1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
McKissack, Patricia C. 2006. PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375836190
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Many hot summer evenings, everyone in the family, often joined by those from the neighborhood, would frequently settle on the front porch to enjoy iced tea or lemonade, homemade tea cakes, and a good story. Porch lies they were called - “tales of humor and exaggeration told to listeners of all ages.” This collection of original creations mimics the stories from the author’s past. Myths, legends, and historical figures from the African American oral tradition are placed into the author’s original stories. Meet Pete Bruce, a rascal who schmoozes several pieces of coconut cream pie from a local baker for free. Or what about Link Murphy, a scoundrel who procures a job as a chauffer for Mis Crickett Thompson and then begins a business on the side using her car. (And was he really trying to save her, or just steal her jewelry?) Then there’s that slickster Montgomery Red who tricks Ralph, the King of the Ghosts with an ordinary rock. These and many other “wily characters” are waiting to entertain the reader. Take the book onto the porch with some iced tea and enjoy the stories.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The stories in this collection are great for reading aloud with others. The stories are a unique blend of legend and history. While the stories are from the imagination of the author based on stories she heard on her grandparents’ front porch, she weaves in characters such as Jesse James and the Ku Klux Klan. The stories are not told in dialect, which might disappoint some who would like the stories to sound authentically African American. However, this may make reading the stories aloud easier for most readers and listeners.
Each story is accompanied by one illustration by noted caricaturist Andre Carrilho of Portugal. The illustrations are black and white, and are interesting and unusual, commanding a second look. The illustrations are perfect compliments to the interesting and unusual characters presented in the stories.
McKissack gives background to the ideas for the stories by painting an engaging picture of listening to “Porch Lies” on her grandparents’ front porch when she was a child in the author’s note at the beginning of the book.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “Readers of these spry tall tales will have a grand time”
*Booklist: “In black and white, Carrilho's full-page illustrations--part cartoon, part portrait in silhouette--combine realistic characters with scary monsters."
*AudioFile: “Listeners and their children will enjoy Patricia McKissack's stories so much they might not even notice how this Caldecott winner has subtly woven in African-American history."
5. CONNECTIONS
*Research the historical references in the stories - such as Jesse James and the Ku Klux Klan. How do the tales in Porch Lies fit with the historical figures?
*Create illustrations of other scenes in the stories.*Read aloud for the fun of a good story that was meant to be read aloud. Discuss the characters. Do they remind you of anyone you know? Have you ever met a slickster, trickster or other wily character?
McKissack, Patricia C. 2006. PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375836190
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Many hot summer evenings, everyone in the family, often joined by those from the neighborhood, would frequently settle on the front porch to enjoy iced tea or lemonade, homemade tea cakes, and a good story. Porch lies they were called - “tales of humor and exaggeration told to listeners of all ages.” This collection of original creations mimics the stories from the author’s past. Myths, legends, and historical figures from the African American oral tradition are placed into the author’s original stories. Meet Pete Bruce, a rascal who schmoozes several pieces of coconut cream pie from a local baker for free. Or what about Link Murphy, a scoundrel who procures a job as a chauffer for Mis Crickett Thompson and then begins a business on the side using her car. (And was he really trying to save her, or just steal her jewelry?) Then there’s that slickster Montgomery Red who tricks Ralph, the King of the Ghosts with an ordinary rock. These and many other “wily characters” are waiting to entertain the reader. Take the book onto the porch with some iced tea and enjoy the stories.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The stories in this collection are great for reading aloud with others. The stories are a unique blend of legend and history. While the stories are from the imagination of the author based on stories she heard on her grandparents’ front porch, she weaves in characters such as Jesse James and the Ku Klux Klan. The stories are not told in dialect, which might disappoint some who would like the stories to sound authentically African American. However, this may make reading the stories aloud easier for most readers and listeners.
Each story is accompanied by one illustration by noted caricaturist Andre Carrilho of Portugal. The illustrations are black and white, and are interesting and unusual, commanding a second look. The illustrations are perfect compliments to the interesting and unusual characters presented in the stories.
McKissack gives background to the ideas for the stories by painting an engaging picture of listening to “Porch Lies” on her grandparents’ front porch when she was a child in the author’s note at the beginning of the book.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “Readers of these spry tall tales will have a grand time”
*Booklist: “In black and white, Carrilho's full-page illustrations--part cartoon, part portrait in silhouette--combine realistic characters with scary monsters."
*AudioFile: “Listeners and their children will enjoy Patricia McKissack's stories so much they might not even notice how this Caldecott winner has subtly woven in African-American history."
5. CONNECTIONS
*Research the historical references in the stories - such as Jesse James and the Ku Klux Klan. How do the tales in Porch Lies fit with the historical figures?
*Create illustrations of other scenes in the stories.*Read aloud for the fun of a good story that was meant to be read aloud. Discuss the characters. Do they remind you of anyone you know? Have you ever met a slickster, trickster or other wily character?
*Try downloading the audiobook and listening to the stories. What is the difference in reading them yourself and hearing them read professionally?
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