The Robber Hotzenplotz

Starred review from May 1, 2016

Gr 2-5-When the infamous robber Hotzenplotz makes off with Grandmother's coffee mill, clever Kasperl and his best friend Seppel must use all their cunning, along with a little help from the frog-fairy Amaryllis, to retrieve the mill and bring the rapscallion to justice. This new translation of this work, originally published in 1962, positively crackles with the quirky energy and sparkling humor that made it a classic of German children's literature. Kasperl traces his origins to the eponymous hero character of traditional German puppet theater, who in turn has his roots in the commedia dell'arte character Pulcinella. This foundation provides a strong archetypal resonance that elementary-aged readers will connect to. Kids will especially enjoy reading about good-hearted Kasperl and Seppel, who deftly overcome nasty villains and comically ineffectual authority figures, emerging victorious in the end. Fairy-tale and fantasy elements stay true to the story's Kasperle puppet theater genre roots, from the wicked magician Petrosilius Zackleman to the wishing ring bestowed on the protagonists by the frog-fairy Amaryllis. Preussler's razor-sharp humor and wordplay shine throughout, and the episodic chapters, usually no more than four or five pages long, practically beg to be read aloud. Tripp's pen-and-ink illustrations complement, expand on, and deepen the story.

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