Best of
Folk-Tales

2017

The Three Billy Goats Gruff


Jerry Pinkney - 2017
    But the bridge is home to a terrible troll, who is peckish himself, and looking for a tasty morsel to gobble up. In his interpretation of the timeless tale, Jerry Pinkney shows there's little good to come from greed--but in the end, redemption for even the most trollish bully is possible. A dramatic gatefold heightens the climax of this brilliant rendition.Don't miss these other classic retellings by Jerry Pinkney:The Little MermaidThe Lion & the MouseThe Tortoise & the HareThe Grasshopper & the AntsLittle Red Riding HoodTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

The Crane Girl


Curtis Manley - 2017
    He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches it fly away. The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at Yasuhiro's home seeking shelter from the cold. The boy and his father welcome the girl, named Hiroko, to stay with them. But when Hiroko notices that Yasuhiro's father is struggling to earn money, she offers to weave silk for him to sell. After the fabric fetches a good price, the boy's father becomes impatient for more silk, and his greed has a life-changing effect on them all. Lyrical storytelling deftly interwoven with original haiku create a magical adaptation of popular Japanese folktales--an inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.

The Mabinogi


Matthew Francis - 2017
    . .'The Mabinogi is the Welsh national epic, a collection of prose tales of war and enchantment, adventure and romance, which have long fascinated readers all over the world. Matthew Francis's retelling of the first four stories (the Four Branches of the Mabinogi) is the first to situate it in poetry and captures the magic and strangeness of this medieval Celtic world: a baby is kidnapped by a monstrous claw, a giant wades across the Irish Sea to do battle, a wizard makes a woman out of flowers, only to find she is less biddable than he expected. Permeating the whole sequence is a delight in the power of the imagination to transform human experience into works of tragedy, comedy and wonder.The Mabinogi is an important contribution to the storytelling of the British Isles.'I have waited a life for this book: our ancient British tales re-told, in English, by a poet, as they were in their original Welsh. This is more than translation. It picks up the harp and sings.' Gillian Clarke

Seven Ways to Trick a Troll


Lise Lunge-Larsen - 2017
    But luckily, their brains are no bigger than a walnut, so even small children can trick them. First, though, you need to know their weaknesses—and that’s where these stories come in. It is helpful to know what a little girl can do when she finds out that trolls hate loud noises. Or how two brothers might make an entire family of horrible trolls burst and turn to stone. Or what a clever little gnome boy does when he discovers that trolls are ever so easily distracted. Helpful, but also great fun, and it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of all the tricks children already know when it comes to overcoming trolls—or other fearsome beings and things. Patience, kindness, courage, and quick thinking—what works against trolls are the best things about being human. Taken from a wide range of historical and international sources, Seven Ways to Trick a Troll will delight and entertain imaginations of all ages.

The Arte Mephitic


Phil Breach - 2017
    THE ARTE MEPHITICBEINGA CAUTION AGAINSTHUBRIS and CONCEITWherein is RelatedDIVERS AWFUL AND MARVELLOUS OCCURENCES

The Cloud Artist


Sherri Maret - 2017
    When a traveling showman learns of her talent and invites her to join the carnival as a sideshow, the little cloud artist must make a decision about what kind of artist she wants to be. Story told in English and Choctaw.

Prem Purana: Mythological Love Stories


Usha Narayanan - 2017
    And when they face life’s unexpected tribulations, their love also undergoes trials. Read how Ganesha took myriad forms to please Riddhi, Siddhi and Buddhi, how Ravana shared an unbreakable bond with his true love, Mandodari and how Nala and Damayanti’s relationship was tested till almost nothing remained. Tormented by passion, wracked by betrayal, torn by the agony of separation, love in its many splendored forms is the origin of these incredibly endearing stories of Prem Purana.

The Hunter Maiden: Feminist Folktales from Around the World


Ethel Johnston Phelps - 2017
    These heroines lend their daring and determination to everything from battling evil wizards in Russia to outsmarting tricky demons in South Africa.

Strange California


Jaym GatesArmel Dagorn - 2017
    Strange California is 26 tales of strangeness, lavishly illustrated, that will pull you into another world, a world where migrant girls stand up to witches who live in orange groves, where trickster magpies try to steal souls from Russian sisters in the early days of Fort Bragg, where water is both currency and predator, and Gold Rush-era ghosts wander the streets of San Francisco alongside panther ladies.

Catarina the Wise and Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales


Giuseppe Pitrè - 2017
    . . . So begins the title story in this collection of fifty Sicilian folk and fairy tales edited and translated by noted folklore scholar Jack Zipes. But while some of the stories may sound as if they’ve been told time and again—such as variations on Cinderella and Puss in Boots—many will enchant English-language readers and storytellers for the first time. From “The Pot of Basil” to “The Talking Belly,” “The Little Mouse with the Stinky Tail” to “Peppi, Who Wandered out into the World,” the stories in Catarina the Wise range from simple tales of getting a new dress or something good to eat to fantastical plots for outwitting domineering husbands, rescuing impoverished fathers, or attracting wealthy suitors (frequently the Prince of Portugal). Many feature strong, clever women (usually daughters who become queen). Many are funny; many are wise. Some are very, very strange. As Zipes relates, the true story of their origins is as extraordinary as the tales themselves. Born to a poor family of sailors in Palermo, Giuseppe Pitrè would go on to serve with Garibaldi, become a traveling country doctor, and gather one of the most colossal collections of folk and fairy tales of the nineteenth century. But while his work as a folklorist rivaled that of the Brothers Grimm, Pitrè remains a relative unknown. Catarina the Wise highlights some of the most delectable stories at the heart of his collection. Featuring new, original illustrations, this book is a beautiful, charming treasure for any fan of story, storytelling, and heroines and heroes living happily ever after—sometimes.

Frogs & Fae: A Frog Prince Retelling (Tales of Fae)


Kara Jaynes - 2017
    Lillian practices using her enchantment in the forest, where she goes unnoticed. But when she gets tangled in the business of curses and fae, Lillian must openly defy her uncle, or lose the magic that she holds dear. Frogs & Fae is a Tales of Fae novelette, and is a standalone story. Sign up at karajaynes dot com, for notifications of future releases.

Limerick Folk Tales


Ruth Marshall - 2017
    It is where Donn Fírinne, king of the Munster fairies, is said to have once roamed and where Sean na Scuab, a poor broom seller from the wrong side of the river, was chosen to be mayor of the city. It is a land filled with stories, poetry, music, and drama.In these pages you can read about Sionainn, who was carried away by the flowing waters of the River Shannon; the bright and beautiful goddess Áine, the fairy queen, who knits the earth’s green mantle below Lough Gur; Finn MacCool and his band of warriors, the Fianna; the wise woman Joan Grogan and her ingenious cures; foolish Tadhg who outwitted a gang of thieves; and the poet-magician, Gearóid Iarla, on his horse with silver shoes.In this unique collection, storyteller Ruth Marshall recounts tales of mystery, music, and magic from across the rich tapestry of the folklore of County Limerick.

Horses: Wild & Tame


Iris Volant - 2017
    Since horses were first domesticated thousands of years ago, these iconic animals have been a part of human history--they've plowed our fields, pulled our carts, fought in our wars and been our beloved companions.Journey through the history of human and horse interaction in this beautifully illustrated history from the steady hand of American illustrator Jarom Vogel!