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Folk & Fairy Tales Archives

November 4, 2007

Epics

The epic stories from around the world form much of our cultural and literary backdrop. It might be said that most of what we produce today are elaborations, refinements, or dull reflections of what has already been captured in these ancient and long ago stories.

A couple of points need to be made. More than is usually the case, these stories lend themselves to being read aloud. Take that into account as to when to introduce them to your child. My youngest son is a real adventure and action story kind of guy and I read Seamus Heaney's Beowolf to him when he was seven or eight, even though it is more of a Young Adult book. He loved it.

The other thing to be cautious about is that in their original forms, these stories often have quite graphic accounts of warfare, personal battle and sex (Gilgamesh in particular). Some renditions omit these scenes or tone them down, others include them. You probably want to read through the story first to determine if there is any material you might want to modify/omit if you are doing the reading to your child. Rather like a boatman coming up short upon an unexpected bank in the river, I have a couple of times found myself having to do simultaneous editing of a text as I was reading it having unexpectedly encountered some material I thought not to be appropriate.

Finally, these stories have lasted down through the centuries in part because they are so primal. They deal with honor, duty, courage, betrayal, death, and loss. They deal with them forthrightly and in a fashion not always in concordance with the softer, gentler, cushier story-telling to which our children have often become accustomed. Again, read them first to determine whether your child is ready for these wonderful but starker tales and/or whether you need to prep them a little in advance for what they are about to hear. These are great stories but not everyone is necessarily always prepared to hear them in their primal glory.

This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean and illustrated David Parkins Recommended
Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman Recommended
Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff and illustrated by Alan Lee Recommended
The Wanderings Of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff and illustrated by Alan Lee Highly Recommended
In Search of a Homeland by Penelope Lively and illustrated by Ian Andrew Recommended
Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman Recommended
The Revenge of Ishtar by Ludmila Zeman Recommended
The Last Quest of Gilgamesh by Ludmila Zeman Recommended


Independent Reader

The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum and illustrated by Willy Pogany Suggested
Beowulf by Welwyn Wilton Katz and illustrated by Laszlo Gal Recommended
The Hero Beowulf by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher Suggested

El Cid by Geraldine McCaughrean and illustrated by A. Montaner Suggested

Beowulf by Nicky Raven and illustrated by John Howe Suggested
Beowulf by Ian Serraillier Highly Recommended


Young Adult

Beowolf by Michael Alexander Suggested
The Aeneid by Robert Fagles Suggested
The Iliad by Richard Fagles Suggested
The Odyssey by Robert Fagles Suggested
The Quest for El Cid by Richard A. Fletcher Suggested
Beowulf by Seamus Henney Highly Recommended
Grendel by John Gardner Recommended
The Aeneid of Virgil by Allen Mandelbaum and illustrated by Barry Moser Suggested
Gilgamesh by Stephen Mitchell Suggested

The Odyssey by Alaexander Pope

The Iliad by Alexander Pope

July 9, 2008

Asian Folktales

From the May 22, 2008 Pigeon Post essay of the same name.
Listed below are a number of primarily picture book renditions of folktales from across the many cultures of Asia. I hope you and your children enjoy these selections. Please let us know if there are other favorites we have overlooked.
Picture Books

The Monkey and the crocodile: a Jataka Tale From India by Paul Galdone Recommended
Stories from the Silk Road by Cherry Gilchrist and illustrated by Nilesh Mistry Suggested
The Weaving of a Dream: A Chinese Folktale by Marilee Heyer Suggested
Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Ho Minfong Recommended
I Once was a Monkey by Jeanne M. Lee Suggested
Beautiful Warrior: The Legend of the Nun's Kung Fu by Emily Arnold McCully Recommended
Little Oh by Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrated by Jim LaMarche Recommended
Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth Suggested
Basho and the River Stones by Tim Myers Suggested
The Love of Two Stars by Janie Jaehyun Park Recommendation
The Firekeeper's Son by Linda Sue Park Suggested
Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies by Moss Roberts Suggested
Filipino Children's Favorite Stories by Liana Romulo Suggested
Japanese Children's Favorite Stories by Florence Sakade Highly Recommended
In the Moonlight Mist by Daniel San Souci Suggested
Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior by Robert D. San Souci Recommended
The Gift of the crocodile: a Cinderella story by Judy Sierra Recommendation
Asian Tales and Tellers by Cathy Spagnoli Suggested
Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes by Robert Wyndham Suggested
Nine in One Grr ! Grr!: A Folktale from the Hmong People of Laos by Blia Xiong Suggested
The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Tale by Laurence Yep Suggested
The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen Recommended
The Sons of the Dragon King: a Chinese Legend by Ed Young Recommended
Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac by Ed Young Recommended
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young Highly Recommended

Mother Goose

From the July 6, 2008 Pigeon Post essay of the same name.
Among the currently available editions listed below, I would draw particular attention to Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafson, Here Comes Mother Goose by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, Mother Goose by Michael Hague, Mother Goose by Gyo Fujikawa, Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever by Richard Scarry, The Jessie Wilcox Smith Mother Goose by Jessie Wilcox Smith, and especially The Original Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright for your consideration. What editions are your favorites?
This book list is divided into two sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use the following link to skip directly to books for Independent Readers.
Go to books for Independent Readers


Picture Books

Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes by Anonymous Suggested
The Green Tiger's Illustrated Mother Goose by Anonymous Recommended
Treasury of Mother Goose by Anonymous Suggested
The Neighborhood Mother Goose illustrated by Nina Crews Suggested
Tomie Depaola's Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola Suggested
Hey Diddle Diddle & Other Mother Goose Rhymes by Tomie dePaola Suggested
Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose by Mary Engelbreit Suggested
Mother Goose illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa Highly Recommended
Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose illustrated by Scott Gustafson Recommended
Mother Goose by Michael Hague Recommended
Little Robin Redbreast illustrated by Shari Halpern Suggested
Mother Goose Rhymes illustrated by C.D. Hullinger Suggested
The Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose illustrated by Arnold Lobel Suggested
Sylvia Long's Mother Goose illustrated by Sylvia Long Suggested
James Marshall's Mother Goose illustrated by James Marshall Suggested
My First Mother Goose by Lisa McCue Suggested
Mother Goose by Will Moses Suggested
Mother Goose's Melodies by John Newbery Suggested
My Very First Mother Goose edited by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells Recommended
Here Comes Mother Goose edited by Iona Opie and illustrated byRosemary Wells Recommended
Mother Goose's Little Treasures edited by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells Suggested
Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever illustrated by Richard Scarry Recommended
Mother Goose's Storytime Nursery Rhymes edited and illustrated by Axel Scheffler and Alison Green Suggested
Hector Protector and As I Went over the Water illustrated by Maurice Sendak Recommended
The Jessie Willcox Smith Mother Goose illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith Highly Recommended
Treasury of Mother Goose by Anonymous Suggested
Mother Goose Rhymes edited by Alex Toys and illustrated by Jill McDonald Suggested
Pudgy Book of Mother Goose by Richard Walz Suggested
The Original Mother Goose illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright Highly Recommended
My First Real Mother Goose Board Book by Blanche Fisher Wright Recommended


Independent Reader

The Charles Addams Mother Goose illustrated by Charles Addams Suggested

August 17, 2008

Folktales from the Middle East

From the Pigeon Post essay of the same name, August 17, 2008.

What are your recommendations? Please use the comments section.

This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt by Tamara Bower Recommended
The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Robert Florczak Recommended
Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman Recommended
Sindbad's Secret by Ludmila Zeman Recommended
The Revenge of Ishtar by Ludmila Zeman Recommended
The Last Quest of Gilgamesh by Ludmila Zeman Recommended
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Helle Suggested
Muhammad by Demi Suggested
Clever Ali by Nancy Farmer and illustrated by Gail De Marcken Suggested
The White Ram by Mordicai Gerstein Suggested
The Golden Sandal by Rebecca Hickox and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand Suggested
The Stone by Dianne Hofmeyr and illustrated by Jude Daly Suggested
Aziz the Storyteller by VI Hughes and illustrated by Stefan Czernecki Suggested
My Father's Shop by Satomi Ichikawa Suggested
A Gift Of The Sands by Julia Johnson and illustrated by Emily Styles Suggested
Goha the Wise Fool by Denys Johnson-Davies and illustrated by Hag Hamdy and Mohamed Fattoug Suggested
Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur! by Margaret Read MacDonald and Ibrahim Muhawi and illustrated by Alik Arzoumanian Suggested
The Hundredth Name by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim and illustrated by Michael Hays Suggested
Aladdin And The Enchanted Lamp by Philip Pullman and illustrated by Sophy Williams Suggested
The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor by James Riordan and illustrated by Shelley Fowles Suggested


Independent Readers

1001 Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean and illustrated by Rosamund Fowler Recommended
Genies, Meanies, and Magic Rings by Stephen Mitchell and illustrated by Tom Pohrt Recommended
Traveling Man by James Rumford Recommended
Saladin by Diane Stanley Recommended
Arabian Nights Retold and illustrated by Earle Goodenow Recommended
The Arabian Nights by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin and Nora A. Smith and illustrated by Maxfield Parrish Recommended
Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights Retold and illustrated by W. Heath Robinson Suggested
The Children's Encyclopedia of Arabia by Mary Beardwood Suggested
Seven Daughters & Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy Suggested
Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights by N. J. Dawood and illustrated by William Harvey Suggested
From The Land Of Sheba by Carolyn Han Suggested
Tales of Juha by Salma Khadra Jayyusi Suggested
Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz and translated by Denys Johnson-Davies Suggested
The Akhenaten Adventure by Philip Kerr Suggested
Mosque by David MacAulay Suggested
Abu Jmeel's Daughter and Other Stories by Jamal Sleem Nuweihed and Salma Khadra Jayyusi Suggested
Rachel the Clever and Other Jewish Folktales by Josepha Sherman Suggested
Watermelons, Walnuts and the Wisdom of Allah by Barbara K. Walker and illustrated by Harold Berson Suggested


Young Adult

The Arabian Nights by Richard Francis Burton Recommended
The Arabian Nights by Husain Haddawy Recommended
Arabian Nights II by Husain Haddawy Recommended
The Arabian Nights by Robert Irwin Recommended
Gilgamesh by John Gardner Suggested
Gilgamesh by Stephen Mitchell Suggested

September 21, 2008

Mythical Creatures

From the Pigeon Post essay of the same name, September 21,2008

This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire Highly Recommended
D'Aulaires' Book Of Norse Myths by Ingri D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire & Michael (INT) Chabon Highly Recommended
D'Aulaires' Book of Trolls by Ingri D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire Recommended
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm and illustarted by Wanda Gag Recommended
Jack and the Beanstalk by Paul Galdone Recommended
The Elves and the Shoemaker by Paul Galdone Recommended
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone Recommended
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren and illustrated by Harald Wiberg and Viktor Rydberg Recommended
The Book of Fairy Poetry edited and illustrated by Michael Hague Recommended
Questionable Creatures by Pauline Baynes Suggested
Eric Carle's Dragons Dragons & Other Creatures That Never Were by Eric Carle and Laura Whipple Suggested
The Boy Who Painted Dragons by Demi Suggested
The Dragon's Tale by Demi Suggested
The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix by Demi Suggested
Jack And the Beanstalk by Edith Nesbit and illustrated by Matt Tavares Suggested
Hector & The Mythical Creatures by Judith Rossell Suggested
Where Fairies Dance edited and illustrated by Michael Hague Suggested
The Book of Dragons edited and illustrated by Michael Hague Suggested


Independent Reader

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis &and illustrated by Pauline Baynes Highly Recommended
The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay and illustrated by Norman Lindsay Highly Recommended
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting and illustrated by Michael Hague Highly Recommended
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald and illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith Highly Recommended
The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger Recommended
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer Recommended
The Boggart by Susan Cooper Recommended
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville and illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott Recommended
Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi Recommended
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Caroline Funke Recommended
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson and illustrated by Sue Porter Recommended
Perseus by Geraldine McCaughrean Recommended
Theseus by Geraldine McCaughrean Recommended
Five Children And It by Edith Nesbit and illustrated by H.R. Millar Recommended
The Phoenix and the Carpet by Edith Nesbit and illustrated by H.R. Millar Recommended
Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville Suggested
Gifts from the Sea by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock and illustrated by Judy Pedersen Suggested
Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle Sugested
Eldest by Christopher Paolini Suggested
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Suggested


Young Adult

Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch and illustrated by Sabra Moore and Richard P. Martin Recommended
Grendel by John Gardner Recommended
Bestiary by Richard Barber Suggested
The Manticore by Robertson Davies Suggested
Beasts by Elizabeth Morrison Suggested
The Book of Dragons & Other Mythical Beasts by Joe Nigg Suggested
How to Raise And Keep a Dragon by Joe Nigg and illustrated by Dan Malone Suggested
The Book of Beasts by T.H. White Suggested

October 19, 2008

Nonsense Verse

From the October 19, 2008 Pigeon Post essay of the same name.

This book list is divided into two sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use the following link to skip directly to books for Independent Readers.
Go to books for Independent Readers


Picture Books

The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and illustrated by Jan Brett Highly Recommended
"A" Was Once an Apple Pie by Edward Lear and illustrated by Suse MacDonald Recommended
Poetry for Young People by Robert Browning and illustrated by Joel Spector Suggested
The Doubtful Guest written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Suggested
The Object-Lesson written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Suggested
The Gashlycrumb Tinies written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Suggested
The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort and illustrated by G. Brian Karas Suggested
The Quangle Wangle's Hat by Edward Lear and illustrated by Louise Voce Suggested
The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and illlustrated by Anne Mortimer Suggested
Poetry for Young People by Edward Lear and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith Suggested
The Adventures of Isabel by Ogden Nash and illustrated by Bridget Starr Taylor Suggested
Ride a Purple Pelican by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Garth Williams Suggested
Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Peter Sis Suggested


Independent Reader

A Book of Nonsense written and illustrated by Edward Lear Highly Recommended
Custard the Dragon and the Wicked Night by Ogden Nash and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger Highly Recommended
Nonsense Verse by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by Lorna Hussey Recommended
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch Recommended
Amphigorey written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Recommended
Amphigorey Again written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Recommended
Amphigorey Also written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Recommended
Amphigorey Too written and illustrated by Edward Gorey Recommended
Edward Lear by Edward Lear and edited by Vivien Noakes Recommended
The Best of Ogden Nash by Ogden Nash and edited by Linell Nash Smith Recommended
The Annotated Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Henry Holiday and edited by Martin Gardner Suggested
Humorous Verse of Lewis Carroll by Lewis Carroll Suggested
The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch Suggested
So Much Nonsense by Edward Lear Suggested

November 1, 2008

Ancient Greece


This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

Aesop's Fables by Aesop and illustrated by Michael Hague Recommended
Aesop's Fables by Aesop and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger Recommended
King Midas and the Golden Touch by Charlotte Craft and illustrated by Kinuko Craft Recommended
The Classic Treasury of Aesop's Fables by Aesop and illustrated by Don Daily Suggested
Aesops Fables by Aesop and illustrated by Charles Santore Suggested


Independent Reader

The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum amd illustrated by Willy Pogany Highly Recommended
Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D'Aulaire & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire Highly Recommended
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Highly Recommended
Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff and illustrated by Alan Lee Highly Recommended
The Wanderings Of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff and illustrated by Alan Lee Highly Recommended
Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch and illustrated by Sabra Moore and Richard P. Martin Recommended
The Golden Fleece by Padraic Colum and illustrated by Willy Pogany Recommended
Cupid and Psyche by M. Charlotte Craft and illustrated by Kinuko Craft Recommended
The Echo of Greece by Edith Hamilton Recommended
The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton Recommended
Mythology by Edith Hamilton Recommended
Perseus by Geraldine McCaughrean Recommended
Theseus by Geraldine McCaughrean Recommended
Favorite Greek Myths by Mary Pope Osborne and illustrated by Troy Howell Recommended
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Recommended
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Recommended
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Recommended
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan Recommended
Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney Suggested
The Fire Thief by Terry Deary Suggested
Greek Gods and Heroes by Robert Graves Suggested
The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Suggested
Odysseus by Geraldine McCaughrean Suggested
The Odyssey by Homer and Geraldine McCaughrean and illustrated by Victor G. Ambrus Suggested
The One-eyed Giant by Mary Pope Osborne Suggested
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Suggested
Men and Gods by Rex Warner and illustrated by Edward Gorey Suggested


Young Adult

Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae by Steven Pressfield Highly Recommended
The Landmark Thucydides edited by Robert B. Strassler Highly Recommended
The Landmark Herodotus edited by Robert B. Strassler Highly Recommended
The Sand-Reckoner by Gillian Bradshaw Recommended
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea by Thomas Cahill Recommended
The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan Recommended
The Isle of Stone by Nicholas Nicastro Recommended
The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield Recommended
Last of the Amazons by Steven Pressfield Recommended
Tides of War by Steven Pressfield Recommended
The Virtues Of War by Steven Pressfield Recommended
Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault Recommended
The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault Recommended
The Praise Singer by Mary Renault Recommended
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault Recommended
Ilium by Dan Simmons Recommended
Archimedes and the Door to Science by Jeanne Bendick Suggested
Achilles by Elizabeth Cook Suggested
The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford Suggested
Troy by David Gemmell Recommended