Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew: Stories and Essays from a Writing Life

Offers eleven short stories, accompanied by essays and commentaries that illuminate the craft of storytelling and the influences of people and places on the author’s works.

Favorite Fairy Tales Told In England (Favorite Fairy Tales, No 2)

Each volume in this series is graced with new illustrations by a noted contemporary artist, and features traditional tales that originated in that country.

Fire: Tales Of Elemental Spirits

Master storytellers Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson, the team behind Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits, collaborate again to create five captivating tales incorporating the element of fire. In McKinley’s “First Flight,” a boy and his pet foogit unexpectedly take a dangerous ride on a dragon, and her “Hellhound” stars a mysterious dog as a key player in an eerie graveyard showdown. Dickinson introduces a young man who must defeat the creature threatening his clan in “Fireworm,” a slave who saves his village with a fiery magic spell in “Salamander Man,” and a girl whose new friend, the guardian of a mystical bird, is much older than he appears in “Phoenix.” With time periods ranging from prehistoric to present day, and settings as varied as a graveyard, a medieval marketplace and a dragon academy, these stories are sure to intrigue and delight the authors’ longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Aesop’s Fables

aesopIn this elegantly designed volume, more than sixty of Aesop’s timeless fables have been carefully selected, humorously retold, and brought gloriously to life by four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Jerry Pinkney. Included are the Shepherd Boy and The Wolf, the Lion and the Mouse, the Tortoise and the Hare, plus many other characters—and morals—that have inspired countless readers for centuries. With more than fifty magnificent full-color illustrations, this handsome edition is a must for every bookshelf.

A Treasury Of Mermaids: Mermaid Tales From Around The World

mermaidsEnter the mermaid’s realm, where brightly colored fish dart through strands of seaweed and noble octopi guard the gates of underwater palaces. From the ice floes of Alaska to the islands of the Mediterranean Sea to the reefs of New Zealand, the power of a magical water maiden is matched only by her unpredictability. For who can guess what may happen when a mermaid finds herself face-to-face with a human? Gathered from the diverse cultures, the stories in this collection tell of mortals who strive to capture mermaids–and mermen–as well as those who seek to rescue them from peril; mortals who entice mermaids to live on dry land, and those who dare follow mermaids under the waves. And here, too, are the fates of those fortunate–or follish–enough to listen to the mermaid’s appealing song. Renowed author and folklorist Shirley Climo presents tales of mystical merfolk from around the globe. Accompained by stunning illustrations from Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, the stories are woven together with threads of international mermaid lore, presenting a world of watery enchantment.A catch of international mermaids, from a Japanese ningyo and a Swiss nix to an Irish merrow and an Alaskan nuquot, swim through the pages of this elegant gift volume. Drawing on the folklore of diverse cultures, renowned author Shirley Climo presents a multi-faceted view of merfolk, exploring the promises and perils of meeting these creatures. Accompanied by stunning paintings from the brushes of Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, the stories in this collection are woven together with insightful introductions comparing and contrasting the myths of many lands. Lavishly designed and illustrated, this beautiful book is the definitive collection of mermaid lore. A catch of international mermaids, from a Japanese ningyo and a Swiss nix to an Irish merrow and an Alaskan nuquot, swim through the pages of this elegant gift volume. Drawing on the folklore of diverse cultures, renowned author Shirley Climo presents a multi-faceted view of merfolk, exploring the promises and perils of meeting these creatures. Accompanied by stunning paintings from the brushes of Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, the stories in this collection are woven together with insightful introductions comparing and contrasting the myths of many lands. Lavishly designed and illustrated, this beautiful book is the definitive collection of mermaid lore.

Animal Tales, The Dial Book Of: From Around The World

animalGathers nine animal folktales from diverse traditions around the worlds, from the Cherokee “Grandmother Spider” to the Aboriginal “The Greedy Frog.”

Dragons

A wondrous anthology of ancient dragon tales to enchant readers young and old. “Do you believe in dragons? “Just a few hundred years ago, sightings of dragons were common. Ordinary people saw them; so did kings, knights, archbishops, and monks. Learned scholars wrote about them. Today, most naturalists say dragons never existed. So what exactly were the dragons that people claimed to see?” In this richly illustrated anthology, David Passes invites us inside the fantastic world of dragon lore. This superb collection of heroic myths, stories, and folktales from the storytelling traditions of India, Greece, England, Wales, Sweden, and China are brought to life by the fabulous illustrations of renowned fantasy artist, Wayne Andersen.

Eleven Turtle Tales

Turtle carries the world on her back: this story has been told by different cultures around the world for generations. Like Mother Nature, Turtle is unhurried, wise, and enduring. She walks on land, swims in water, and breathes the air and so embodies three of the four elements of creation. We have much to learn from Turtle.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal

glassslipperOnce upon a time, in Mexico… in Ireland… in Zimbabwe… there lived a girl who worked all day in the rice fields… then spent the night by the hearth, sleeping among the cinders.

Her name is Ashpet, Sootface, Cendrillon… Cinderella. Her story has been passed down the centuries and across continents. In this anthology, Paul Fleischman crafts its many versions into one hymn to the rich variety and the enduring constants of our cultures.

Featured in WOW Review Volume X, Issue 3.

Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys

creepycreaturesCreepy Creatures and Other Cucuys presents the author’s retellings of fifteen traditional tales heard during his childhood in southern Texas.