Book picks similar to
The Talking Tree and other Stories: Fairy Tales from 15 Lands by Augusta Baker
mythology
fairy-tale
fiction
fairy-tales
The Five Chinese Brothers
Claire Huchet Bishop - 1938
"An original nonsense tale told with...spirit and gusto." -- The Horn Book
The Wolf's Story: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood
Toby Forward - 2005
No, please. Look at me. Would I LIE to you? It was the old woman who started it.Everyone knows there are at least two sides to every story, and if you believe in the big-eared, sharp-toothed villain of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, there's a logical explanation for everything. As our antihero tells it, it all starts with the helpful wolf doing odd jobs for Grandma (are you sure you don't want to sit a little closer?). How was he to know that he spoiled Little Red would come along and ruin a good working relationship? Zooming in dramatically from strategic angles, the amusing illustrations offer visual clues that this is a story to be taken with a grain of salt - and a lot of giggling.
The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story
Penny Pollock - 1996
In this Native American variant of a familiar story, some turkeys make a gown of feathers for the poor girl who tends them so that she can participate in a sacred dance, but they desert her when she fails to return as promised.
Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale
Matthew Reinhart - 2005
The stunning transformation of a pumpkin into a magnificent coach, a rat into a coachman, and Cinderella into a beautiful princess is pure magic.
Hansel and Gretel
Cynthia Rylant - 2008
But the witch whose delicious house lured Hansel and his sister, Gretel had forgotten two things about lost children: they can be very clever and very brave.
Chanticleer and the Fox
Barbara Cooney - 1958
When a fox bursts into his domain, dupes him into crowing, and then grabs him in a viselike grip, Chanticleer must do some quick thinking to save himself and his barnyard kingdom.
Jabutí the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon
Gerald McDermott - 2001
His shell was smooth and shiny, and the songs he played on his flute were sweet.But his music was a reminder, too, of the mischievous pranks Jabutí sometimes played. His song reminded Tapir of being tricked, Jaguar of being fooled, and time and again it reminded Vulture that he had no song at all. When a concert takes place in heaven, Vulture offers to fly Jabutí there . . . all the while plotting a trick of his own.Gerald McDermott makes myths new again for readers of all ages, using language as vibrant and colorful as his bold illustrations. Jabutí is an unusual tale of a trickster’s fall from grace, and of how creation can sometimes come from chaos.
The Jack Tales
Richard Chase - 1943
A collection of folk tales from the southern Appalachians that center on a single character, the irrepressible Jack.
Hansel and Gretel
Michael Morpurgo - 2008
Filled with intricate details, Emma Chichester Clark's bright, captivating illustrations fill each page.
Anansi Does the Impossible!: An Ashanti Tale
Verna Aardema - 1997
And Anansi, that cunning little spider, was determined to buy them back. The payment? A live python, one real fairy, and forty-seven stinging hornets. Not such a high price to pay for all the folktales on earth. But how will Anansi find these hard to come bgy items? It sounds impossible! There's only one way to find the help he needs -- Anansi must go to his clever wife, Aso. But will she be smart enough to outwit the Sky God and get the stories back? This humorous retelling of an Ashanti tale brings Anansi together with his better half in an ingenious scheme that will delight readers of all ages!
Kate and the Beanstalk
Mary Pope Osborne - 2000
Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum’un, I smell the blood of an Englishwoman. Be she alive or be she dead, I'll grind her bones to make my bread. Readers will cheer on the resourceful, gutsy Kate as she outsmarts the famously greedy giant.
The Ugly Duckling
Rachel Isadora - 2009
As the ugly duckling searches for a place where he can fit in, Isadora's vibrant collages capture the beauty in everything from glistening feathers to shimmering sunsets.
The Funny Little Woman
Arlene Mosel - 1972
. . . It's all done with a commendable amount of taste, imagination, and style."--School Library Journal (starred review)"A beautifully convincing tale."--The New York Times Book Review"Using elements of traditional Japanese art, the illustrator has made marvelously imaginative pictures."--The Horn Book"Lent's pictures are a lively blend of finely detailed, delicate drawings and rip-roaring good humor."--The Boston Globe"A good read-aloud with lots of suspense."--LearningAwards: ALA Notable Children's Book Child Study Association Book of the Year The Horn Book Fanfare
Hans My Hedgehog: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm
Kate Coombs - 2012
Born a hedgehog from the waist up, he knows what it's like to truly be an outcast. Even his amazing fiddle playing can't help him fit in. So Hans flees to the forest with his herd of loyal pigs and only his music to keep him company. But then a most unusual thing happens: When Hans crosses paths with two kings with two lovely daughters, his luck starts to change. Will this lonely soul find true love after all?This lively and lyrical retelling of the classic Grimm's tale, paired with lush, detailed illustrations, reminds us of the power of music, the importance of belonging, and the transformative effect of love.