According to Eskimo myth, Berry Woman was asked by Raven to look after the animals and birds. Superb woodcuts illustrate the Eskimo legends that Grandmother tells to her rapt audience, four children clinging to her “on the bedplace.”
Storytelling
Anansi the Spider: A Tale From the Ashanti (An Owlet Book)
Anansi the Spider is one of the great folk heroes of the world. He is a rogue, a mischief-maker, and a wise, lovable creature who triumphs over larger foes. In this traditional Ashanti tale, Anansi sets out on a long, difficult journey. Threatened by Fish and Falcon, he is saved from terrible fates by his sons. But which of his sons should Anansi reward? Calling upon Nyame, the God of All Things, Anansi solves his predicament in a touching and highly resourceful fashion. In adapting this popular folktale, Gerald McDermott merges the old with the new, combining bold, rich color with traditional African design motifs and authentic Ashanti language rhythms.
Zorro And Quwi
Chased night after night by Zorro the fox, Quwi the clever guinea pig retaliates by outwitting Zorro and making him look foolish, in a folktale collection based on Peruvian legends.
The Little Cow In Valle Grande
Buddie and his mother live in a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains. One day, Buddie is feeling adventurous and announces he will climb to the top of the mountain. Although his mother warns against it, Buddie begins climbing up the mountainside. Discovering his mother was right, Buddie tries his hand at skiing to return to the valley and his mother.
Valle Grande is now part of Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico’s Jemez Mountain Range. The little cow, his mother, and all their friends are still there at various times of the year. There is a visitor center at the Preserve that offers information about the cows.
Fiesta Femenina: Homenaje A Las Mujeres A Traves De Historias Tradicionales Mexicanas
Drawing from Mexico’s rich cultural heritage, storyteller Mary Joan Gerson celebrates the courage and resilience of the feminine spirit through the stories of seven extraordinary Mexican women. Maya Christina Gonzalez uses radiant colors in a style reminiscent of famous Mexican muralists to capture the spark behind the stories. A folktale collection that will be enjoyed time and again, this is truly a fiesta for the eyes, the spirit and the heart.
La Diablesse and the Baby
Winner of both the Alcuin Society Design Award and the Storytelling World Honor Award, this is the eerie and colorful tale of the legendary creature–half human, half demon–that roams the Caribbean night, and how a brave Grandma outwits it.
The Nutmeg Princess
In the Isle of Spice in the Caribbean lived a Nutmeg Princess, called that because she would only appear when the nutmeg was ready for picking, and the sweet smell of spice was in the air, and only those who were unselfish could see her.
Ashley Bryan’s African Tales, Uh-Huh
Come gather round, young and old, and hear these stories from Africa, retold and illustrated by the incomparable Ashley Bryan. The fourteen stories in this collection are some of his favorites, previously published in The Ox of the Wonderful Horns; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum (Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration); and Lion and the Ostrich Chicks (Coretta Scott King Honor Book).Retold with rich, musical narration, and illustrated with Mr. Bryan’s distinctive paintings, these tales are full of fun and magic and a few lessons to be learned. They are tales of tricksters, chieftains, and both wise and foolish creatures. You will learn why Frog and Snake never play together, or why Bush Cow and Elephant are bad friends, or of the problems that a husband has because he likes to count spoonfuls. Although the stories come from many parts of Africa, they are full of the universal human spirit, to be shared and treasured for every generation, uh-huh.
A Fistful of Pearls and Other Tales from Iraq (Folktales from Around the World)
Secret serpents, devilish demons, mysterious magicians — the folk tales of Iraq are filled with otherworldly creatures, enchantment, and earthy humor. During her time spent in the Middle East, award-winning novelist Elizabeth Laird gathered together the very best Iraqi stories, ranging from thieving porcupines who get their come-uppance to the hilarious tale of the chaos caused by a handsome stranger who knocks at a house harboring a marriageable daughter. Meticulously researched, these stories reveal the true, traditional heart of Iraq, far removed from today’s news headlines.
Chiles For Benito / Chiles Para Benito
This charming bilingual fable explains the origins of the all-important chile Chiles ristras adorn the kitchen and dishes all over New Mexico. In the winter, when the nights grow longer and the winds blow stronger, chiles season meats and stews bringing New Mexico spice to every hungry taste bud. But chiles didn’t always grow in New Mexico, and Ana Baca tells a special fable about Benito and the chiles that crawled all over his family’s simple homestead. Benito’s mother sends him to the country fair in the hopes of their cow winning the first place prize. This would give them money to buy some seeds for the crop, but the cow misbehaves and they must leave the fair. Suddenly, Benito is stopped by a mysterious man with a peculiar bird on his shoulder. The man offers Benito some powerful seeds in exchange for his cow, which Benito quickly accepts. But when only uncontrollable weeds grow from the ground, Benito begins to feel foolish. The neighboring farmers begin to complain that the relentless weeds are killing their crop. How will the community survive? Will the rapidly growing weeds ever bear fruit for Benito?