Best of
Folk-Tales

1997

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale


Demi - 1997
    A reward of one grain of rice doubles day by day into millions of grains of rice when a selfish raja is outwitted by a clever village girl.

Little Oh


Laura Krauss Melmed - 1997
    From her wild river ride aboard a teacup boat to her escape from an angry dog to her flight home on the neck of a crane to her transformation into a real little girl, Little Oh is sure to capture your heart. 2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award & Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist

Musicians of the Sun


Gerald McDermott - 1997
    In this retelling of an Aztec myth, Lord of the Night sends Wind to free the four musicians that the Sun is holding prisoner so that they can bring joy to the world.

Because God Loves Stories: An Anthology of Jewish Storytelling


Steve Zeitlin - 1997
    "Because God loves stories." Storytelling has been part of Jewish religion and custom from earliest times and it remains a defining aspect of Jewish life. In Because God Loves Stories, folklorist Steve Zeitlin assembles the work of thirty-six Jewish storytellers, each of whom spins tales that express his or her own distinctive visions of Jewish culture. Contemporary storytellers re-interpret stories from the Talmud for modern sensibilities, the Grand Rabbi of Bluzhov tells tales of the Holocaust, beloved comedian Sam Levenson regales readers with hilarious vignettes of Jewish life in America, and much more.

Spider Spins a Story: Fourteen Legends from Native America


Jill Max - 1997
    Beautifully illustrated with the exceptional artwork of five Native American illustrators, this book will help young readers appreciate the power of myth and legend in the lives of all people.

Alice in Pastaland: A Math Adventure


Alexandra Wright - 1997
    In this clever parody of Lewis Carroll's classic tale, Alexandra Wright presents a mathematically aware Alice whose adventures are an appetizing combination of numbers, humor, and fun. With the Math Hatter dishing it up, the Adder using his noodle, and the Quantum Cat adding spice, arithmetic is full of pastabilities.

The Girl Who Dreamed Only Geese: And Other Tales of the Far North


Howard Norman - 1997
    Dramatic illustrations inspired by stonecut art of the Inuit people capture the beauty and mystery of these stories as they carry us--sometimes laughing, sometimes crying--from village to village over taiga, tundra, snow plains, and the iceberg-filled sea.

Shingebiss: An Ojibwe Legend


Nancy Van Laan - 1997
    In all seasons, the Great Lake is full of fish. But one cold year the lake freezes over, and Shingebiss has to find a way to fish through the thick ice. To do that, he must face the fierce Winter Maker. Gracefully told and illustrated with vigorous woodcuts, this ancient Ojibwe story captures all the power of winter and all the courage of a small being who refuses to see winter as his enemy. This sacred story shows that those who follow the ways of Shingebiss will always have plenty to eat, no matter how hard the great wind of Winter Maker blows.

The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale


Teresa Bateman - 1997
    When a leprechaun casts a spell, Patrick O'Kelley no longer thinks he can win a blarney contest.

The Mysterious Visitor: Stories of the Prophet Elijah


Nina Jaffe - 1997
    By the author of The Uninvited Guest.

The Mean Hyena: A Folktale from Malawi


Judy Sierra - 1997
    Kamba's solution? Of course, paint all the animals new coats! Along they come: first Mbanda the zebra, who gets a coat of long, flowing stripes; then Nyalugwe the leopard, who stretches out on a branch for his spots. Many other animals follow. Finally, Fisi demands his beauty, and what does he get? Tree gum, which makes his fur stand up in patches so that the villagers laugh at him. If you see him, he will laugh right back, Ha, ha, ha! Judy Sierra is in great form with her latest retelling, and Michael Bryant's deep-hued watercolors pulsate with the texture and life of the savanna. Judy Sierra, a professional puppeteer and storyteller, is now a full-time writer and lecturer. Her two previous titles for Lodestar are The Elephant's Wrestling Match and Wiley and the Hairy Man.Michael Bryant, a children's book illustrator, has been described by Publishers Weekly as an impressive accomplished artist.

Baba Yaga and the Wise Doll


Hiawyn Oram - 1997
    When Too Nice's evil sisters, Horrid and Very Horrid, force her to kidnap the witch Baba Yaga's jeweled toad, Baba Yaga devises a series of impossible tests for the little girl. If Too Nice passes them, she gets the toad, but if she doesn't -- the toad gets her Too Nice's only companion through the ordeal is the wise doll in her pocket, a gift from her mother, whose help leads to the miraculous completion of the tasks. And as gifts beget gifts, Too Nice gets the toad and the two evil sisters get theirs

The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend


Aaron Shepard - 1997
    With its great feasts, its white stone churches, its merchant visitors from many lands, Sadko felt there was no better place to be. Yet he was lonely too, for the rich young ladies who danced to his music would never favor anyone so poor. One night he takes his twelve-string gusli and goes alone to play by the River Volkhov. Suddenly from the water rises the Sea King, who invites the astonished musician to play at his underwater palace. But how will Sadko get there? And how will he get back? And will he want to return at all, when he meets the Sea King's lovely daughter? One of the most popular legends of Russia, Sadko's story is found in medieval epic ballads, as well as in a popular opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. It is retold here in elegant prose, complemented by the entrancing illustrations of a modern Russian master. TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE," OR FREE ON AARON'S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Monkey King," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Gennady Spirin, with a style he describes as "fairy-tale realism," is one of the world’s most esteemed children’s illustrators. His honors include five gold medals from the Society of Illustrators, the Golden Apple from the Bratislava International Biennial, First Prize at the Bologna and Barcelona international book fairs, and four appearances on the New York Times list of Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Born and trained in Russia before moving to the United States, Gennady already knew well the legend of Sadko and welcomed the chance to contribute his sumptuous art to this retelling.  ///////////////////////////////////////////////// HONORS 1997 New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year  1998 American Library Association Notable Children's Books  1998 NCSS/CBC Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies  1997 Aesop Accolade, American Folklore Society  1998 Honor Title, Storytelling World Awards  1997 Cincinnati Enquirer Best Illustrated Children's Books  American Bookseller Pick of the Lists  Starred review, Publishers Weekly  Featured on "CBS This Morning" ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Emotionally authentic prose and jewel-like illustrations make this an exquisite volume. . . . [A] mood of eloquent enchantment." -- Publishers Weekly, Aug. 25, 1997, starred review "Exquisite." -- The New York Times Book Review, Oct. 26, 1997 "Knock-your-socks-off beautiful. . . . Will stay in a family's library forever." -- Valerie Lewis, "CBS This Morning," Dec. 11, 1997 "Retains the flavor of Old Russia. . . . A fascinating spin on mermaid/human interaction." -- Denise Anton Wright, School Library Journal, Dec. 1997 "The telling is descriptive yet very accessible. . . . The pictures are gorgeous and resplendent with extraordinary details." -- Stephanie Zvirin, American Library Association Booklist, Nov. 15, 1997

Eyes on the Peacock's Tail: A Folktale from Rajasthan


Vayu Naidu - 1997
    

Irish Legends for the Very Young


Niamh Sharkey - 1997
    Aimed at early readers and written to be read aloud to young children of five to eight, this book contains a retelling of three classic Irish legends: The Children of Lir, How Setanta Became Cuchulainn and Oisin in Tir na nOg.