The Cook and the King

Brusca brings her bristly, kinetic artistic style to this comical story, inspired by a South American folktale, of a wise cook and a foolish king. Florinda, famous for her delicious empanadas (meat pies), lives in the shadow of the castle, and one day after the palace cook quits, is summoned by the king to his service. An inveterate grouch, the monarch is known for his irrational decisions when settling disputes. Florinda intervenes after each of three particularly stupid judgments, cleverly making her point but infuriating her liege, who orders her execution. Granted a final wish, Florinda asks the king to close his eyes and waves under his nose a sprig of basil--the emblem of the country's summer festival. Reminded of a time when he wasn't so crabby, the king relents, frees Florinda and names her the Official Judge of the Kingdom, while he takes up cooking. Poking fun at royalty or authority while exalting the wisdom of simple people has long been a folktale tradition, and here the theme is served up with zest and energy in an intriguing new setting. Brusca's droll watercolors underscore the tale's inherent humor: witness, for example, the king's indescribable expression when tricked by his canny cook into eating mashed turnips. Ages 5-9. (Mar.)