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Animal Stories by Young Writers from Stone Soup Magazine. 2000. 90p. Tricycle Press. All ages. Like most of the children's literature that I read my children are the first to hear the stories. They loved these stories and asked for more until we finished the entire book. My daughter was impressed with the authors all being kids. She loves to write and this book reinforced her attitude toward writing. There are 18 marvelous stories in this collection from kids 9-13 years old. Also included is information about Stone Soup Magazine and how kids can get published.
Ask the Bones:Scary Stories from Around the World. Selected and Retold by Arielle North Olson & Howard Schwartz. Illus. by David Linn. 1999. 148p. Viking. Gr. 3-8. Scary stories have a place in nearly every culture in the world. Some for pure entertainment and others to teach a lesson. This collection of 22 short stories offers some good possibilities for those haunting days and moments.
Barefoot Book of Father and Son Tales, The. Retold by Josephine Evetts-Secker. Illus. by Helen Cann. 1999. 80p. Barefoot Books. All ages. Male reading role models are desperately needed for so many young boys in this world. Perhaps these stories can provide a shared experience between fathers and sons. Don't let the father son focus stop women or other males from reading these stories. Everyone can enjoy stories from Greece, Germany, Egypt, Chile, Chippewa Native American, Polynesia, Serbia, Scotland, and Italy. A great companion book is The Barefoot Book of Mother and Son Tales also by these two.
Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, The. Retold by John Matthews. Illus. by Giovanni Manna. 1999. 80p. Barefoot Books. All ages. The theme behind this book certainly has appeal to young and curious minds. There are 9 stories in this collection coming from Norway, Cheyenne Native Americans, Australia, Ireland, China, Denmark, The Hausa Tribe in West Africa, The Evenk in Siberia, and Scotland.
Barefoot Book of Mother and Son Tales, The. Retold by Josephine Evetts-Secker. Illus. by Helen Cann. 1999. 80p. Barefoot Books. Mothers have a special place in all children's hearts. There is a uniqueness to the bonding between boy and mother that can be heard through these beautiful stories from Nepal, France, Iceland, Wabanaki Native American, Siberia, Germany, Welsh, Maori of Australia, and Greece. A natural companion book by these two is The Barefoot Book of Father and Son Tales.
Brill, Marlene Targ. Tooth Tales From Around the World. Illus. by Katya Krenina. 1998. 32p. Charlesbridge. All ages. Whether you hear the superstitions or celebrations, the marvel of losing a tooth continues to capture the attention of every child. Loosing a tooth is universal and has been occurring for as long as man has inhabited this world. How past and present cultures around the world dealt with this natural phenomenon varies as you will discover in this multicultural book.
Classic Horse & Pony Stories: The World's Best Horse and Pony Stories in Their Real-life Settings. Edited by Diana Pullein-Thompson. Illus. by Neal Puddephatt. 1999. 96p. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. All Ages. Horse lovers can be found the world over. There are 11 wonderful fanciful and realistic horse stories to pick from in this collection. Most of the stories in this book are captivating scenes that have been excerpted from the original story. Two unique features of this collection are: the stories are placed in real-life settings supported by beautiful illustrations and each story is accompanied with a page of color photos and related horse facts.
Delacre, Lulu. Salsa Stories. 2000. 105p. Scholastic. Gr. 4 & up. This collection of stories surrounds an extended family coming together to celebrate. Each guest shares a story from their past that includes some marvelous food they remember. Young Carmen Teresa takes it all in and surprises them with a fantastic family recipe book that serves as a record of their stories. And as a special surprise for the reader, recipes are included.
Grandmothers' Stories: Wise Women Tales from Many Cultures. Retold by Burleigh Mutén. Illus. by Sian Bailey. 1999. 80p. Barefoot Books. All ages. In many cultures it is the women who hold the wisdom and carry the stories passing these gifts down through the ages. That is still true today. All one needs to do is listen to our grandmothers to recognize this. In this unique collection you will find stories from Senegal, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, and Sweden.
Gray Heroes: Elder Tales from Around the World. Edited by Jane Yolen. 1999. 234p. Penquin. All ages. There are over 75 tales in this collection. Some very short, others lengthier, but each filled with insights and wisdom of why things have come to be or lessons for living a healthy life. The stories are gathered under such categories as wisdom, trickery, adventure, and a little bit of love.
Hausman, Gerald & Loretta. Dogs of Myth: Tales From Around the World. Illus. by Barry Moser. 1999. 84p. Simon & Schuster. All ages. There are reasons why these incredible beasts continue to honor their place as man's best friend. After reading these delightful dog stories there is little reason to doubt why people are attracted to dogs. Dogs have a long history of grandeur in many cultures. These tales are divided into 6 dog themes: Creation; Trickster; Enchanted; Guardian; Super; and Treasure Dog.
Hazell, Rebecca. Barefoot Book of Heroic Children, The. Illus. by Helen Chan. 2000. 96p. Barefoot Books. All ages. Hooray for Rebecca Hazell for putting together such a timely book. If there ever was a time for our children to need heroes in their lives it surely is today. This exceptional collection includes 12 stories about heroic children from around the world that encompass themes of bravery and determination.
Hoffman, Mary. Earth, Fire, Water, Air. Illus. by Jane Ray. 1995. 76p. Dutton. All ages. This book has an interesting format in which Hoffman covers the four elements of nature through narrative vignettes. She combines her storytelling talents and understanding of world myths and legends with facts, story and reflections on the future of the earth's natural resources.
Listen to the Storyteller: A Trio of Musical Tales From Around the World. Illus. by Kristen Balouchi. 1999. 28p. Viking. All ages. Wynton Marsalis states in his introduction that stories are told "with words, with music, or with both, all we need to do is use our ears and our imagination." The original stories in this book come from Native American, Celtic, and Afro-Caribbean roots.
MacDonald, Margaret Read. Earth Care: World Folktales to Talk About. Illus. by Zobra Anasazi. 1999. 146p. Linnet. Gr. 5 & up. In a time when conscious stewardship of the earth is so important MacDonald's stories are a welcome addition for any classroom or library. There are 36 stories for reading aloud. A nice companion to these stories is a poetry collection, Mother Earth, Father Sky: Poems of Our Planet edited by Jane Yolen.
Machlin, Mikki. My Name is Not Gussie. 1999. 32p. Houghton Mifflin. Gr. 1-5. This is a wonderful collection of stories handed down through Machlin's ancestors. She decided to write them down as she remembered them for others to hear and enjoy. Each of the 14 stories is on one page with a colorful detailed drawing to capture the mood of the story. The stories are all set during the time of heavy immigration to the United States in the early 20th century. Humor is a resounding theme throughout the collection.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Crystal Pool: Myths and Legends of the World. Illus. by Bee Willey. 1999. 144p. Simon & Schuster. All ages. This book is the fourth installment in the Myths and Legends of the World Series. Like their prior books these stories have wide appeal, have their roots in the rich oral cultural traditions from around the world, and include end notes about each story. Willey's playful illustrations throughout the series enhance the impressive 100 stories from all over the world. Other titles include: The Bronze Cauldron; The Silver Treasure; and The Golden Hoard.
Smith Jr., Charles R. Tall Tales: Six Amazing Basketball Dreams. 2000. 40p. Dutton. Gr. 5 & up. The format alone is enough to entice any reluctant or curious reader. Smith has created stories that are tall tales, but have an element of wishing they were true. One example is about a blind basketball player who has the best jump shot on the court. Another about the person who could outplay any of the guys and then reveals their identity when a pile of hair falls out from under her hat. Like Smith's previous book, Rimshots: Basketball Pix, Rolls, and Rhythms, this one has creative photographic images and text written in a variety of ways across the page.
Songs of Birds, The: Stories and Poems From Many Cultures. Collected and Retold by Hugh Lupton. Illus. by Steve Palin. 2000. 80p. Barefoot Books. Gr. 3 & up. When you combine stories with incredible illustrations from a noted bird illustrator you have all the ingredients of a great book for budding ornithologists, bird enthusiasts, and people who like to hear a good story. The stories are from around the world and retold through the words of an active storyteller.
Starlight Princess and Other Princess Stories, The. Retold by Annie Dalton. Embroideries by Belinda Downes. 1999. 112p. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. All ages. What girl has not dreamed of becoming a princess? This book includes 8 princess stories from around the world, perhaps familiar and new for audiences young and old. The extraordinary embroidery illustrations are incredibly detailed and a unique feature of this book. With these precious tales you can keep their imagination alive, relive a hopeful dream, compare and contrast variations, or analyze their character qualities.
Stocking of Buttermilk: American Folktales. Edited by Neil Philip, Illus. by Jacqueline Mair. Clarion Books. 1999. Imagine having the task of collecting folktales from across America. A monumental task! Philip pulled together a wonderful collection. He included a brief on the history behind each story, a wonderful bibliography for further reading, and a table of contents that boasts 16 stories ready for your eyes and ears.
The Century That Was: Reflections on the Last One Hundred years. Edited by James Cross Giblin. 2000. 166p. Atheneum. Gr. 5 & up. The stories in this collection are riveting and thought provoking. They could be used separately or as a reader collection. The reflections have applications across many subject areas. The range is varied and the likelihood of finding one to match the interests of individual students is pretty high. The collection boasts some well known award winning authors: Russell Freedman, Eve Bunting, Albert Marrin, Jim Murphy, Bruce Brooks, Penny Coleman, Walter Dean Myers, Louis Lowry, Milton Meltzer, Katherine Paterson, and Laurence Pringle.
Tomorrow Land: Stories About the Future. Compiled by Michael Cart. 1999. 198p. Scholastic. Gr. 5 & up. This is a thought provoking collection of short stories by 10 well know authors. There is one particular story that caught my attention. The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick. What if there were no more books in the future, only memories held by a former reader? Philbrick's story keeps you wondering right to the end. Other contributors in this captivating collection are Jon Scieszka, Tor Siedler, Gloria Skurzynski, Ron Koertge, Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, Jacqueline Woodson, James Cross Giblin, and Michael Cart.
Verniero, Joan & Robin Fitzsimmons. One Hundred and One Read-Aloud Myths and Legends: Ten-Minute Readings From the World's Best-Loved Literature. 1999. 192p. Black Dog & Levanthal. Gr 3 & up. This book has enough multicultural stories to carry you for 101 days or nights depending on your reading time. The stories are brief and concise making this a great source when time is an issue. Few pictures make this collection more appealing to an older audience of children.
While the Bear Sleeps: Winter Tales and Traditions. Retold by Caitlin Matthews. Illus. by Judith Christine Mills. 1999. 80p. Barefoot Books. All ages. Surviving the long days of winter are reason for celebration especially when you live in colder climates. This yearning to recognize the time of year when growth and life seems to slow down has been going on for centuries as you will see from this unique multicultural collection of stories. There are stories to recognize the first snowfall all the way to the arrival of spring.
Yolen, Jane. The Fairies' Ring: A Book of Fairy Stories & Poems. Illus. by Stephen Mackey. 1999. 96p. Dutton. All ages. Between Mackey's fine illustrations and Yolen's eye for collecting and adapting some wonderful stories and poems, all about fairies, readers are the lucky recipients of hours of entertainment. Yolen's introduction provides all the background you will need to enter the enchanted land of fairies.
Yolen, Jane. Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls. Illus. by Susan Guevara. 2000. 116p. Harcourt. Gr 3-8. This is a refreshing collection of 13 folktales where the girls are highlighted for their bravery and wit. You won't find any damsels in distress in this collection. Yolen has combined story and heroines targeted for girls in a time where the need for story and heroines is greatest.