Asher and the Capmakers
by Eric Kimmel
Holiday House, 1993

Will's research for Asher and the Capmakers took him to the cultures of Eastern Europe. The story is an original tale by Eric Kimmel that borrows from several countries and ethnic groups.

Will found rich sources for clothing and architecture in the art of the period, notably in the work of Rembrandt and Daumier. He is always careful to check the accuracy of details; in this case, he found he needed to adjust the design of the story's menorrah and to change the color of the Turkish flag.

Central to the story is the gnarled tree which seems to point simultaneously in all directions and is the point of embarkation for the fantasy of the story.

It catapults Asher, who is on a simple errand to fetch an egg, into a tumult of capmaker fairies, including three fairies reminiscent of the Muses, here portrayed as hefty women whose power is physically tangible. In contrast, Asher, like the children in other Hillenbrand stories, seems a bit frail. Once again Will captures the vulnerability of the child as well as his great capacity for adventure. The contrast enlarges the dimensions of his adventure and makes his triumph all the more satisfying.

Reviews

From Horn Book: Combining elements from several folk traditions, Kimmel tells the tale of a boy's adventures with a magic cap that whisks him off to Jerusalem on a special, wintery Hanukkah eve. Colorful illustrations complement the lively text. -- Copyright © 1994 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.