Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (1995), Edition: Library Binding, 40 pages
Description
A retelling of the traditional tale from the French West Indies in which two friends, Clement and Hippolyte, encounter love, zombies, and danger on the island of Martinique.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ShannaThomp08
The Faithful Friend ny Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Brian Pinkney is a folktale about two men by the names of Hippolyte and Clement. Although not brothers by blood, Hippolyte and Clement became so close that called themselves brothers. Clement notices a young lady and decides that he cant
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live his life without her and decides to travel far and wide to ask her hand in marriage. On the way and as they journey back home Clement and Hippolyte run into some problems. The problems they encounter will leave you wondering..what will happen next. Show Less
LibraryThing member KerriL89
The Faithful Friend is a fictional picture book written by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. The story takes place on the island of Martinque in the Caribbean Sea. The main characters Clement and Hippolyte are inseparable and consider themselves to be more like brothers; this is
I thought the book was very enjoyable. The text combined with the illustrations told a really great story and helped me to easily imagine what was happening in the book. I also like the unrealistic aspects of the book. Obviously no one can really turn to stone like the women said in the book, but it made the story even more interesting. The book seems to be largely about being a faithful friend and a kind person. I agree with the author that you have to put others before yourself just as Hippolyte put Clement's safety before his own. That is a great example of true friendship. When I think about books about friendship, I always think about the Frog and Toad series. Even though the two characters are different, they are still great friends who love one another. In The Faithful Friend, Clement and Hippolyte are different races, but they are best friend nonetheless. Just as I believed before, I think you should always defend those who you love and put their needs before your own. The result will usually be greater in the end.
- I think if a teacher were to use this book, one thing that would be very important to consider is the theme of being a true and faithful friend. Adolescents are often pressured by peers to treat people a certain way, so I think it's very important to spend time on this subject.
- One thing that I think would be great to do with this book is to act out the story. I think students could really get into it, and it might help some who may have struggled with reading it to comprehend it better.
I think this could be a great book to use with my class, and if nothing else, I would keep it in the classroom library. It's very entertaining and great if you want a story about the importance of being a good friend. I think The Faithful Friend is a book that students will certainly enjoy.
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because Clement's mother passed away when he was born, and Hippolyte's mother help care for him. One day, Clement shows Hippolyte a painting of a young woman named Pauline, and he asks him to go with him to Macouba to ask her uncle for her hand in marriage. When Clement proposes to Pauline, her uncle is furious, but she goes anyways because she is of age. When they stop to rest for the night, Hippolyte finds three women casting a spell on Clement and Pauline as ordered by her uncle who is a wizard, but he cannot tell them because he will turn to stone if he does. He watches over them to keep them to prevent them from falling into the traps of the spells, but he is eventually forced to choose between his own safety and his best friend's.I thought the book was very enjoyable. The text combined with the illustrations told a really great story and helped me to easily imagine what was happening in the book. I also like the unrealistic aspects of the book. Obviously no one can really turn to stone like the women said in the book, but it made the story even more interesting. The book seems to be largely about being a faithful friend and a kind person. I agree with the author that you have to put others before yourself just as Hippolyte put Clement's safety before his own. That is a great example of true friendship. When I think about books about friendship, I always think about the Frog and Toad series. Even though the two characters are different, they are still great friends who love one another. In The Faithful Friend, Clement and Hippolyte are different races, but they are best friend nonetheless. Just as I believed before, I think you should always defend those who you love and put their needs before your own. The result will usually be greater in the end.
- I think if a teacher were to use this book, one thing that would be very important to consider is the theme of being a true and faithful friend. Adolescents are often pressured by peers to treat people a certain way, so I think it's very important to spend time on this subject.
- One thing that I think would be great to do with this book is to act out the story. I think students could really get into it, and it might help some who may have struggled with reading it to comprehend it better.
I think this could be a great book to use with my class, and if nothing else, I would keep it in the classroom library. It's very entertaining and great if you want a story about the importance of being a good friend. I think The Faithful Friend is a book that students will certainly enjoy.
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LibraryThing member Markell08
The Faithful Friend is a a ficiton book written by Robert D. San Souci and was illustrated by Brian Pinkney. The Faithful friend is also a early seventeenth century stage play. The Faithful friend is about a faithful friend. Clement (of Martinique in the Caribbean) and Hippolyte (of French descent)
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were friends, yet as close as brothers. They embark on a travel for Clement to propose marriage to a young woman that he fell in love with by sight of a picture only. Along the way they discovered the dead body of an old beggar in a banana grove. The good hearted young men provide a burial for the body and continued on their journey. After reaching their destination, all was well with the woman... but her Uncle did not care for a marriage between the two. The Uncle was also a wizard. He attempted to cast a spell on the young man who sought a wife, but the faithfulness of a friend caused none of the spells to work. On their journey home the friendship is demonstrated in more ways than one. The mystery that surrounds the spells and the faithfulness of the friend captures the readers attention. At one point I thought that I could predict the ending, but the author was too slick to let his readers be disappointed by having a predictable ending. This book is something I would recommend to young readers because its a great story and has great illustrations. I think it would likely make a young reader want to know a foregin language which is a valuable skill to know. Show Less
LibraryThing member kkcrossley
An interesting tale from the West Indies, where in one friend in saving the life of his friend gives up his life for the truth. The bad faeries are zombies in this story and the curse is ultimately returned to its source.
LibraryThing member AnnaMoody
The illustrations in this book are breath-taking. It is colorful but with a lot of black space. It is story of two friends traveling to find a woman that one is in love with. They encounter many difficulties along the way there as well as when they have arrived. The father of the woman does not
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want her to leave but wants to leave with her love. So, the two friends take her away with them. They encounter witches that have been instructed to poison the couple. But, the faithful friend does everything he can to ruin their plan so they stay alive. It is tale of true friendship. The book is a lengthy read and very wordy so I would not recommend it for a read-aloud but I was definitely have it in my class library. Show Less
LibraryThing member kikione
Brian Pinkney is the illustrator. This is a wonderful book about friendship and loyalty. One friend looks out for the other as he pursues the love of his life. The setting is in the Caribbean. Pinkney does a brilliant job of illustrating the story and the place with his unique style of scratchboard
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and oil pastels. Watch out for zombies! Show Less
LibraryThing member anniecate
Robert D. San Souci's, The Faithful Friend, is a fictional picture book. This book is about the lengths that a good friend would good through to protect another friend. Clement and Hippolyte are the main characters of the book and have been best friends since they were little. Clement proposes to
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very entertaining. The main issue that arises is how faithful a true friend should be. Hippolyte was more concerned with Clements safety than he was his own. This book makes me think about a passage from The Bible 15:13,14 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. The highest human exhibition of love that earth has ever seen was this". I believe this book exhibits this. Great picture book. This book has a very important moral lesson which is loyalty to the ones you love and care for. If you don't like supernatural occurrences I would not recommend this book.
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Pauline. Paulines uncle is a wizard and is disapproving of the marriage and casts a spell on them. Hippolyte goes through great lengths to protect his friend and his friends fiance. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very entertaining. The main issue that arises is how faithful a true friend should be. Hippolyte was more concerned with Clements safety than he was his own. This book makes me think about a passage from The Bible 15:13,14 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. The highest human exhibition of love that earth has ever seen was this". I believe this book exhibits this. Great picture book. This book has a very important moral lesson which is loyalty to the ones you love and care for. If you don't like supernatural occurrences I would not recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member ekstewar
Summary: The story of two best friends, Clement and Hippolyte who are cursed by an angry uncle-in-law-to-be. They encounter lots of mystical happenings on the island of Martinique that are traps set by the mad uncle to kill them.
Genre: Folktale
Personal Reflection: This story is both new and
Concept: This would be a good book to exemplify how to be a good friend, especially when kids are bullied, they need encouragement to stick by their friend in rough times.
Genre: Folktale
Personal Reflection: This story is both new and
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familiar. Many folktales are about a curse and then trying to break free from it, but with the different take on this story it makes it even more exciting. Concept: This would be a good book to exemplify how to be a good friend, especially when kids are bullied, they need encouragement to stick by their friend in rough times.
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LibraryThing member manich01
Can Clement save his master and friend without speak a word of the terrible truth he knows? This Caribbean revision of the European fairy tale "Faithful John" boasts dynamic illustrations and fluent narration that will surely engage even seasoned readers of folk tales.
LibraryThing member Bethany1221
The Faithful Friend is a story about two friends that grew up as close as brothers. Clement falls in love with a girl named Pauline. On their way back home after his proposal, Clements friend, Hippolyte, finds zombies that are trying to kill his friend and Pauline. He saves them each time and then
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turns into stone when he tells them that he has saved them three times. A man that they buried on the way to Paulines house saves Hippolyte and turns the spell it is original source. This book is a nice story about two best friends and how they would do anything for each other. Show Less
LibraryThing member rturba
Genre: Historical Fiction/myth
Age Appropriateness: primary/intermediate
Media: scratch-board and oil
Characterization: Clement is a round and static character. You know that his aspirations are to marry the beautiful Pauline. You also know how he is friends with Hippolyte and you know what kind of
Plot: Person against person/society
Review: I think is a good example of historical fiction. The elements of mystery and magic in it make it completely unbelievable, and there is distinction between good and evil that is so distinct it is unreal. Yet the story is believable, because it is set in The Caribbean Islands and is an accurate description of life in those islands. Also at the back of the book it talks about how the book is adapted from story telling and is a common myth told in those Islands.
Age Appropriateness: primary/intermediate
Media: scratch-board and oil
Characterization: Clement is a round and static character. You know that his aspirations are to marry the beautiful Pauline. You also know how he is friends with Hippolyte and you know what kind of
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lifestyle and family he comes from. However, in the book you never see him change his aspirations. He is pressing on towards the same end and he never changes his ideals.Plot: Person against person/society
Review: I think is a good example of historical fiction. The elements of mystery and magic in it make it completely unbelievable, and there is distinction between good and evil that is so distinct it is unreal. Yet the story is believable, because it is set in The Caribbean Islands and is an accurate description of life in those islands. Also at the back of the book it talks about how the book is adapted from story telling and is a common myth told in those Islands.
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LibraryThing member Collene_Kuznicki
The bright and beautiful illustrations of this story faithfully depict life on the tropical island of Martinique in the 1800’s, providing a useful lesson in culture for the reader and a feast for the eyes. The plot of the story unfolds quickly and in an engaging manner, leading the reader to
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hastily turn the pages to the exciting conclusion. The main themes are “friendship means caring more about the wellbeing of others than your own” and “what you wish upon others will return to you” (a lesson in karma). The even more overarching theme is “good conquers evil”, and that theme is played out expertly with plot twists that will leave the reader wondering how the story will end. Children of all ages would be entertained by the story and the illustrations, and would find value from these themes. I really enjoyed this unique retelling of an old fairytale in an exotic setting. Show Less
LibraryThing member ashoemak
Clement and Hyppolyte, very close friends, encounter danger on their journey back home in this retelling of an old tale. Hyppolyte risks his life to save his friend and in the end true friendship prevails.
LibraryThing member JackieKuhlman
The Faithful Friend is a Caldecott Award Honor book about two best friends named Clement and Hippolyte, who are inseparable. Clement falls in love with Pauline who lives far away from their village, but Clement and Hippolyte go on a journey so Clement can ask her hand in marriage. When the reach
This book is a very well written book. It was easily to imagine the story in my head, even if there weren’t any pictures. Reading this book made me evaluate my own friendships, and reveals the questions, how good a friend am I? This book is a book that is easily dove into making the reader the characters.
Since the book is set in the Caribbean and they do use some foreign language, it could be used in a Culture or Geography lesson. This would be a wonderful book to talk about friendship also and how to be a friend.
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Pauline’s house, her wizard uncle is enraged and refuses to agree. The three start on their journey home and Hippolyte protects Clement and Pauline from evil traps set by her uncle to kill them before the wedding. They finally return home and it’s their wedding day, will they survive?This book is a very well written book. It was easily to imagine the story in my head, even if there weren’t any pictures. Reading this book made me evaluate my own friendships, and reveals the questions, how good a friend am I? This book is a book that is easily dove into making the reader the characters.
Since the book is set in the Caribbean and they do use some foreign language, it could be used in a Culture or Geography lesson. This would be a wonderful book to talk about friendship also and how to be a friend.
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LibraryThing member epalaz
This book is a good read because it teaches the meaning of friendship and how a true friend will always be concerned for the other's well-being. The pictures were done in scratch-board and the illustrations are a direct point of the texts on the corresponding page.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
In this engaging folktale from the Caribbean island of Martinique, two life-long friends - Clement, the son of a wealthy land-owner, and Hippolyte, the son of the French-born widow who was hired as his (Clement's) nurse - set out together to meet the beautiful young woman whose image has caused
Chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1996, as well as given a Correta Scott King Illustrator's Award Honor, The Faithful Friend pairs beautiful scratch-board illustrations by Brian Pinkney with a powerful story of loyalty and mutual sacrifice from Robert D. San Souci, who has retold many folktales over the course of his long career. I appreciated the author's detailed description of his source material - what he retained from the Martiniquais version of this story, and what he added in - and hope to track down Elsie Clews Parsons' collection of folklore from the Antilles, at some point. I was interested to see that this story likely evolved from similar European stories, such as Faithful John, from the Brothers Grimm. The Venetian tale, Pome & Peel, has a very similar plot as well. All in all, a most engaging selection, one I recommend to all young folklore enthusiasts. I only wish I could find more folktales from Martinique!
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Clement to fall in love. Performing a good deed upon their journey, the two friends eventually arrive at Monsieur Zabocat's plantation, where they discover that the lovely Pauline is just as enchanting in person, as she is in her portrait. Unfortunately, although it is obvious that she and Clement have fallen instantly in love, her uncle, reputed to be a quimboiseur, or wizard, forbids the match. When the couple, accompanied by Hippolyte, sets out to be married regardless, they are pursued by the evil magic of Monsieur Zabocat, and the three zombies that he has raised. Only Hippolyte is aware of the danger, and only he can save his friends: but at great cost to himself, should he ever reveal what he knows...Chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1996, as well as given a Correta Scott King Illustrator's Award Honor, The Faithful Friend pairs beautiful scratch-board illustrations by Brian Pinkney with a powerful story of loyalty and mutual sacrifice from Robert D. San Souci, who has retold many folktales over the course of his long career. I appreciated the author's detailed description of his source material - what he retained from the Martiniquais version of this story, and what he added in - and hope to track down Elsie Clews Parsons' collection of folklore from the Antilles, at some point. I was interested to see that this story likely evolved from similar European stories, such as Faithful John, from the Brothers Grimm. The Venetian tale, Pome & Peel, has a very similar plot as well. All in all, a most engaging selection, one I recommend to all young folklore enthusiasts. I only wish I could find more folktales from Martinique!
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LibraryThing member nfigue1
Readers embark on a powerful journey to the island of Martinique in The Faithful Friend, where we follow the story Clement and Hippolyte-one. This book embraces the unity of two races, white and black. The illustrations in this reading accompany the suspenseful tone, with danger lurking at each and
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every corner. Each picture placed alongside the text, bring more life and meaning to what is being read. I appreciated the way the author choose to let the pictures speak, not focusing on merely the text as the main component. This book reveals amazing themes, perfect for the youth population; acceptance of differences, loyalty, and the elimination of stereotypes. I appreciate that the author brought positive insight to a time in history where many negative experiences occurred. When journeying to find circumstances where good values and morals are present, look no farther than this masterpiece! Show Less
LibraryThing member jpons
This is a story about two friends who overcame magic and betrayal. Clement and Hippolyte are best friends. One day Clement ask Hippolyte to go with him to ask Monsieur Zabocat permission to marry his niece. After her uncle says no to the marriage proposal Pauline, Clement, and Hippolyte leave.
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Pauline and Clement plan to marry anyway. For three nights Hippolyte over hears three zombie women planning to kill Clement and Pauline. After Clement finds himself in an awkward situation he is forced to tell Pauline and Clement about the zombie women. Hippolyte turns to stone, but is soon returned to his human form. This would be a great story to read to students` to show how strong friendships are. It will also capture student`s attention because of how magic is used throughout the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member villemezbrown
The writing is a little wooden and some pages are too text heavy, but this is a pretty interesting adaptation of macabre folklore from the island of Martinique. Zombies and curses and ghosts, oh my.
LibraryThing member Wakana
I thought that this story was very entertaining. It was especially so due to it being set in Martinique in the late 19th century. I enjoyed the theme of good winning over evil with the help of a person that the protagonist helped in the beginning of the story. I also enjoyed the window into life in
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Martinique. There were some French words and some other unique cultural elements in the story. This book would be a great resource when trying to introduce different time eras and cultures to students, as well as morals. Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
A 1996 Caldecott honor book, this is a dark tale set in the island of Martinique. Two friends bonded together and inseparable, Clement and Hippolyte are friends for life. When Clement falls madly in love with a princess when he sees her image. Driven to meet her and convince her to marry him,
Her Uncle Monsieur Zabocat is a wizard. Understanding the bond of the two friends, the uncle lures Clement's friend Hippolyte in a trap forcing him to choose between his own safety and that of his friend. Turned to stone, Hippolyte made this sacrifice for his beloved friend.
In the end, he is freed from the curse because of his love of his friend.
While the illustrations are unique, I didn't like the story line. There were too many twists and turns and much darkness.
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Filled with images of zombies, ghosts and based on folklore and told in many various renditions, in this tale the princess accepts Clement's proposal of marriage.Her Uncle Monsieur Zabocat is a wizard. Understanding the bond of the two friends, the uncle lures Clement's friend Hippolyte in a trap forcing him to choose between his own safety and that of his friend. Turned to stone, Hippolyte made this sacrifice for his beloved friend.
In the end, he is freed from the curse because of his love of his friend.
While the illustrations are unique, I didn't like the story line. There were too many twists and turns and much darkness.
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Awards
Caldecott Medal (Honor Book — 1996)
Commonwealth Club of California Book Awards (Silver Medal — Juvenile — 1995)
Red Clover Book Award (Nominee — 1997)
Coretta Scott King Award (Honor — 1996)
Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature (Commended Title — 1995)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1995
ISBN
0027861317 / 9780027861310