The Pied Piper pipes the vilage free of rats, and when the villagers refuse to pay him for the service he exacts a terrible revenge.
Age
Catalog sorted by age group
Perceval: King Arthur’s Knight of the Holy Grail
Retells the Arthurian legend of Perceval, a foolish and impatient boy who realizes his dream of becoming a great knight, but meets with misfortune when he forgets to pray and serve God.
Dick Whittington And His Cat
When Dick Whittington finally gets a ride from the countryside to London, he anticipates a wealthy paradise where the streets are paved with gold. He is shocked, though, to find that the city is in an even worse state than the country! Dick struggles to survive, barely living off scraps of food, until the wealthy merchant Mr. Fitzwarren offers him a job. Still lonely, Dick purchases a cat to comfort him and to kill the rodents in his bedroom. Little does anyone, particularly Dick Whittington, know that this cat will bring many more fortunes than anticipated! Margaret Hodges retells the optimistic story of Dick Whittington’s luck with beautiful acrylic paintings by Melisande Potter.
Crackling Brat
Crackling Brat, a fantastical child who has power over fire, wind, thunder, and lightning, laughingly outwits three ferocious obstacles-Snow Cat, Night Bear, and Hunger Wolf-to save his father from the ravages of Time. The language is fresh, primarily due to the inventive use of metaphor. “Night Bear’s fur was as dark as midnight. His eyes were star-colored and his teeth were sharper than the points of the new moon.”
The Squirrel Wife
A kind young man is rewarded with a bride who is kin to the wild in this beautiful, original fairy tale.The green people in the woods are feared by all — all except swineherd Jack, who dares to venture into the forest to answer a cry for help. Jack’s heroism unveils the true nature of the green people and earns him an idyllic life with a woman he loves. But can they survive the ignorance around them? Magical storytelling and luminous woodland scenes easily transport readers to another time and place.
The Little Golden Lamb
In this joyfully retold Hungarian version of “The Golden Goose,” a shepherd lad befriends a lamb whose fleece is the color of gold. The lad and the lamb set off on a journey, with the lamb dancing and frolicking as the boy plays his flute. Along the way they meet one person after another who tries to put an end to their merriment, but soon enough each has no choice but to join the cheerful procession and help the shepherd boy win his fortune and fulfill his destiny. Whimsically illustrated in delicious colors, this lively tale about the magic of music and the infectiousness of a light heart will have young children ready to join in the celebration.
The Starlight Cloak
In the author’s version of the Cinderella story, a princess in Ireland leads a life of misery until her foster mother reveals magical powers that change her life forever.
King Arthur And The Legends Of Camelot (Viking Kestrel Picture Books)
A dramatic retelling of the classic legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table captures all of the majesty of the mystical quest for the Holy Grail. All ages.
I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed (Charlie And Lola)
Charlie helps Lola get ready for bed, despite the tigers, whales, and other animals that serve as obstacles.
Too Many Leprechauns: Or How That Pot O’ Gold Got To The End Of The Rainbow
On St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns are lucky. But on every other day of the year, they make for noisy neighbors–and they’re turning the entire town of Dingle upside down! Fortunately, Finn O’Finnegan always has a clever plan brewing, and this time, with a little luck of the Irish, it’s a scheme that just might fool even the cleverest of creatures.