An adaptation, set in the American South, of an old Japanese folktale in which a powerful wrestler who hopes to win the Emperor’s Wrestling Match encounters three exceptionally strong women who train him for success.
The Tale of Willie Monroe
Early Years (ages 2-6)
Comes A Wind
While visiting their mother’s ranch, two brothers who constantly try to best each other swap tall tales about big winds and are surprised by the fiercest wind they have ever seen.
Grandma Lena’s Big Ol’ Turnip
Grandma Lena grows a turnip so big that it takes her entire family pull it up and half of the town to eat it. Includes a note about cooking “soul food.”
Jean Laffite and the Big Ol’ Whale
When a huge white whale gets stuck between the banks of the Mississippi River causing the water to stop flowing, Jean Laffite finds a way to get the river moving again.
Pecos Bill
Incidents from the life of Pecos Bill, from his childhood among the coyotes to his unusual wedding day.
The Sea Chest
A young girl listens as her great-aunt, a lighthouse keeper’s daughter, tells of her childhood living on a Maine island, and of the infant that washed ashore after a storm.
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away
No one likes bedtime, and Itsy Mitsy has had quite enough. So tonight’s the night she’s running away to the perfect place where there are no more bedtimes ever (not even one). But running away isn’t as easy as it seems. There’s a lot to pack: Mitsy’s friendliest dinosaur Mister Roar; a snack for Mister Roar; her dog, Pupcake, to keep the bedtime beasties away from said snack; the list goes on and on. But with a helpful Dad who makes sure Mitsy doesn’t leave anything behind–especially not him–Mitsy might want to run away tomorrow night, too.
Hot, Hot Roti For Dada-Ji
Aneel s grandparents have come to stay, all the way from India. Aneel loves the sweet smell of his grandmother s incense, and his grandfather, Dada-ji, tells the world s best stories. When he was a boy, adventurous, energetic Dada-ji had the power of a tiger. Hunh-ji! Yes, sir! He could shake mangoes off trees and wrangle wild cobras. And what gave him his power? Fluffy-puffy hot, hot roti, with a bit of tongue-burning mango pickle. Does Dada-ji still have the power? Aneel wants to find out but first he has to figure out how to whip up a batch of hot, hot roti Overflowing with family, food, and a tall stack of fun, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji is sure to warm the heart and tickle the tummy. Hunh-ji! Yes, sir!
This Is the Tree
A lyrical description of the ancient baobab tree and how it provides shelter and nourishment to wildlife of the African plain.
The House With No Door: African Riddle-Poems
A collection of original poems created from riddles of various African tribes.