To Greed, or Not to Greed (review)

Mariana Figueredo
Camila Rico

“Two Greedy Bears”(1976)
Retold by Mirra Ginsburg.
Aladdin Paperbacks.
                                                                                                    
A big round cheese to divide and two bear cubs who want exact equal parts. In this adapted version of a Hungarian Folk Tale, storyteller Mirra Ginsburg brings us the story of two selfish bear cubs (and their two big tummies) who go on an adventure and learn a worthy lesson. Combined with Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey’s colorful and simple illustrations, Ginsburg succeeds in portraying the values of sharing and being grateful, or more precisely, the consequences of not being so.

Our two little bears are out to see the world, but they find some problems as soon as they leave their home. After some walking, a yummy cheese appears on their way, and a clever fox as well. Arguing and growling, the two bear cubs try to divide the cheese into two equal parts. But pretending to be a friend, from a hidden bush, the fox shows up and offers some help. “Don´t worry,” she said, “I know what to do.” Repeatedly eating more from one piece than the other, the sly one makes sure both bears complain that there is no equality. The more they shout, the more she eats, till finally there are only two tiny crumbs.

Ginsburg plays with a tragicomic sense of greediness, which will make readers feel sympathetic to the two poor bears. Thus, text and pictures are organized in such a way that makes both equally important to convey meaning and to create a humorous atmosphere around the problems these two little bears face in their journey.

Funny and straightforward, Two Greedy Bears wisely exemplifies how greed leads to losses and brings little bears to tears.