Though the Emperor of China banishes the nightingale in preference of a jeweled mechanical imitation, the little bird remains faithful and returns years later when the emperor is near death and no one else can help him.
The Nightingale
Retellings and Remixes (Versions and Variants)
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
One Chinese New Year, her mother sends Goldy Luck to the pandas next door with a plate of turnip cakes, but the pandas are out. Goldy tries out their rice porridge, chairs, and beds and disaster follows. Includes a recipe for turnip cakes and an explanation of Chinese New Year.
Cinderelephant
A lonely elephant mistreated by her warthog cousins charms Prince Trunky with the help of a furry godmouse.
The Dancing Granny
Spider Ananse gets Granny started dancing so he can raid her garden, but his own trick does him in.
Firebird
“In the shadow of King Vaslav’s Palace was a marvelous garden, and in the middle of that garden stood a tree that grew apples of solid gold, each one as dazzling as the sun.”Someone is stealing the king’s famous golden apples, and the culprit must be found. The palace gardener spots the luminous Firebird snatching the apples in the night. The king’s two oldest sons are sent to capture it but fail. So Ivan, the youngest son, must go on the dangerous quest, befriending a gray wolf, winning both the Firebird and the heart of the beautiful Princess Helen. Saviour Pirotta’s powerful retelling of this classic folktale plumbs the heart of human fears, courage, and love.
The People Could Fly
Retold Afro-American folktales of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom, born of the sorrow of the slaves, but passed on in hope.
The Bourbon Street Musicians
In this rollicking retelling of “The Bremen Town Musicians,” a creaky old jack mule, a droopy hound dog, a ragged rooster, and a bony cat, all unwanted and no longer loved, set out for Bourbon Street in New Orleans to play bebop and make their fortune. Presently they encounter a band of thieves in a shack by a bayou, and though things don’t turn out quite as expected, they end up mighty fine just the same. A bluesy dialect that begs to be read aloud, vivid imagery, and distinctively comic illustrations infuse the adventures of these four determined friends with the flavor of rural Louisiana and the rhythm of New Orleans jazz. Glossary.
Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel
A version of the folktale Rapunzel, set in the Caribbean.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
A retelling of the centuries-old tale follows Sylvia, a spirited girl apprenticed to a sorcerer, as she steals from his castle a powerful potion that she is sure will help her complete a difficult task.
Once Upon a Princess and a Pea
Illustrated and told from a fresh point of view, Once Upon a Princess and a Pea opens a door to a 19th century classic with a 20th century kick. The brilliant, flamboyant illustrations set the stage for this humorous retelling in an art-deco-inspired fantasy world. In this version, the princess’s fate hinges on the importance of being true to herself. Full color.