Pencil drawings were created and photocopied, then
oil paints were applied to the photocopy for this retelling of the German
folktale, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." Reverend Knight, an African-American
preacher in Harlem, wants to know why his 12 sons's new tennis shoes are
worn out each morning. The front end papers show the battered sneakers
to pique the interest of readers and pristine ones on the back end papers.
Have students speculate why they are not the same and how this might affect
the plot. The story is told from the point of view of the dog
who has been blamed for ruining the shoes. Housekeepers also come
and go because they were given keys to lock the boys in for the night but
the shoes were still ruined. There is a variety adjectives used to
describe the shoes: worn to threads; messed up; torn up; stinky; dirty;
tacky; and jacked up. Students can add more to the list. One
Sunday a small woman in a bright colored dress was waiting on their doorstep
who introduced herself as sweet Sunday because she liked to bake pies and
cakes. Sunday uses her magic scarf to make herself invisible and follows
the boys to the party. When they return she swirls her magic scarf
and the shoes are replaced by new ones. The Reverend likes her cooking
and likes the pristine shoes. However, the dog does something to cause
Rev. Knight to fire Sunday. Readers know it will end well for the humans
because this is a fairy tale but the twist at the end is that the dog does
not live happily ever after. This one is suitable for reading aloud
to primary students as well as can be used to stimulate middle school
students to write fractured fairy tales.
Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center
Diakite,Baba Wague. THE HATSELLER AND
THE MONKEYS. New York:
Scholastic, 1999. 32p 0-590-96069-5;
$15.95. 98-16250 PreS-Gr.3
398.2
The author/illustrator is a native of West Africa who
listened to family stories. In the Author's note, he tells how
he came to learn this story. A list of four variants is also included;
Slobodkina's CAPS FOR SALE (Harper Trophy) is probably the most
famous. It would take an excellent picture book to command shelf space
with that illustrious title. In this variant, there is a peddler's song
but it is not in English. Although the language is not given, the hat
seller is Fulani. Diakite now lives in the U.S. and exhibits pottery.
The illustrations for his book are paint on tile. Libraries who have
the celebrated HUNTERMAN AND THE CROCODILE will be interested
in this one. This is an excellent folktale. The author/illustrator
appears in native costume on the back cover.
Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
Gibbons, Gail. BEHOLD…THE UNICORNS! New York:
HarperCollins, 2002. 32p.
0-688-17955-X; hb., 15.95.
0-688-17958-4; lib.bdg., $ 15.89. Gr. 2-6+
398.24
Unicorns have held the interest of humans for centuries.
Beginning with the Latin word for unicorns and moving on through dinosaurs
then on to a variety of cultures beginning with ancient times, Gibbons
provides a wealth of information about these magical beasts. The drawings
add to text that is highlighted against a blue background on each page.
The only discordant element in the book comes with three pages of photos
of the tapestries from the middle ages with the cartoon style of illustrations
in the rest of the book and the orange color is not in hormony with the
rest of the illustrations. However, this book is recommended for
collections serving patrons of all ages.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center, Marquette, MI
Goble, Paul. IKTOMI LOSES HIS EYES.
Illus. by the author. New York:
Orchard, 1999. 32p. 0-531-30200-8; hb $16.95.
99-12036 Gr. 1-5
398.2
The seventh book about the Native American trickster
of the plains, Iktomi. This time Iktomi is feeling sorry for himself
and dresses in traditional clothes to feel worthwhile. When he say a
man make his eyes fly from his head through the air to a fence post and come
back, he was in awe. The man taught him the trick but admonished him
not to do it more than four times a day. "Do you think Ikto was listening?"
When he cheated on counting, he lost his eyes which were found by squirrel
and hid in Woodpecker's old hole. Mouse loaned him one eye and later
received another from Buffalo but still could not find his way home.
In the morning he returned home to receive a scolding from his wife.
There are several questions that could be asked during the reading of story
that can be answered by a one word shouted response from a listening audience.
The last question leaves readers with something to think about. "Do
you think Ikto will ever see again? And can anyone guess what he will
be up to after that?" Although this is not as good as other books by
the same character, Fans of Iktomi will also want to purchase this one.
Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center
Han, Suzanne Crowder. THE RABBIT'S TAIL:
A STORY FROM KOREA. Illus.by Richard
Wehrman. New York: Holt, 1999. ISBN 0-8050-4580-5; hb., $15.95.
Gr.K-3 398.2
Acrylic gouache was used for the illustrations in this
Korean pourquoi folktale which tells why the rabbit has a stumpy tail.
When rabbit meets a tiger who has escaped from a creature, rabbit wants to
see what kind of creature could scare a tiger. Rabbit did not listen
to Tiger's warning andgoes to the tree with disastrous results. Purchase
if more Asian folktales are needed.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
The thirteen stories are divided into six categories
like trickster, enchanted, and guardian dogs. Some breeds represented
are: bloodhound; retriever; wolfhound; rottweiler; poodle; Bichon
Frise; and Spaniel. This book serves a dual purpose, it is a world
mythology book as well as a book of good dog stories. Dog lovers
will appreciate this book. If you need more dog stories, then
you need this book.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
Hodges, Margaret. THE BOY WHO DREW CATS. Illus by Aki
Sogabe. New York:
Holiday, 2002. 32p. 0-8234-1594-5;
hb., $16.95 2001-016642 K-Gr. 3 398.2
Lafcadio Hearn’s familiar Japanese fairy tale,
”The Boy Who Drew Cats,” is retold by the master storyteller, Margaret Hodges.
Sogabe’s use of cut paper, watercolor, and airbrushing evokes ancient Japan.
Because the boy was clever, his father took him to the temple to be a priest.
The boy’s one fault was that he drew cats everywhere because he couldn’t help
himself and finally he was asked to leave the temple. He was given the
following advice to “avoid large places at night; keep to small.” This
advice proved useful when he came to a strange temple inhabited by a goblin
that had frightened everyone else away. The boy drew cats everywhere
in the temple and then went to sleep in a little cabinet to “avoid large places
at night.” During the night he heard a terrible noise and in the morning
he saw blood everywhere and saw a “monstrous rat--a goblin bigger than a
cow.” Sogabe cleverly provides only a terrible looking tail and leaves
the monstrous rat to the imagination of readers. When the boy sees
the red mouths on the cats, he realizes who killed the rat. Eventually
the boy who drew cats became the famous artist, Sesshu Toyo. A. Levine’s
THE BOY WHO DREW CATS : A JAPANESE FOLKTALE (Penguin, 1994) and D.
Johnson’s THE BOY WHO DREW CATS (Little Simon, 1991) are both out
of stock indefinitely so this book is even more welcome.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
Kimel, Eric A. THE ROOSTER'S ANTLERS: A STORY OF THE CHINESE
ZODIAC.
Illus. by YongSheng Xuan. New York: Holiday, 1999.
32p. 0-8234-1385-3; lib.bdg., $16.95.
97-46854 Gr. K-4+
398.2 Paulin's Picks Citation
This folktale about measuring time during the current
change of centuries is timely. According to the author's note at the
end of the book, "The Chinese calendar has been in use for thousands of years,"
a reminder that the whole world does not use the same calendar nor the one
which is receiving such attention.
This story tells how the Jade Emperor created a
calendar to measure time which would have twelve of the bravest, swiftest,
and most beautiful animals to represent each segment. Rooster was
sure he would be chosen but Dragon was afraid that his bald head would be
a handicap. When he tells centipede that he desires antlers like Rooster,
the bug offers to get them for him. Rooster agrees to loan his antlers
to Dragon but is unhappy because Dragon is chosen fifth and he is only chosen
tenth. When Dragon refuses to give the antlers back, Rooster blames
Centipede and they argue and to this day Rooster's descendants dislike centipedes
and Rooster sits on the fence and crows about Dragon stealing his antlers.
A list of the 12 Zodiac animals appears at the end of the book with a paragraph
about the attributes of each. The back cover lists years from
1960 to 2007 under each animal so young readers will know which animal represents
their birth year. This book is versatile, read it aloud in public library
story hours during the Chinese New Year which falls between January
21and February 19 on the Western Calendar or to middle school students before
they write a shadow puppet show based on this book as part of their study
of China. School and public libraries should purchase this book to add
to millennium titles.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
Lewis, Patrick J. AT THE WISH OF THE
FISH: A RUSSIAN FOLKTALE.
Illus. by Katya Krenina. New York: Atheneum,
1999. 32p. 0-689-81336-8; hb., $16.00.
97-42238 Gr. 2-4 398.2
Watercolor and gouache illustrations add a Russian
flavor to this tale retold from Afas'ev.
While his brothers are off at the fair, the simple brother, Emelya
stays home and obeys his sisters-in law. When he catches a magic
pike who grants wishes, the lazy boy arranges to have water and kindling
deliver themselves. When his antics knock over half his village, the
peasants become angry and finally the Tsar hears about it and sends his troops
who are sent back by the pike's power. Eventually Emelya goes
to see the Tzar and fallsl in love with the Tsarevna Marya which angers the
Tzar who puts him in a barrel and casts it out to sea. Marya is with
him and they are saved by the pike who gives them a palace where the ask
the Txar to dinner. Purchase if more Russian folktales are needed.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
The gouache, colored pencil, and colored ink provide
vibrant illustrations that are the Caldecott winner's trademark. The
title page verso includes information and phonetic spelling for the Amazon
rain forest tortoise that has ties to Brer Terrapin from the southern U.S.
and has common West African roots. The story is also similar to Aesop's
"The Tortoise and the Eagle" and "The Turtle and the Geese" from the Panchatantra
of India. Pair this with the study of Brazil, the rain forest, or other
trickster tales like McDermot’s Caldecott Honor book, RAVEN: A TRICKSTER
FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Harper, 1993, which has recently been released
in a paperback edition.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center
Mollel, Tololwa M. SUBIRA SUBIRA. Illus. by Linda Saport.
New York: Clarion,
1999. 32p. 0-395-91809-X; hb., $15.00
98-22564 Gr.1-4 398.22
The setting is Tanzania and Mollel shares the inner
growth of a child through her story. Filled with heartfelt emotion
Tatu's little brother, Maulidi, presents behavioral problems and Tatu wants
her brother to find happiness. No matter what her plan, nothing works.
The tale unwinds as an old spirit woman tells Tatu that in order for her
brother to be helped, she, Tatu, must perform a most terrifying task....to
pluck three whiskers from a lion. In the retelling of this traditional
folktale; Mollel, with the support of Saport and her rich colorful pastel
illustrations, combines the element of magic with a modern setting in Tanzania.
The end result reveals the true power of love, music and understanding.
Patricia Fittante; Children’s Librarian, Escanaba
Public Library, Escanaba, MI
24 years of experience as a school and public librarian
Moser, Barry. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS.
Illus by author. 32p.
0-315-58544-0; hb., $14.95 00-035228 PreS-Gr.
2 398.24
The story is very similar to the usual version.
Two of the pigs ask a man for bundles of straw and sticks and the wolf says
"Little Pig, little pig, let me in." The pig replies, “No, no no, not
by the hair of my chinny chin chin." The wolf huffs and puffs and blows
the houses down and eats the little pigs. The last pig builds his house
of bricks and of course the wolf has to trick the pig into coming out of the
house to a field of turnips and when that doesn't work, a nice apple tree.
When the wolf suggests that they meet at the fair, the pig goes early and
comes down the hill in a butter churn. Finally, the wolf climbs down
the chimney into the pot of boiling water and the last little pig has wolf
stew for supper.
So far, there is nothing to distinguish this tale from
hundreds of other retellings. It is the illustrations that make this
story special. The house of straw has a "See Rock City" sign on it.
After eating the second pig, the wolf lies down with rounded tummy and a pot
of bones showing beside a jar of Bubba's No Cook BBQ Sauce and a container
of PIG Pepper Sauce. The cement used by the third pig is called Wolfe
Pruf cement. The brand of kettle used by the third pig to cook his turnips
is called Lupus ware. The churn is made by the Huffin and Puffin Churn
Company. The recipe box next to the fireplace has a card in a box for
"My Mama's Wolf Stew with Garlic" and a nearby book is Harley Rhode Hogg's
WOLF COOK. The last page shows the third little pig with a malevolent
look on his face eating wolf stew while wearing wolf slippers. Because
the pigs set off on their journey on Valentine’s Day, this book can be read
aloud for that holiday and should be part of Valentine book displays.
Although Moser sometimes appeals to adults more than
to children, this book offers something for both groups. This version
is not for the squeamish but if you want a "no holds barred" rendition of
the tale, this one fills the bill.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
Nelson, S.D. THE STAR PEOPLE: A LAKOTA STORY. New
York: Abrams, 2003. 32 pgs.
0-8109-4584-3 hb, $14.95. Gr. 1-4
E or 398.2
A young Lakota brother and sister wander from their village
watching cloud shapes created by the Cloud People. When a prairie fire
breaks out, they run and fall into a river. Scared, but safe, they
sit on the river bank and watch the stars make the the Star People who are
the spirits of the Old Ones. In the stars they see their deceased Grandma,
and she leads them home. Grandma explains that she cannot enter the
village, but that she will always be available to them in the stars.
Author's nots at the end of the story explain how he learned
this magical story from his Lakota mother. He further explains that
the vivid illustrations are based on Native American ledger-book art of the
1800's. This traditional tale captures the spirit of the human/nature
relationship and is an excellent addition to an children's or Native American
collection. It would also be a lyrical read-aloud for Grades 1 - 4.
Linda Cooley, L'Anse School and Public Library
Piumini, Roberto. GOLDILOCKS AND THE
THREE BEARS. Illus. by Valentina Salmaso.
Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books, 2008. 32p.
978-140485499-4;hb. PreS-Gr.2 j398.22
Another Goldilocks storybook, who hasn't heard the story of Goldilocks
and the three Bears? The story can be repeated by almost anyone.
This version is slightly updated into contemporary language. Little Bears
says his chair "broke into tiny little pieces!" The story
doesn't end with Goldilocks running off into the forest. Little Bear's
broken chair gets fixed and he gets to eat some more porridge. The artwork
in this picture book is designed to allow preschoolers identify groups of
threes. Everything is placed in the picture for Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and
Baby Bear from their napkins to the pencils the use to write in their notebooks.
Another element added to this story are discussion questions at the end of the
book. Each discussion point allows early
readers to create their own fairy tales based on this one. The
discussion story develops the elements all stories and fairy tales incorporate.
Chris Collins, L'Anse Area School/Public Library
Polacco, Patricia. LUBA AND THE WREN. New
York: Philomel, 1999. unp.
0-399-23168-4; hb., $16.99. 98-16353
Gr. K-4 398.2
This variant of the familiar German folktale,
"The Fisherman and his Wife," is illustrated so no one can mistake it's
Russian origin. Little Luba saves a wren who offers her a wish but
she is content until her parents tell her to go back to the wren and ask
for a bigger house on fertile land. The parents are not happy until
they have a grand farmhouse, the graceful house of an estate, and a majestic
palace. Then the parents want the wren to make them Tzar and Tzarina
of all the Russians, Emperor and Empress of the World, and finally to be
as gods. This was too much for the wren so she changed the greedy parents
back to their original state where they were happy just to be a family.
This is only one of many picture books by this Michigan author who celebrates
her Russian heritage through her text and illustrations.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center, Marquette, MI
Roberts, Lynn. RAPUNZEL: A GROOVY TALE. Illus.
by David Roberts. New York:
Harry N.Abrams, Inc., 2003. 32 pgs. ISBN
0-8109-4242-9 hb., $16.95 PreS-Gr.3 398
In this story the classic fairy tale is given an urban
twist and is adapted to evoke the groovy 1970's when bellbottoms and long
hair were "in." Her wicked aunt holds orphaned red-haired Rapunzel prisoner
in an aprtment building with hundreds of stairs and a broken elevator. The
handsome prince of the original story is a handsome guitarist from a rock
n' roll band in this version. It can be read for pure enjoyment of,
in the the classroom, used as an example of how to adapt a story to a different
time and place.
Carolyn Anderson, L'Anse, Retired Elementary Teacher,
Public Library Board
Salley, Coleen. EPOSSUMONDAS. Illus by Janet Stevens.
San Diego: Harcourt,
2002. 32p. 0-15-216748-X; hb., $16.00
2001-004906 PreS-Gr. 3 398.21
This new twist on an old Southern folktale begins
with mouthwatering pies on the end papers by a Caldecott honor book winner,
Janet Stevens; who uses watercolor, colored pencil, with photographic
and digital elements to add a new dimension to this retelling. Those
who are not fortunate to know “Miss Sally” will find her words on the
pages, her likeness on the front cover and her “Storyteller’s Note” at
the end of the book.
The tale upon which this book was based is “Epaminondas,”
who becomes Epossumondas, an engaging baby possum in diapers who is eminently
huggable. After meeting the baby, “his auntie’s sweet little patootie,”
the story goes on in the prescribed manner in which the baby smunches
the cake and is told to carry it on his head, but when he carried butter
on his head under his hat, it melted all over him. Auntie says he
has to wrap items in leaves and carry it down to the brook, cool it and
himself in water, and then put it in his hands to bring it home.
On and on it goes until the last admonition is “you be careful about stepping
on those pies!” And he was! He stepped on them very carefully.
Expect squeals and admonishments from listeners who are much wiser than
the protagonist. The original story was engaging but the retelling
and illustrations add significantly to the familiar story. Children
will ask to have this story read again and again at home or in group read-alouds.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center, Marquette, MI
San Souci, Robert D. BRAVE MARGARET:
AN IRISH ADVENTURE.
Illus. by Sally Wern Comport. New York: Simon and
Schuster, 1999. 40p.
0-689-81072-5; hb., $17.00. 98-16794
Gr. K-5 398.2
Pastels illustrate this Irish tale about Margaret who
lives alone on a farm in County Donegal but has a yen for travel. One
day a man from a ship comes to buy supplies from her. Margaret's bargain
with Simon, the son of the King of the East, is that he should take her along.
When a sea creature demands the red haired woman or he will capsize the ship,
Margaret rows away in a small boat. When the serpent comes for her she hits
him with an axe and escapes. Margaret is taken in by a woman who tells
her that a giant has driven her from her castle and has taken everything but
a ring and a sword. "Only the champion whose finger fits the ring can
lift down the sword of light, slay the giant, and give me back my holdings."
At the end of the book, after Simon is killed by the monster, it is an angry
Margaret, whose finger fits the riing, kills the giant. Is Simon brought
to life again? Do they marry? This story is based on a story translated
from the Gaelic. School and public library collections needing strong
female characters or Irish stories to read in March will want to acquire this
book.
Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center
San Souci, Daniel. IN THE MOONLIGHT MIST: A KOREAN TALE.
Illus. by Eujin Kim Neilan. Honesdale, PA:
Boyds Mills, 1999. 32p.
1-56397-754-0; hb., $15.95 98-73069
Gr. 3+ 398.2
There are many selkie stories around the world in which
a humble man sees a beautiful celestial beauty bathing and hides her clothes.
She is left behind when the others return to the sky and the man marries her
and they have a family. Eventually the wife pines away for her former
life, finds her clothes and returns. This version has a magic deer
who grants a woodcutter a wish for saving his life. The wish is for
a wife to love. Following the deers instructions, the woodcutter marries
the maiden who takes care of his aging mother and their child. When
she asks to see her heavenly clothes, she cannot help herself and floats to
heaven with the child. The deer tells him to get into a bucket that
will be lifted up so that he can be reunited with his family. Because
he is unable to leave his mother, he sends her in his place. The heavenly
king is pleased with his sacrifice and sends a winged dragon-horse to take
him into the sky. Neilan's pastels capture the essence of this Korean
tale.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
San Souci, Robert D. (retold by). ROBIN HOOD AND THE
GOLDEN ARROW.
Illus. by
E.B. Lewis. Orchard Books, 2010. 24p. ISBN 978-0-439-62538-8
lib. bdg.
$17.99 Gr.
1-4 NF
398.2
Based on
a traditional British ballad, Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, this rendition
has all the components to have children on the edge of their seats and cheering
for Robin and his band when they make a fool of the dastardly Sheriff. The
well-rendered illustrations add to the story and interest, bringing children
back to an age long gone. This book is a worthy addition to folktale collections
and just what you would expect from San Souci.
Barb
Ward, Retired Children’s Librarian, Dickinson County Library, Iron Mountain,
MI
Sewall, Marcia. THE GREEN MIST. Illus.
by author. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.
0-395-90013-1; hb., $15.00. 97-42615
Gr.K-4 E or 398.2
Based on a folktale from the ancient past in Great
Britain, a small girl's fate is connected to the
mysterious Green Mist that wakes the sleeping land each spring. In olden
times it was believed that magical forces controlled the good and bad happenings
in people's lives. The Green Mist rose from the mools (soil) at the
coming of spring. Bogles and other weird things were said to have roamed the
earth in the old times; they'd hide in cracks and live in cinders just waiting
to cause trouble. Through the cold dark days of winter the girl deteriorates
to just a bag-o'-bones, while her family waits for the Green Mist and its
spring rituals to return and bring forth its magical powers. Sewell uses soft
watercolors to set the mood and uses minimal text and an easy vocabulary to
help draw a wide audience.
Patricia Fittante; Children's Librarian, Escanaba
Public Library, Escanaba, MI
Silverman, Erica. RAISEL'S RIDDLE. Illus. by Susan
Gaber. New York: Farrar, 1999.
40p. 0-374-36168-1; hb., $16.00. 97-29421
Gr. K-4 398.2
The main character in this Jewish Cinderella story
from Poland is Raisel who lives with her grandfather, a poor scholar
who teaches her from the Talmud. When he dies she gets a job at the
house of a rabbi where the cook works her night and day. During the
Purim meal Raisel serves the food and listens to guests tell riddles. When
they go off to see the Purim play, Raisel takes her food outside and shares
it with a beggar woman who gives her three wishes. Raisel wishes for
a Purim costume and is given one like Queen Esther. She wishes for
a horse-drawn wagon and she goes to the play. When the rabbi's son
compliments her she says "Look not at the flask but at what it contains."
Then she tells him a riddle based on something her grandfather taught her
"What's more precious than rubies, more lasting than gold? What can
never be traded, stolen, or sold? What comes with great effort and
takes time, but then–Once yours, will serve you again and again?"
Before he can answer, the clock strikes and she has to get away. When
the rabbi's son looks for the girl who told him the riddle, he finds Raisa
and gives the correct answer, "learning." What was the third wish?
It was practical; all the work needed to be finished while Raisel was
at the play. A few sentences on the title page explain about Esther's
part in the Purim holiday. This book serves multiple purposes:
as a Cinderella variant, a Purim story, a riddle storoy, a Polish, and a Jewish
story.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI