Long, long ago in ancient Greece, people began telling wonderful stories to explain the mysteries of life. These myths featured gods and goddesses, mighty beings who look human but have amazing powers and live forever. Now you can meet these extraordinary characters and hear their legends, brought to life again
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
The Adventures of Polo
Equipped with a backpack full of supplies, Polo sets off on a little boat–and on a series of delightful adventures that take him across (and under) the ocean, to an island and a frozen iceberg, to space and home again, with a world of magical encounters along the way. Polo’s journey is packed with incident and expression.
The Bremen Town Musicians
While on their way to Bremen, four aging animals who are no longer of any use to their masters find a new home after outwitting a gang of robbers.
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood
The classic tale of a fairy’s curse a sleeping princess and a daring rescuer is retold and illustrated by Carol Heyer.
Hansel & Gretel
A retelling of the well-known tale in which two children lost in the woods find their way home despite an encounter with a wicked witch.
Will Moses, one of America’s most beloved folk artists, brings us his interpretation of the most enduring of all Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, Hansel & Gretel.
Cinderella
Kind Cinderella, forced to wait hand and foot on her cruel stepsisters and stepmother, has almost forgotten that she, too, was once a lady with fine clothes and a soft bed to sleep in. But when Cinderella is left at home on the night of the royal ball, her fairy godmother turns pumpkin into coach, mice into horses, lizards into coachmen, and Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown. At the ball, Cinderella captures the prince’s heart, but must flee before the stroke of midnight. Now the prince must find the true owner of the delicate glass slipper Cinderella has left behind.
Hansel and Gretel
A richly illustrated version of a classic fairy tale is set on the remote North Atlantic coast of Canada and casts Hansel and Gretel as the children of a destitute fisherman and his wife.
The Goose Girl
On her way to marry a distant prince, a young princess is forced to trade places with her evil serving maid and becomes a goose girl instead of a bride when she reaches her destination.
You Be Me, I’ll Be You
Anna, the interracial child of a White father and Black mother, explores questions and yearnings she has about her identity by “switching” skin colors with her father. With wit and compassion, this book examines issues of concern not only to interracial children, but to all children who worry about their diferences.
Finn Maccoul and His Fearless Wife: A Giant of a Tale from Ireland
The giant Finn MacCoul is a lovable but cowardly fellow who finds himself in a peck of trouble after that nasty Scottish bully, Cucullin, tries to pick a fight. Abided by a wee bit of fairy magic, Finn’s clever wife, Oonagh, comes up with a hilarious plan: Finn will hop in the cradle and pose as his own baby. Then Cucullin will be in for a great big surprise.