Readers young and old will be enchanted by the vision and mastery of Kinuko Y. Craft's luminous paintings, inspired by the lavish artwork of late seventeenth-century France and embellished with extraordinary borders and ornamentation.Rich with radiant color and astonishing detail, here is a dream come true for anyone who has ever believed in living happily ever after.

    Welcome to THE 10TH KINGDOM.   Suppose you were on your way to work. Not a great job, just one that pays the bills. And suddenly, you are in the middle of a fantastic adventure and running for your life.   You don't believe it could happen? Well, it could, and in THE 10TH KINGDOM, it does.   Embark on an odyssey that will grip your imagination, steal your heart - and leave you spellbound as only the very best story can.   Virginia and Tony, a father and daughter from New York, unwittingly find themselves in a parallel universe known as The Nine Kingdoms where they must join forces with a schizophrenic man-wolf and Prince, a handsome golden retriever (formally known as Prince Wendell, grandson of Snow White until his wicked stepmother turned him into a dog). The unlikely heroes then embark on an epic quest to save Prince from the evil Queen and restore him to the throne.Includes 16 pages of full-color plate images from the television mini-series.

    "If your need is great, open the doll and help will come. But you may only do so three times. After that the magic will be gone." A wicked spell has changed a handsome young prince to a pale glassy figure made of "living ice," and his kingdom to a frozen landscape of night without moon, darkness without dawn. Katya knows that it's up to her to rescue the prince and undo the evil spell that has banished the sun. Armed with only the magic nesting doll and her own valiant heart, she is determined to succeed. But will the combined effort of her courage and the mysterious nesting doll be strong enough to prevail? Laurel Long's radiant paintings and Jacqueline K. Ogburn's enchanting original tale were inspired by Russian folk art and stories. This talented duo has created a modern classic that honors its folklore heritage while depicting a world in which a girl can be anything, including a hero.

    It includes Li Chi, the serpent slayer, and the old woman sly enough to outsmart the devil.

     As in their previous critically acclaimed volumes of reconsidered fairy tales, award-winning editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling have gathered together remarkable stories that illuminate the more sinister, sensual, and sophisticated aspects of the tales we cherished in childhood; the fables of witches and princes and lost children that we once imagined we knew. "Black Heart, Ivory Bones" showcases twenty beguiling tales for the child-that-was and the adult-that-is, penned by twenty of the most creative artists in contemporary American literature. Here dissected are the darker anatomies of the timeless, seemingly simple stories we have long loved. Here wonder and truth have serious bite. A lovelorn prince seeking his father's blessing concocts a fantastic tale of a witch, a tower, and lustrous long hair... A pair of accursed red boots punishes a beautiful dancer for her pride... A troll-killing, princess-rescuing warrior is compelled to consider events from his adversaries' point of view...In a blistering tell-all memoir, Goldilocks reveals the sordid truth about her brutal foster parent, Papa Bear... Rich, surprising, funny, erotic, and unsettling, these twenty new yarns and poems offer exceptional anew treasures--as they brilliantly reveal lusts and jealousies, foibles, hatreds and dangerous obsessions, the things that slyly lurk in the midnight interior of oft-told tales. The "Snow White, Blood Red" Collection #1. Snow White, Blood Red #2. Black Thorn, White Rose #3. Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears #4. Black Swan, White Raven #5. Silver Birch, Blood Moon #6. Black Heart, Ivory Bones

    Each grouping is introduced and annotated by Jack Zipes, the genre's reigning expert. Twenty illustrations accompany the texts. Criticism includes seven important assessments of different aspects of the fairy tale tradition, written by W. G. Waters, Benedetto Croce, Lewis Seifert, Patricia Hannon, Harry Velten, Siegfried Neumann, and Jack Zipes. Brief biographies of the storytellers and a Selected Bibliography are included.

    A tiny creature comes to save her under the condition that she has three chances to guess his name right.West Indian

    Now The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales provides the first authoritative reference source for this complex, captivating genre. With more than 800 entries written by a team of 67 specialists from around the world, the Companion offers an illuminating look at the classic tales themselves, both ancient and modern, from Jack and Jill and Cinderella to Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. The contributors also profile the writers who wrote or reworked these luminous tales, as well as the illustrators, film-makers, choreographers, and composers who have been involved with creating or interpreting them. The Companion also covers such related topics as film, art, opera, ballet, music, even advertising. An introductory overview by Jack Zipes sets the subject in its historical and literary context, and special survey articles explore the development of the fairy-tale tradition in individual countries, focusing particularly on the European and North American traditions. The volume includes a detailed bibliography, to aid in further research into this fascinating topic. Strikingly illustrated with 70 beautiful pictures, from early engravings to 20th-century film stills, this is an essential companion for everyone who loves fairy tales and storytelling.

    And so he builds seven extravagantly beautiful pavilions, each a different color, and invites the princesses to come live in them. The wise princesses tell the shah stories that teach him the virtues that a ruler, and indeed every human being, must cultivate - truth, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, humility, wisdom and love.

    But when Prince Charnel hosts his famous Halloween Ball, Cindy finally gets her chance to shine. With the help of a good witch, Cinderella Skeleton is transformed into the belle of the ball and steals the prince's heart. Then just as the sun peeks over the horizon, she must dash away! Will Prince Charnel ever find his true love again?Master storyteller Robert D. San Souci and award-winning illustrator David Catrow have dreamed up a hilarious fractured fairy tale about the most dreadful darling you've ever seen.

    . .A boy with magical powers to win Princess Charming's heart. A fairy who likes turning humans into toads. A true love forbidden by the King.A world of fairies and magic -- what could be more perfect than that? But is it perfect enough to help a simple farm boy marry a beautiful princess? And if an unruly fairy turns a maiden into a toad, how does she turn herself back? And can a fairy -- even a helpful one -- change a stubborn king's law?Welcome to a land where Princess Charming saves the day, the prince must kiss the toads, and nothing is as it seems!Now in one volume, three hilarious chances at happily-ever-after from the Newbery Honor author of Ella Enchanted: Cinderellis and the Glass HillFor Biddle's SakeThe Fairy's Return

    Her masterful and authentic retellings of twelve treasured tales are well-matched by Jane Ray's evocative illustrations. Teeming with rich colors, golden trim patterns, silhouettes, and symbols, these pictures—like the timeless stories they interpret—are to be pored over and cherished. Come back to CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE FROG PRINCE, and eight other beloved tales. Enter a haunting world of magic and enchantment.

    Tales include The Birth of Cuchulain and Finn and the Salmon of Knowledge. Full-color illustrations.

    Hidden Tales from Eastern Europe features seven little-known folk tales with titles such as The Shepherd King and The Hundred Children that reflect this variety in enchanting stories of stout-hearted men, wise women, and dull-witted dragons. These stories are culled from Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Serbia, and Russia.

    His start in literary life he owed largely to Maxim Gorky, in the circle of whose family he spent part of his youth. He first appeared in print in 1907, with lyrics of his own and translations of foreign poets. Marshak has been most prolific in the field of juvenile literature. He inculcates respect for the man who knows his job, respect for creative work. Marshak also wrote several plays based on Russian fairy tales and designed for the juvenile stage, including Twelve Months. Written in a light and witty vein, Twelve Months portrays twelve wise and just rulers of nature, and two girls of opposite type, the one good, whom they help, and the other bad, whom they punish. The play was awarded a Stalin Prize in 1946.

    These versions of such ageless myths as Proserpina and Pluto, Atalanta, Hercules, Cupid and Apollo, Pygmalion, Niobe, Prometheus, and others are as clear and beautiful today as they were in the 1920s. The illustrations evoke all the mythical wonder of these tales. 8" x 10 1/2". Ages 8-12.

    In recent years commentators such as Bruno Bettelheim have, usually from a psychological perspective, pondered the underlying meaning of the stories, why children are soenthralled by them, and what effect they have on the the best-known tales (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty) and shows that the Grimms saw them as Christian fables. Murphy examines the arguments of previous interpreters of the tales, anddemonstrates how they missed the Grimms' intention. His own readings of the five so-called magical tales reveal them as the beautiful and inspiring documents of faith that the Grimms meant them to be. Offering an entirely new perspective on these often-analyzed tales, Murphy's book will appeal to those concerned with the moral and religious education of children, to students and scholars of folk literature and children's literature, and to the many general readers who are captivated by fairytales and their meanings.

     Damura is a beautiful girl, as kind and lovely as the little green parrot that perches on the nutmeg tree. But Damura's stepmother and stepsister mistreat her. They force her to rise before dawn, carry out all the chores, and sleep on the floor. One day, while down by the river, Damura calls out to the creatures of the wild for help. Rising from the waters, an ancient crocodile answers the call. This unusual fairy godmother, aptly named Grandmother Crocodile, outfits Damura in a sarong of gold, with slippers to match, and sends her to the palace to dance for the prince. Once he sees her, the prince knows that she will be his bride. But the fairy tale isn't quite over. Damura's wicked stepmother and stepsister are so jealous that they push Damura into the river, where she is swallowed by a crocodile. Too bad they didn't know about Grandmother Crocodile.... The Gift of the Crocodile, a tale from the Spice Islands in Indonesia, offers a colorful and dramatic twist on the universally adored Cinderella story.

    In a quest that is both contemporary and timeless, Bill Richardson creates a magical world through inventive wordplay, uninhibited imagination and a facility with rhyme. Here is a raconteur who spins a narrative tale that takes readers into strange lands inhabited by unusual characters, both good and evil, where adventure abounds and unlikely saviors emerge. Penelope is 101 years old, but she can remember the story like it happened yesterday. On the morning of her eleventh birthday, she wakes to discover she can no longer hear. It is on this same day that the Piper returns to Hamelin to spirit the children away in an evil act of revenge upon the townspeople. Spared because she is deaf to the Piper's bewitching tune, Penelope is left to grieve the loss of her friends and beloved sister Sophy until Cuthbert, the wise man of the village, reveals that Penelope possesses the unusual gift of deep dreaming. Armed only with a charm from Cuthbert and her own courage, Penelope enters the land of sleep on a treacherous quest to rescue the stolen children. There is suspense, humor and high excitement (wrapped in dark undercurrents) as Penelope and the companions she meets along the way - Scally, her trusted cat; Alloway, the blind harpist; Ulysses, a three-legged dog; and Quentin, a dragon who loves skipping - journey to the Piper's mountain fortress. Their combined wits and talents see them through strange landscapes and close calls. In a thrilling climax played out in a mysterious place between dreaming and waking, they triumph over the Piper and set the children of Hamelin free.

    Here we have gathered together some of our favorite picture books and anthologies -- all of which make wonderful holiday gifts!

    These stories will enchant six to ten-year-old readers around the world with their wit and charm. Many of the tales have been transmitted from mother to child over centuries, and cover classic childhood themes—such as the forces of good triumphing over evil, children rebelling against adults and the weak prevailing over the strong. They make perfect new additions for story time or bedtime reading. Narrated with an international audience in mind and illustrated with whimsical watercolors by award-winning artist Joanne de Leon, this is a must-have collection of tales for anyone interested in the Philippines. Featured Filipino stories include:Why Mosquitoes Buzz Around Our EarsThe Magic Lake>The Deer and the SnailWhy the Cock CrowsThe Prince's BrideThe Children's Favorite Stories series was created to share the folktales and legends most beloved by children in the East with young readers of all backgrounds in the West. Other multicultural children's books in this series include: Asian Children's Favorite Stories, Indian Children's Favorite Stories, Indonesian Children's Favorite Stories, Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, Singapore Children's Favorite Stories, Favorite Children's Stories from China & Tibet, Chinese Children's Favorite Stories, Korean Children's Favorite Stories, Balinese Children's Favorite Stories, and Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.

    

    Despite the heroic efforts of several young men from the village, no one is sucessful in bringing the sea to Isola, until Peter, an old sailor, arrives with his pack of books and his memories. He teaches Isola the lore of the sea and when she is ready, she comes down from her mountain home and sets sail in a ship of her own. An original fairy tale, this book with its delightful,quirky illustrations, reveals a child's unquenchable spirit and her awakening to the unknown world over the horizon.

    Her stylishly creative appropriation and adaptation of fairy-tale patterns, motifs, and content are evident not only her individual tales written for adults but throughout her novels and other fiction.Editors Danielle M. Roemer and Cristina Bacchilega together with the contributors to this volume investigate Carter's approaches to the fair-tale genre. They explore various facets of Carter's work and life and open new avenues for further research. Angela Carter and the Fairy Tale is a diverse collection of scholarly essays, fiction, personal reminiscence, and interviews from an international group of scholars, artists, and novelists. Angela Carter and the Fairy Tale will be of interest to those pursuing research in contemporary literature, folklore, and women's studies. It will also serve as a useful reference point for other readers who wish to learn more about the fairy tales written by this dynamic author.

    But how is he to give his bride the elegant home she deserves? He has a brilliant plan: he will make their wedding so fine that surely their friends will shower them with the best of everything. His plan backfires, of course, but, like all good love stories, this is a tale that ends in a happy – if surprising – fashion.Cary Fagan’s evocation of turn-of-the-century Kensington Market is perfectly brought to life by Regolo Ricci’s lively, affectionate paintings.

    Most of the tales in this volume are those of Peter Christen Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe from their Norwegian folk-tales, translated by Sir George Dasent.

    The mysterious, magical Aunt Easter tells the couple the identity of these unknown benefactors and their connection to the two white stones that Clara keeps in the house. Armed solely with Aunt Easter's advice and their own affectionate, courageous hearts, John and Clara must confront the evil conjure man. Only then will they solve the secret of the stones and fill the void in their childless home. Robert San Souci has drawn again from the rich legacy of African-American folklore, as he did in his acclaimed The Hired Hand and The Talking Eggs. And the deep, jewel-like colors of James Ransome's paintings carry the reader into the majestic Ozark mountains and inside this marvelously dramatic and touching story of love and courage.

    In sleep, we saw his shadow slink along the moonlit wall as the great beast circled the town.No one in Gubbio is safe from the monstrous wolf that stalks them. The townsfolk, armed with pitchforks, travel in groups and never venture out at night.One day a band of strangers comes to town led by the Poverello, the poor one. People say he understands the language of bird and beast. Even so, when he offers to go into the forest and face the wolf, everyone is certain he will never return.What happens between the wolf and the Poverello as they stand face to face, is a matter of trust and understanding. But for the people of Gubbio, and one boy in particular, it is nothing short of a miracle. Based on one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi, the story may contain some truth. During repairs to a chapel in Gubbio dedicated to the saint, a large wolf's skull was found underneath the flagstones. The Afterword recounts this amazing fact and provides historical details on the life of St. Francis of Assisi.Shortlisted 2001, CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon AwardShortlisted 2001, CLA Book of the Year for Children AwardCanadian Children's Book Centre, Starred Our Choice SelectionNominated for 2001 Governor General's Award for Children's Literature - Illustration

    Her various books for children have been printed in editions of hundreds of thousands, in languages from German all the way to China. They have not appeared in English translations however, which is a pity, since they are in the tradition of the fairy tale known to many cultures around the world, a tradition not much known, honored or welcomed in English literature, at least not in the past 200 years. The reasons for this are obscure, and one is hard-pressed to explain them, a problem that I have discussed in my after words to this collection. Suffice it to say that Grozdana Olujic's models may be found in many of the kinds of folk tales and fairytales collected anonymously by the Brothers Grimm, and often elaborated by French authors, and writers like Hans Christian Andersen, who made great literature out of such materials. She has also drawn from classical models in Slavic tales, from India, and the Persian/Arabic. Her pieces offer a variety of modes, but all are clearly written to be read to children today, or better, read by children today. If they can the young ones of our strange, contemporary, and, to my mind, rather cartoonized and unimaginative, meaningless, and mostly uninteresting, because violently distorted, sensational, and reduced culture, then Olujic will have found a new readership. To put it another way, perhaps the readers of English will find themselves in the company of most of the rest of the world, when it comes to telling stories to little children.

    This collection of his most popular stories, superbly edited and introduced by Linda Williamson, recognizes the value and importance of the rich oral tradition from which his work stems. Collected for the first time are twenty-six tales, including "Jack and the Devil's Nurse"; "The Hunchback and the Swan"; "Mary and the Seal"; "The Broonie's Farewell"; "I Love You More than Salt"; "The Giant with the Air of Knowledge" and "The Bay and the Boats".

    The tales are wide-ranging: heros, ghosts and solway smugglers; witches, martyrs, mermaids and fairies; reivers, monsters and colourful rogues. Here are Billy Marshall, King of the tinklers; Sawney Bean, the murderous cannibal; young Robert the Brube on the run in the heather; Trost, last of the Picts, who kept the secret of heather ale; the legend of Mons Meg; Claverhouse and Lagg, persecutors of the Covenanters; the famous poterguist of Rerrick; and many more.Simply told and unadorned, the stories bear the flavour of the region – mountain and forest, silver rivers and lochs, the wild Solway Firth, and some of the most beautiful rolling countryside in Britain. Originally these traditional tales – ranging from rustic comedy to horrific murder – were told in crofts and rural cottages. They grew naturally out of the rich past and the land and the lives of the people – wonderful stories. And they are still as alive today as when they were first told.

    The Swan Lake ballet is bought to life via the photographs of Nancy Ellinson, taken on location, in and around Moscow's spectacular Kuskovo Palace.