is a morality tale condemning greed? One might think so, since the bachelor gets so upset about dropping one cooked bean that he incurs the wrath of the well-dwelling imp. But... no. The imp (who hates a racket) simply gives him a magic pot so that h... More

We challenge you to find a lesson in this Jewish folktale about a grumpy old bachelor from Morocco who drops his bean snack down a well. Perhaps it is a morality tale condemning greed? One might think so, since the bachelor gets so upset about dropping one cooked bean that he incurs the wrath of the well-dwelling imp. But... no. The imp (who hates a racket) simply gives him a magic pot so that he can eat all the snacks he could ever want, bean or otherwise. Perhaps it is a lesson of discretion, since when the bachelor brags about his pot to all the villagers, a jealous woman steals it. No. The imp just gives him another pot, this time one that will give him all the plates and cups he demands--gold, silver, the works. When the jealous woman steals that one, the imp gives him yet another one, this time a pot that reveals the reflection of the thief in possession of the bachelor's two pots. Ah. Will it be a lesson in justice? No. The bachelor who rushes to confront the old thief is so enchanted by her nasty temper and bad manners that he asks her to marry him: "And from then on, I am happy to say, their quarrels could be heard from one end of town to the other!" As charmingly perplexing as this tale is, readers will perhaps be most taken by Shelley Fowles's gorgeous, quirky illustrations, as rich and vibrant as anything ever painted on the side of a magic pot. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

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