8 New Folktales and Fairytales

I'm no Einstein, but I DO know that stories like these help kids to make sense of the world, BECAUSE they are fictional.

 

I am LOVING each new book on the New York Public Library’s List of 100 Titles to Read and Share.

On to #24 through #31!

#24 Aesop in California by Dough Hansen

 

3 Cheers!

The best stories always come home with you, and Doug Hansen brought a handful of well-known fables to his home state of California. The details are rich and well-researched—it shows in the illustrations and the wording that reflects a very local interpretation of the age old classics. The introduction is also a must-read, and it gives you clues about hidden objects to look for in each illustration.

 

From the author:

“I especially chose fables that offered opportunities to illustrate the gloriously diverse animals and habitats of the Golden State.”

Each story takes only one page and will capture your imagination.

This was a welcome glimpse into the wildlife of my neighbor state.

#25 Can’t Scare Me! by Ashley Bryan

3 Cheers!

A lovely rhyming rhythm tells how a giant slowly tricks a boy and how the boy out wits the giants in return.

#26 Demeter and Persephone by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden

3 Cheers!

It is about time I read this story. Somehow I managed to make it through high school AND college without having it assigned. This story is written with younger readers in mind (about 6^th grade) but can be read out loud to 4^th and 5^th graders.

Get ready, because the illustrations are gorgeous.

The NYPL also suggests two other titles by the same author, in the same series:

Theseus and the Minotaur

Orpheus and Eurydice

#27 Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

3 Cheers!

I loved this classic story of a women who outwits the ravenous beasts in the forest. 
Full of beautiful colors and creatures.

#28 Grim, Grunt, and Grizzle-Tail : A Story from Chile by Fran Parnell

3 Cheers!

Whether your kids are like princesses or little monsters, this book is for them!

Students in 3^rd or 4^th grade should be able to read the text on their own, which makes this a great choice for learning about folktales.

#29 Hansel and Gretel by The Brothers Grimm, Illustrated by Sybille Schenker

3 Cheers!

Transparent pages, block cut pictures, a good dose of black and white contrast, and a fair amount of dread makes this a great rendition of the classic story Hansel and Gretel.

#30 Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse

3 Cheers!

Every page of this book is a picture I would put up on any wall in my home. Beautiful and engaging, Nasreddine paints the perspective of a young boy who listens to all the laughing voices instead of his own heart.

 

 

#31 Whiskers, Tails and Wings: Animal Folktales from Mexico by Judy Goldman

3 Cheers

This collection of folktales is best suited for older readers with a longer attention span.  There are 5 stories in this collection, each including the folktale itself, a historical/cultural guide, and a glossary of native terms found in the story. Great resource for a study of Mexico.

Next up is a list of new poetry books :) Stay tuned!