5 STARS FOR THE ART. 4 STARS FOR THE STORY.I had high hopes for this one since it was born of the creative talents of two of children's literature's most gifted. It lived up to my expectations in that the illustrations are absolutely stunningly fabulous ans so full of atmosphere and the story is told well. I am not sure how satisfactory the story would be for those of us seeking a "moral" to the story, though, based on the fates of the two "fortune tellers." This was a bit annoying for me, but t...

I was worried when I saw this book’s cover, as I got it for this illustrator’s illustrations, and I wasn’t wild about it. I also didn’t think I’d enjoy a story about fortune-tellers.Well, I need not have worried.The story is amusing and sweet, although I will say I wasn’t satisfied by the conclusion. I appreciated everything up through the finding of each other’s true love, but I was hoping the new fortune teller would make a certain change, and I thought what was shown about what happened to th...

Great folk tale! We enjoyed the story as well as the illustrations.

Hyman's charming illustrations enliven a rather weak story about a discontent young construction worker who visits a scam fortune teller. The young man is too dumb to notice that the predictions are worthless, but when the fortune teller disappears the young man takes his place and ends up becoming rich and famous after all. Cute, but it didn't work for me on any emotional or moral level. The young man is a dumb cluck who just wants to be rich and have a hot wife, so I didn't feel any particular...

This is an odd one. A young man goes to a fortune-teller because he's unhappy with his life. The fortune-teller offers him predictions that are 100% worthless, but he's not smart enough to realize that. Then when he himself is mistaken for the fortune-teller, he all-of-a-sudden catches on and gives the same type of fortunes to everyone in the village. At least, I think he catches on. Maybe he doesn't. Maybe he just says them without realizing their ridiculous nature. Just...not sure. Either way,...

Trina Schart Hyman beautifully illustrates this clever and humorous tale from Cameroon.

This book. This beautiful, stunning book. I don't normally review picture books but this one is by Lloyd Alexander and it has the most incredible art I've ever seen. You should go and find a copy and stare at it for the rest of the day.

As others here have pointed out, the book fails because the "hero" is a cheat. Why would one fraud get his just deserts and the other be successful? It makes no sense.

This pairing of fantasy writer Lloyd Alexander with renowned illustrator Trina Schart Hyman is brilliant. The narrative follows a young man, who is accidentally thrust into fortune telling. He remains unperturbed, flexible, and grateful for the opportunity. Ms. Schart Hyman has chosen to set the book in Cameroon, where her own author/daughter once worked. The brilliant colors of Africa compliment the text. Look for a miniature illustration of Lloyd Alexander, the author, hidden on a page. (Hint

Kids love it, but it is silly and goofy. They love to laugh at the misfortune of the fortune teller. Gorgeous illustrations!

Good picture book

Wonderfully detailed full-color illustrations, created using a combination of ink, acrylic, and crayon, and painted on Arches watercolor board, are the highlight of this humorous tale that shows that we truly make our own fortunes. The narrative is humorous and the story has an unusual, but mostly happy ending. I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm sure it would be fun to read aloud with a group of elementary school-age children. This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2018

I originally wanted to read this because I really like Lloyd Alexander, and I hadn't realized he wrote some picture books! When I started reading this, I was immediately charmed by Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations. Such wonderful details and colors! Then the story made me laugh. What a great fortune teller! He says things like: "Rich you will surely be . . . on one condition: that you earn large sums of money," and "You shall wed your true love, if you find her and she agrees. And you shall be...

Hilarious story, showcasing Alexander's sly wit, which is evident in every book that he wrote, whether picture book or chapter book. Alexander did not intend this to be a morality tale, but a humorous tale, poking gentle fun at "fortune-tellers" who really cannot foretell the future. The wonderful and richly detailed illustrations, rendered in ink, acrylic, and crayon, feature the people and culture of the West African country of Cameroon.

The illustrator was the one who chose to set the story in Cameroon since she had just visited there to attend her daughter's wedding. She drew herself, some family members, and the author in some of the scenes!

A young carpenter unhappy with his current life as a carpenter goes to the next village, to have his fortune told. What the fortune teller tells him changes not only the carpenter's fate, but the fortune tellers as well. Witty!

A delightful little tale of some sillies and a man who discovers the trick of being a fortune-teller.

Short Summary: A young man in Cameroon finds a fortune-teller. When he goes back to ask him more questions, he is mistaken for the old man-turned young man. He assumes the life of the fortune-teller (who disappeared--his fate is not good), becomes rich, marries a beautiful woman and occasionally wonders about the old man.What I liked: Loved the illustrations. Beautiful images by Trina Schart Hyman. Rich and colorful, a wonderful sense of what this village and its people look like, cute funny bit...

This book was full of beautiful pictures that depicted scenes in an African village and peoples. They were colorful and bright. The Author is from Australia. His words teach a lesson that is practical and humors as he depicts human dilemma in his story. The Illustrator born in the U.S, has a daughter that married a man from Cameroon. She visited the African village and fell in love with the culture and landscape. Her grandchildren appear in many of her illustrations as well as the African people...

A young man seeks a fortune-teller to ask about his career, happiness, and health. The answers are very clear, and speaking the simple truth that "one will be rich, as long as you gain money, you don't lose it", and so forth. He returns to the fortune-teller to ask more, but finds he has gone. The owner of the shop sees him and believes him to be a miracle worker-- she won't hear otherwise. Soon, many people come to him for their fortunes to be told, and he tells them all the very same things as...

How have I not ever rated this book before!? I'm sure I've read it dozens of times over the years. And it lives up to the expectations I'd have for a book that combines the talents of two of my own childhood favorites. I love Hyman's illustrative detail (I especially like finding Lloyd Alexander himself in there), as always, and I like that the tale feels a bit like a trickster tale, but without any of the guilt of loving the trickster as our protagonist here has nothing to do with the old telle...

A young man, tired of his lot in life, goes to the next town to see a fortune teller. There, he learns about his future. But the most captivating part is the fact that the fortune teller disappears shortly after telling the young man his fortune.The beautiful thing about this tale is how the fortune teller tells the man his fortune. Does he tell him what his true future is? Or does the young man have to create his own fortune?

The Fortune Tellers is a lovely story of how our fortune is what we make of what we have; it’s in our own power to succeed or fail. The story is brought to life through the vivid colors, patterns, and landscapes of West Africa. Set in Cameroon, the illustrations somehow feel misleading that the story represents a West African “folk tale,” which is not indicated. This is a reminder to me that navigating cultural stories is complex and can’t be taken at face value.

Tim Morrison used this book to teach vocabulary games. A young carpenter gets his fortune told and rushes home to see it all to come true, but he rushes back to the fortuneteller to ask her other questions. The lady is gone, and someone mistakes the carpenter as the fortuneteller. He takes over her position and the rest of his life pans out interestingly. Gorgeous illustrations.

A self-fulfilling prophecy set in Cameroon. The illustrations are typical of TSH, whose King Stork and Saint George books are amongst my favorite artworks. But the plotline itself was a bit dull for me, personally. I love Alexander's Prydain Chronicles and Prince Jen. I think I'll stick to his chapter books.

Wonderful illustrations (of course). The folktale was fun. It was a full on tale with a beginning, middle, and end. A clear lead character with depth. The characters are complex and have complex (but child appropriate in the complexities) fates.

Very interesting tale with a legend type feel to it. Pictures are beautiful too.

The story is just all right, but the illustrations are wonderful.

It was very good, except for the ending. This book I would not recommend for my students to read.

Fun folklore/legend! We thoroughly enjoyed this as a read-aloud.