Folktales from Around the World: The Bear Prince

Barbara Auerbach, P.S. 217, Brooklyn, NY -- School Library Journal, 7/2/2009

Folktales from Around the World: The Bear Prince. DVD. 11:56 min. with tchr’s. guide. Prod. by Colman Communications. Dist. by 100% Educational Media (schoolvideos.com). 2008. $39.95.

K-Gr 4–While this animated Mexican fairy tale will be new to most viewers, the story contains familiar elements from such popular tales as “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Puss in Boots.” One day a poor woodcutter encounters an angry bear in the forest. Furious that the man presumed to cut his trees without permission, the beast agrees to spare his life if he can marry one of the cutter’s three daughters. The youngest, Rosa, agrees to the match. Once married, she discovers that the bear is actually bewitched by an evil spirit. Each evening he chants and turns into a handsome prince; each morning, he must chant again and assume his bear form. Rosa promises never to tell his secret, but when she visits her family, her sisters’ teasing causes her to break her word. Upon hearing of the spell, her oldest sister suggests she tie her husband to his bed at night so he will be unable to chant in the morning, and thus break the spell. The sorrowful prince explains that as she has broken both her promise and the spell, he must disappear. After searching for years, the Sun and the Wind direct her to the Castle of Faith, where she finds the prince, about to marry the evil spirit who first cast the spell. After a series of magical transformations, Rosa is able to defeat the spirit. She and her prince live happily ever after. The father and eldest sister are comical characters, one fat, the other ugly, both with exaggerated accents. The animation has humor, drama, and magic enough to enchant young viewers and also introduce bit of Mexican culture.

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