Reviews (5)

A book that has haunted me for years!!
I am so excited to have found this book! I am 21 years old and my mother read this book to me once long ago when I was little. It has haunted me ever since that time over the years and I have wanted to find it again. I only was able to hear the story once and never again because my Mom bought it for children at a powwow and gave it to them. I am so glad I will have it again. I plan to read it once more and than give it to children at the school I'm teaching at so they can enjoy it, too. A great message and a lovely story! I would recommend it for girls between 4-10 years of age.

A Great Book!
I loved this bok!
I thought it was a very good story and very cleaver. I liked the deepth of it and meaning. I would buy this book! It has great illlustrations and it is my favorite fairy tale/ picture book! I'm going to buy it! Even though I am almost 12 I still enjoy this book very much!

Well composed
Although the retelling of story is not be perfectly authentic, the story flows well and and the illustrations are of good quality. It does contain some culturally accurate information and would be an excellent addition to a tasteful collecter's children's library.

No native Cinderella's
Sorry, but there are no cinderella's in the native world. Not in the way this story is portrayed.

This is just one of several theme repeats the author is doing to make money. It is not representative of natives, and especially the Ojibwa.

Aboringinal Education
This is a great story for comparing all the "Cinderella" cultures in the world. It also leads to a wonderful teaching unit on Aboringinal customs and their way of life.

Used extensively in primary grades. ... Read more

Book Description

Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone -- except Mufaro -- knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.

When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara. Manyara, of course, didn't agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen.

John Steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

Reviews (20)

A beautiful,ancient story where good triumphs over evil.
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is a beautifully illustrated story where good triumphs over evil. Both sisters must pass several tests as in the story Arrow to the sun, in order to be considered the most beautiful AND the most worthy daughter for the prince to marry. Teachers: you can use this book to continue with an author study of John Steptoe who has written nothing but wonderful children's books. Another wonderful book by John Steptoe with the moral of selflessness is in the-Story of Jumping Mouse. Parents: If you're lucky you can catch the episode of Reading Rainbow where the story is read by my favorite actress Phylicia Rashad. A wonderful, wonderful story.

A fascinating twist to a familiar Cinderella tale
What happens when you mix two beautiful daughters, one handsome prince, and a marriage proposal? Well, if one is selfish, self-centered, and spoiled, and the other is kind, loving, and sweet, then you get the heartwarming fairytale by John Steptoe, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. He credits an Afrcan folktale with inspiring htis original version of a Cinderella-esque story. Steptoe's illustrations compliment the tale at every turn, defining setting, expanding characteriaztion, and adding depth to the text; they are indeed worthy of the Caldecott Honor Book Medal which graces the cover. Pages of stunning paintings capture the very essence of the story's Zimbabwean ancestors and the landscape they inhabited. In this typical fast-paced fairytale where evil is punished and good is rewarded, readers meet Manyara and Nyasha, two sisters of unsurpassable beauty, who are summonded to the city in order to appear before the unmarried prince. Little girls everywhere will identify with the kind and patient Nyasha and delight at the fate that the "evil" sister, Manyara, eventually meets. Children of all ages will thoroughly enjoy a read-aloud of this fairytale. The vivid use of language and exquisite illustrations, such as the scene in which Nyasha meets the king, are sure to entertain even the most discriminating audience, from the youngest listener to the transitional reader. Complete with a surprise ending, a touch of magic, and a moral message, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is a wonderful story and makes and excellent comparison to more traditional versions of Cinderella.

In the eye of the beholder
I love how folktales around the world contain so many elements similar to one another. In John Steptoe's elegant, "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters", careful readers pick up echoes of such myths as Psyche & Cupid, Cinderella, and Roses & Pearls. Yet the story is inspired by an original folktale from 1895. Dedicating this book to the children of South Africa, Steptoe has created one of the most beautiful and eloquent picture books of our time.

Once there was a man with two beautiful daughters. Both were equal in loveliness, but different in temperament. While Nyasha was kind and good, Manyara was vain and cruel. When the king announces that he would like to meet these two girls and decide, between the two of them, which one he shall wed, the sly Manyara does her darndest to become queen and make her sister her servant.

The tale is vaguely disturbing in all the right ways. When Manyara sets out to get a jump on the king's affections by reaching the palace first, she comes across a series of odd sequences. A boy (with ears Spock himself would envy) is denied food, laughing trees are laughed back at, and a man with his head under his arm is ignored callously. The moral of the story is, of course, that to be good and kind is far better than to be cold and mean. Steptoe's illustrations lift this tale from being merely good to extraordinary. There is a realism to the characters that leaves the reader with little doubt that they were fashioned on real people. Steptoe has likewise stayed faithful to the land of Zimbabwe, where this tale is set. He has been inspired by everything from the architecture to the flora and fauna. But what I liked best was the clothing. The garments and jewelry of this story encase the characters, making each person practically a member of royalty. Take especial care to note the wedding clothes at the end of the story, as well as the view of the village. The story is gorgeous in both what it says and how it says it. One of the best books for children ever written. Ever.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
I am a West Virginia State College student,taking a required class in Children's Literature. For my class assignment I had to read a Caldecott Honor Book and I selected Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. I loved this book, it reminded me of the classic Cinderella story only better. This story has beautiful pictures and it shows how people should treat others no matter how they look or act. This book woud be good to use in a classroom to teach such values and to increase students interest in African culture. I hope everyone reads this book.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
This is a beautifully written and illustrated African Cinderella story. As a third grade teacher, it is excellent for teaching about folktales and a vehicle for teaching compare and contrast. It also introduces young children to African-based literature and can be a jumping off point for the similarities between cultures as it can be compared to the standard Cinderella story or the vast number of other Cinderella stories from other cultures. ... Read more

Book Description

A brave boy goes into the hills and prays for help for his people. A rider on a magnificent animal comes to him and says: "This animal is called the Sacred Dog. He can do many things your dogs can do and also more...He is as the wind: gentle but sometimes frightening." The clouds close and suddenly one by one countless Sacred Dogs course down from the sky. And so the courage of one determined boy is rewarded by the Great Spirit: The horse, or Sacred Dog, is given to his tribe. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Great Spirit gives horses (the sacred dog) to the people
The Spanish brought the first horses to North America and for the tribes of nomadic buffalo hunters of the Great Plains there were the most miraculous of creatures. Various tribes called the horse similar names: Sacred Dog, Big Dog, Elk Dog, and Mysterious Dog. Keep in mind that these tribes used dogs to carry and drag burdens, and a horse could not only carry and drag heavier burdens than dogs, but could also carry a rider and run really fast. One things young readers will appreciate in "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" is the idea of how something that they taken for granted, such as the horse, would look to people who had never seen one before.

"The Gift of the Sacred Dog" tells the story of the first encounter between these native tribes and these wild horses, now told in a way that treats the "Sacred Dogs" as gifts given by the Great Spirit. In this telling by writer-artist Paul Goble a young boy prayers for help for his people, who have grown hungry, and the Great Spirit responds by sending the gift of the Sacred Dogs down from the sky, which allow the tribe to hunt for buffalo. After their arrival, life becomes good for the people and they live as relatives with the Sacred Dogs and other living things, as the Great Spirit wishes them to live. Consequently, "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" sounds some of the environmental themes we associate with the Native American culture in addition to providing their perspective on how they came to be the great horse people of the Plains.

The last page of the book has a Sioux song for the return of the buffalo and apparently song excerpts from Sioux songs about horses, but I am not sure that the people of "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" are necessarily supposed to be the Sioux. Goble's artwork is a prime attraction of these books that he has done for Reading Rainbow, Orchard, and other publishers. The first of his work that I came across was "Red Hawk's Account of Custer's Last Battle," and the best way of describing Goble's illustrations is that he essentially works in the style of the Native America artists of the 19th century, using the mediums of the 20th. At the very least he is clearly inspired by such artwork, which makes his work an interesting blending of the old and the new, not to mention being totally appropriate for his subject matter. I especially like the contrast between the simply drawn horses and the often intricate and detailed clothing worn by the human characters.

Beautifully illustrated Native American tale.
Children and adults will enjoy the colorful illustrations and tale of how the Native Americans acquired the horse. Lovely! ... Read more

Book Description

"Climo has woven this ancient tale, a mixture of fact and myth, with clarity and eloquence.The beauty of the language is set off to perfection by Heller's arresting illustrations.A stunning combination of fluent prose and exquisitely wrought illustrations [that makes] a winner for story hours, as well as a useful resource for the study of Cinderella through the ages." —SLJ.

Notable 1989 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Racist? Step-sisters? Read the book!
I'm surprised to hear this book described as racist. The inaccuracies in that review leave me to wonder whether the poster actually read the book.

The heroine's name, Rhodopis, referenced her sunburned skin. A real person may have inspired the fable, a light-skinned slave who married a Pharaoh.

The other girls were not step-sisters as the reviewer states, but servants. Rhodopis was a mere slave, making their unkind treatment of her more logical. Due to their rank in the Ancient Egyptian class system, she would be expected to do the less-desirable chores. For a lowly slave to be favored by their master would spawn jealousy and resentment. I don't recall any inference that their demeanor related to their skin color, and the reviewer overlooks the kindly Master and Pharaoh also being dark-skinned.

Such hotly-debated subjects a the race of Egyptians or of Cleopatra have no bearing on the story. Rhodopis is a Greek slave girl, and is neither described as Egyptian, nor called Cleopatra.

A good story with interesting historical references, it's a shame to see it dismissed as racist by a reviewer who clearly has overlooked many details of the book.

WARNING!
I was extremely disappointed in this book. I found it to be overtly racist. I had bought it to share with my grade 3/4 classroom as we are studying Ancient Egypt. I like to stretch the curriculum with literature, art, and more. Unfortunately, I did not read the book carefully before I bought it. When I did, I noticed immediately that the 'cinderella' heroine of the story had golden hair and fair skin while the evil, lazy, etc step-sisters had dark hair & skin. This was explicitly written and illustrated. This is a shame and so unnecessary. Obviously, Egypt is in northern Africa and while some tales of Cleopatra suggest that she may have been fair due to the Ptolemy's Greek lineage, I would suggest that most inhabitants of ancient egypt were of african, mediterranean, semitic, or arabic descent and dark-hued. I strongly recommend that you NOT buy this book.

Review of The Egyptian Cinderella
I really liked this version of Cinderella. It would be a great book to use in elementary classes when reading different versions of a story. Also you could use it as an introduction to an Egyptian unit because there is some fact within this story. This story of how Rhodopis' red slipper was taken from the falcon, the god Horus. Little did she know the falcon was bringing the slipper to Amasis, the Pharaoh. When he saw the slipper he was determined to find who it belonged to and marry her. His long travels led him to Rhodopis... This version had some similaries to the original but I liked how there was some fact behind the story!

Very nice twist on classic tale
My kids really liked this one. We had been talking about Egypt and they loved hearing this version of the story. There's no fairy godmother, but the god Horus intervenes in the form of a falcon. And there's even a happy ending. I liked the historical fact at the end of the book.

Elementary School Teachers: Buy this book!
Climo and Heller are a superb team. This is not only an excellent book for a children's comparative literature study on fairy tales, but also for examining ancient Egyptian art. Heller's work contains surprisingly accurate illustrations of ancient Egyptian decorative motifs and historical and cultural traditions. Students can compare Heller's work to the real thing and find many similarities, such as the lotus blossom architectural columns, the Pharaoh's crook and whip, the feather-patterned jewelry, the false beards worn by royalty, the distinctive combination side-view/frontal-view depiction of humans, etc. Climo's historical notes at the end of the book are fascinating. Her enchanting tale also provides a focal point for class discussions of racial prejudice. This is a gem of a book. ... Read more

Book Description

Every night, Shahrazad begins a story. And every morning, the Sultan lets her live another day -- providing the story is interesting enough to capture his attention. After almost one thousand nights, Shahrazad is running out of tales. And that is how Marjan's story begins....

It falls to Marjan to help Shahrazad find new stories -- ones the Sultan has never heard before. To do that, the girl is forced to undertake a dangerous and forbidden mission: sneak from the harem and travel the city, pulling tales from strangers and bringing them back to Shahrazad. But as she searches the city, a wonderful thing happens. From a quiet spinner of tales, Marjan suddenly becomes the center of a more surprising story than she ever could have imagined. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Susan Fletcher is a SHADOW SPINNER herself!
This book is woven into a supensful story that you cannot put down! It has a wonderful plot and you will love it! Taking place a long time ago in Arabia, Marjan, the main character is pulled away from all she has ever known to a huge palace, beautiful ladies, a Sultan that kills women, and a fat cruel mother of the Sultan called the Khatun. She was pulled away from her home because Sharazad (the woman who wasn't killed by the Sultan) needs stories for the Sultan. Marjan is now told to go into the bazaar and get a storyteller to tell her a story so Marjan can tell Sharazad. She goes but will she get caught by the Khatun? I won't tell you you have to find out for yourself! HAPPY READING!

a great book on an interesting time period!
Shadow Spinner is based on Arabian Nights. Marjan is a storyteller who is living with Jewish people she calls aunt and uncle. Her mother commited suicide after she maimed Marjan's foot so the sultan wouldn't marry her. The sultan's first wife was unfaithful to him and he killed her and married a woman every night and killed her in the morning, because he believed that all woman were unfaithful. Her mother thought that the sultan would continue until all the unmarried woman were dead and then start marrying the young girls. One day Marjan goes with her aunt to sell jewelry at the harem, which is the place where all the woman in the palace live. After telling a story to some children she is led to Shahrazad, the sultan's wife. For almost three years she has told the sultan stories and doesn't finish them so she continues them the next day. She is desperate for stories she hasn't already told him. So Marjan tells her one and she tells the sultan. It turns out this story happens to be the sultan's childhood favorite and he asks her to tell him the story of the main character's son. Shahrazad, trying to please him, says she knows it and will tell him the story after she is done with the one she is presently telling. She asks Marjan about the rest of the story and Marjan says she doesn't know it. So Shahrazad sends Marjan out of the harem (which isn't allowed) to find out the rest of the story (Marjan heard the story from a storyteller in the bazaar). What makes this book interesting is the sultan's mother, the most powerful woman in the harem, who distrusts women and hates Shahrazad. Also, Marjan deals with her feelings of hate towards her mother at crippiling Marjan for life.

Shadow Spinner a Jade Room play
Once upon a time there was a sultant who married a beatiful wife who betrade him so he had her killed. So after this he married and killed a new wife every night, untill Sharazad. She kept herself alive by telling a story to the sultant everynight, for nine-hundred and eighty-nine nights! One day Marjan a thirteen-year old girl who has a crippled foot, took a trip to the harem, with her aunt Auntie Chava, to sell trinkets. Marjan ends up telling a story to some of the harem girls. Dunyazad Sharazad's sister listens in on the story Marjan is telling. So Dunyazad brings Marjan to Sharazad. Sharazad is despertly looking for a story to tell o the sultant that night. Marjan tells Sharazad a story that she never heard before. The story is about Julnar a beatiful mermaid. So Sharazad tells the story to the sultant. The sultant then wants to here about Julnars son. So Marjan is set out on an adventure to find the story. She thinks that she heard the story long ago when she was little in the bazaar from a blind storyteller. Marjan has succeded on her quest. She tells the story to Sharazad and Sharazad tells the sultant and Sharazad lives. Once again Marjan needs to get more of the story, but this time Dunyazad comes with Marjan. Remember this everytime Marjan leaves the harem she has to escape without anybody nowing, becaues no woman our aloud to leave the harem ever! All through out the story marjan keeps meeting new friends and enemies. For example: the Khatun (the sultants eveil mother), Ayaz (a poor boy), Zaynab (a crazy bird lady), Soraya (the sultants next victem), Uncle Eli (Auntie Chavas husband and Marjans Uncle) and final Mitra (a girl in the harem).

Shadow Spinner
Susan Fletcher wrote the book Shadow Spinner. It is about a girl named Marjan, in the Middle East who admires Shahrazad. Shahrazad is a wife to the Sultan in a harem who told stories to the Sultan to keep him from killing more wives than he already had. Dunyazad hears Marjan tell a story to some children in the harem and brings Marjan to her sister Shahrazad. Shahrazad is looking for a new story to tell, because the Sultan doesn't like to hear a story twice. Shahrazad never heard the story before and tells the Sultan it. The Sultan was told the story when he was a child and it was his favorite. The Sultan remembers another half to the story that Marjan never heard. The Sultan wants to hear the rest of the story so Dunyazad and Marjan have to track down the rest of the story.
It's a book of adventure. The author paints the scenes very well with words. I enjoyed the book very much and hope others will too.

A sixth grade student

Shady Says--!
'Twas a good book. I've read it over and over and have given it to my friend who has fallen in love with it. I love the style, the eloquence, and the person which confines to us her narrative of an expression of deep thoughts and dark bitterness-the type of story that often makes a mark in the classics. Yes, the classic story (1000 tales) has its undying charm but this story is the story behind the stories. This book gave me insight, it gave me window to see charisma and writing as one. ... Read more

Book Description

Ever since he was a baby, Becan's only worry has been his big feet--until his widowed father remarries.  His new stepmothr and her three daughters feed him crusts of bread and banish him to work in the fields.  So Becan runs away.

With the help of his only friend, a magical bull, he defeats a giant, slays a dragon, and rescues a princess.  But before she can thank him, Becan disappears, leaving behind him one of his enormous boots.  The princess scours the kingdom for the owner of the giant boot.  Will Becan's feet give him away?  And what will his fate be if they do?

Folklorist Shirley Climo retells an age-old Irish tale that is an unusual twist on the popular Cinderella story. Just like his female counterpart, Becan has a mean stepmother and stepsisters. Unlike Cinderella, Becan has large feet and a magical bull for a fairy godmother. He defeats a sword-swinging giant, slays a fire-breathing dragon, and rescues a princess. But before the princess can thank him, he runs off, leaving her with only an enormous boot to aid her in the search for her rescuer. And, as in all Cinderella stories, true love prevails.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful change from the traditional Cinderella story.
The Irish Cinderlad is a continuation of Climo's journey in theCinderella folktales. Children can see how a boy can also be part ofthe Cinderella story. Educators can use this story to demonstrate thesimilarities between different cultures around the world. The illustrations in this book continue with the high standards set in the other "Cinderella" stories in this series. ... Read more

Book Description

‘Climo and Heller conflate several Korean variants of Cinderella to offer up the story of Pear Blossom, a lovely girl who is sorely mistreated by her nasty stepmother and stepsister.… At once comfortingly familiar and intriguingly exotic, the text is especially noteworthy for its instructive but unobtrusive incorporation of Korean words.’—Publishers Weekly. ‘Heller’s paintings are exotically lush and colorful as well as engaging.… An agreeable retelling of the Cinderella story.’ —BL.

Notable 1994 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A decent story with somewhat offensive illustrations
On one level I enjoyed this picture book-- the story is engaging, the illustrations are rich, vibrant, and seem to jump off the page, and it's apparent that the author did some research before writing this book. However, on another level, I was offended by the subtle racist undertones of one Westerner's portrayal of an "ethnic" Cinderella story. The feel of the story is "exotic"-- indeed, the story begins: "Long ago in Korea, when magical creatures were as common as cabbages..."

(The exotic East as seen through the eyes of the West-- and so the story continues.)
The illustrations, while they try to be faithful to the feel of traditional Korea, also exude a subtle racist undertone-- the illustrator clearly does not know how to draw Asian faces. The facial features are distorted and the eyes are too slanted. The illustrator drew from her perception of what Asian faces should look like-- yellow skin, slanted eyes-- and exaggerated these features.

I'd rather read a Korean Cinderella story written and illustrated by a Korean writer and illustrator.

As a sidenote-- Shirley Climo and Ruth Heller have also written/illustrated an Egyptian Cinderella. I have many of the same complaints with this story as well. Once again, there are racist undertones in both the story and the illustrations.

As a second sidenote-- if you're looking for an "ethnic" Cinderella story, _Yen-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China_ is excellent. It is a retelling of the first recorded Cinderella story (written some time during 618-907 AD). Thus, as the forward states: "Cinderella seems to have made her way to Europe from Asia."

A Longer Cinderella
This is one of the longest text versions of the Cinderella story I have ever come across. It is a wonderful telling of the tale, and works nicely to illustrate how this tale is part of many cultures the world over. I can't speak to the accuracy of the details of Korean culture, but the artwork is fascinating. Due to length of the story, however, I tend to wonder how well it would hold younger children's attention. It works well, though, for illustrating cultural difference to college students.

A beautifully illustrated book with authentic Korean details
A delightful retelling of a story that is found in many cultures. This book is beautifully illustrated with examples of traditional Korean architecture and clothing. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Painting the Sunset
This legend is based on how the Great Plain Indians were given the colors of the sunset by one of the talented Indians. This book shows how Little Gopher, the Indian that painted the colors of the sunset for his People, remained true to his destiny. Even though he felt like he didn't have a special gift, Little Gopher continued to stay dedicated, until he was guided in the right direction by an old grandfather and young maiden in his Dream-Vision. The overall theme of this legend is that perseverance pays off in the end.
This book could be used by teachers to introduce the lesson of how those who are dedicated to a dream or goal can succeed in the end. The plot of the story can be used to demonstrate and teach students how to do story maps. Also, other activities this book can be used for in the classroom are for Literature Circles and Idea Circles.

Indian Paintbrush
This story is about Little Gopher who was sad because 'he couldn't keep up with the other boys who were always riding, running, shooting their bows, and wrestling to prove their strength.' Luckily for him he had his own special talent, a talent for painting and creating.

When Little Gopher went out into the hills to think about becoming a man, he had a dream vision. This vision told him to find a white buckskin and to 'keep it and one day you will paint a picture that is as pure as the colors in the evening sky.'

Little Gopher got the white buckskin soon after, but didn't have the right paints to paint the sunset. He kept trying to achieve the right colors. Every morning he mixed paints in hopes that these ones wouldn't be dull and flat like the others, but to no avail.

One night a voice told him to go up on top of a hill next evening at sunset, 'Because you have been faithful to the People and to your true gift, you shall find the colors you are seeking.' Little Gopher went to the hill the next evening and, lo and behold, there are brushes full of paint the color of the sunset waiting there for him to paint his masterpiece.

Little Gopher painted his masterpiece and when he got done he walked back to his tent, leaving the brushes strewn across the hillside. In the morning the brushes had multiplied and turned into flowers, and little Gopher became known as He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth.

This book carries several good messages about being true to yourself and not giving up in the face of adversity. It is also a wonderful retelling of a Native American Legend. He book flows wonderfully and the pictures are bright and colorful.

Loggie-log-log-log

this is a great book
this is a great book for children my son really enjoyed it we read it together for school .

Very close to great
I think that the Legend of the Indian Paintbrush is a good story because it's about a boy who believes that he could do something that he had trouble in. Then he finally did it.

Follow your dreams
A great story for children of all ages. Teachers could use this book when studying the Plains Indians, Geography of the Plains States or wildflowers. When children know a legend associated with a plant they will retain the knowledge of that plant longer. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Anansi the trickster strikes again!
That Anansi is such a scoundral!!

After boring into one of Elephants melons, he eats himself too big to get out!! So, Anansi waits to get thing again...Only, he's bored! So he decides to amuse himself at Elephant's expense... and Hippo's...and Warthog's...Well, you get the idea.

This is a cute story about a trickster spider. Janet Stevens' illustrations are, as always, excellent. Anansi is not just a regular spider. Stevens gives him expressions and a personality. You wind up laughing with Anansi's pranks. Very well done!

I would definitly recommend this book. I read it to a group of young school age kids - 5-9. They could kinda tell where the story was going, but were more than willing to sit for the ride.

Great for preschool/kindergarten agers
My 5 year old son LOVED the mischief Anansi got into and understood the lessons that were being taught. It is written in a way that younger kids can understand and the illustrations are great!

Trickery at its best!!
Anansi the spider bores his way into one of Elephant's melons and thus begins the great trickery of some of the greatest animals in the Animal Kingdom. I used this book with the second grade class and we loved the human characteristics of the animals and all the funny things Anansi says while he is in the melon. It is a great book to act out in the puppet theater and we had great fun taking on the roles of the elephant, monkey, spider and other surprised and astonished animals. ... Read more

Book Description

Honor America-and Woodie Guthrie's 90th birthday-with this beautiful gift package. Featuring the complete lyrics and musical notation to the beloved anthem "This Land is Your Land," as well as a photo-essay about Woody, a note from his daughter Nora Guthrie, and a tribute by beloved folk singer Pete Seeger, this stunning book paints an unforgettable picture of our diverse land.Now an award-winning CD containing nine popular folk songs performed by Woody and Arlo Guthrie is bound into the book, making this a treasure for the whole family or classroom to share. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good
My sons 3 and 5 really enjoy this book and singing along. One word of caution the CD that comes with the book, although enjoyable, does not follow the book words. It is a classic book and the illustrations and tune are memorable and something I am proud to share with my children.

Must Have
This has always been a favorite song of mine and it's great to share it with my daughter, along with the beautiful illustrations. We love to sing along with our books, and this one is a real winner!

Wonderful Book!
My daughter received this book as a present when she was 2 years old. I thought it was "too old" for her, but it quickly became her favorite. Not only does she love the song (we sing it at least once every night before bed) but she also loves the intricate illustrations and looking for Woody and his guitar. There are many nights when I get all choked up hearing a 2 year old born in China and now a U.S. citizen singing "This land is your land, this land is my land" and saying "I love you, Woody!". I recommend this book for the young and old alike.

A real kick!
My children love "singing" books and this is one that should be sung more often and with great gusto! The illustrations are wonderul and display the diversity that is so prominient in the American landscape. We selected it as a gift for family friends who have two sons with Korean heritage, now American citizens. We also utilized it for a 4th of July celebration and it was very well received by multi-age children. It also has great appeal from an adult perspective...love the page toward the back with all of the various artists on stage...picking out the places I have traveled and those which still call to me....

A lovely book for kids of all ages who share Woody's vision
My wife and I just returned from a long trip through the Southwest and southern Rockies. En route home to Florida we stopped off in Okemah, Oklahoma, Woody's home town, and it was there I discovered this beautiful book. It is, I suppose, a children's book, and I thought at first that I might give it to my grandchildren, but the combination of exquisite art work and well-chosen Woody-words is to good to give up. Solution: I plan to buy several copies as Christmas presents not only for my grandkids but for my friends' kids as well. If you're a fan of Woody's, or just love truly beautiful, warm-hearted childrens' books, you will want to do the same. ... Read more

Book Description

DARKNESS THREATENS to overtake Earthsea. As the world and its wizards are losing their magic, Ged -- powerful Archmage, wizard, and dragonlord -- embarks on a sailing journey with highborn young prince, Arren. They travel far beyond the realm of death to discover the cause of these evil disturbances and to restore magic to a land desperately thirsty for it.

With millions of copies sold, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle has earned a treasured place on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere. Complex, innovative, and deeply moral, this quintessential fantasy sequence has been compared with the work of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and has helped make Le Guin one of the most distinguished fantasy and science fiction writers of all time. She lives in Portland, Oregon. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

A view from the protagonist to its sidekick.
For the first and second series of the Earthsea, you'll find in this book suddenly Sparrowhawk, the famous Earthsea wizard, is not the protagonist. The main character has pass down to his accompany, a prince, that aids the wizard's voyage in the sea. The islands of Earthsea is losing balance and magic powers from every continent. Wizards are losing their Name and power, dragons are dying, and even Roke (Wizard school) is dying out its faith among their Names. Sparrowhawk begins a journey to seek the origin of the illness.

Overall, I think this book is much more intense and overwhelming than the last book (Tombs of Atuan). Everything is a mystery in the Earthsea, and characters have changed from the last two books. The mage himself is becoming old and tiresome, but he is still able to restore the balance to Earthsea. If you are a Earthsea fan, remember to read this book! You won't regret it!

The Child and the Shadow
Whilst I read A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA and THE TOMBS OF ATUAN many times as a child and a teenager, I never read THE FARTHEST SHORE, though I suspect I began it and did not finish. This book is heavygoing, both in tone and subject matter, but utterly rewarding for the engaged reader.

The wizard Ged, hero of the earlier novels, but now much wearied by age, accompanies a young prince of Enlad, Arren, in a journey by sea and land into the dark places of Earthsea and the dark places of the soul. Magic and joy in life are being leeched from the land by a malignant being who has found the secret of immortality - at the cost of the denial and ultimate destruction of all life.

This novel is probably more explicit than any of le Guin's other novels in portraying her conviction that all serious fantasy is at heart about the journey through the strange foreign lands of the inner soul. The reader is drawn inexorably with Ged and Arren as they try to save Earthsea by travelling into the dark heart of mankind and grappling with the ultimate challenge to selfhood - acceptance of death. Fantasy, le Guin maintains, is not about escape from the self but escape into the self. This philosophy lays the foundation for her serious, thoughtful fantasy, which may disappoint some readers seeking no more than vicarious thrills through daring adventures.

The serene, Taoist philosophy permeating the essence of this novel probably has more significance for me now at 23 than it could have at 7 or 13. Yet this novel, though difficult, is still accessible to the perservering younger reader. I hope that for all readers THE FARTHEST SHORE can provide as fulfilling a reading experience as it did for me, and I heartily encourage older readers to seek out le Guin's critical writing on fantasy and on Earthsea (such as LANGUAGE OF THE NIGHT and EARTHSEA REVISITED), which are an enthralling read in themselves.

Heavy-duty, serious fantasy. Not for the light-hearted.
In the third entry to the Earthsea series, Ged is now Arch-Mage, and is faced with a new crisis: Magic around the world is failing. Together with Arren, a young prince from Enlad, he journeys to the end of the world to battle and defeat the source of this threat to the world. His quest is to rescue Earthsea from the death of magic. It's an exciting adventure, perhaps even more so than the second volume of the series. It was the National Book Award winner for Children's Books in 1973.

But of particular interst is the fact that through the eyes of Arren, the reader gains a true appreciation for the enduring qualities of a LeGuine type fantasy. Arren is perplexed why Ged doesn't perform more magic, to the point where he even questions whether he is a true wizard. "Even in small matters magery was not worth counting on. Sparrowhawk was always miserly about employing his arts; they went by the world's wind whenever they might, they fished for food, and they spared their water, like any sailors ... There, thought Arren, lay the very heart of wizardry: to hint at mighty meanings while saying nothing at all, and to make doing nothing at all seem the very crown of wisdom." Over time Arren - and the reader - come to understand what magic in this world is really all about. Eventually Arren learns that true wizards don't do magic all the time: "The first lesson on Roke, and the last is: Do what is needful. And no more!"

This is the essence of magic in LeGuin's novels - one will not find here the trite magic used to make boys fly on brooms or make girls invisible, as one finds in books like Harry Potter. LeGuin's magic and fantasy is never trite, but always serious and credible. In many respects it represents an early form of new age philosophy. "On every act the balance of the whole depends. The winds and seas, the powers of water and earth and light, all that these do, and all that the beasts and green things do, is well done, and rightly done. All these act within the Equilibrium - But we, insofar as we have power over the world and over one another, we must *learn* to do what the leaf and the whale and the wind do of their own nature. We must learn to keep the balance." Much of it appears to have roots in Eastern philosophy such as the Taoist yin-yang. "There are two, Arren, two that make one: the world and the shadow, the light and the dark. The two poles of the Balance. Life rises out of death, death rises out of life; in being opposite they yearn to each other, they give birth to each other and are forever reborn." The climax of the plot is taken straight from Jungian psychology: wholeness is obtained by embracing the darkest shadow of death. Weighty dialogue about such philosophy fills the novel - this is not for the light-hearted.

Even if one disagrees with this philosophy, there has to be appreciation for LeGuin's seriousness and depth. Ged and Arren's quest never has overtones of a fantasy fun adventure as one might find with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, but it has a constant shadow of deep seriousness, perhaps even more so than J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles. This deeper and more serious spin on fantasy in itself makes this series worth reading. The fantasy world and storyline are not as captivating or fun as one might expect from Tolkien, Lewis, or even Rowling and Robert Jordan, and so fans of these novels might well find the taste of LeGuin somewhat disappointing. Reviews of the fourth book of the series, Tenahu, suggest that this is a strongly feminist tale and a departure from the beauty of the first three novels, and is better left untouched. I think I'll close the pages on LeGuin for now, with The Farthest Shore being the most distant shore of her work for me. -GODLY GADFLY

The Battle Against Evil
Evil is prepared to end life as it is known in Earthsea. The world and its wizards are losing their magic, and it is up to Ged powerful Archmage, wizard, to seek out the only one or the only thing that can help. He must embark on a sailing journey with young prince, Arren, and travel beyond the realm of death to discover the cause of the evil and restore the land's magic.

The story stays exciting all the way through, and will not dissapoint.

As good as the
Ursula Le Guin wrote this very well.It was extremely interesting ,and very absorbing .The plot is straightforward,and
the characters are wonderful .Despite all this , I must admit that it is slightly confusing ,and I had to interpret a bit for myself ,but I still loved it . ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Say Cheese Medusa
The book Say Cheese Medusa is about Hades, a Greek god of the underworld. He tells the real story of the Greek stories unlike the big fake, Zeus. He says that Zeus made Medusa sound bad when she really wasn't. He tells the story of how Perseus, the brave hero who slayed Medusa, really didn't and how he was a big fake. The story by Hades says that Perseus really was a brat and how Cerberus, the three headed dog, hated him. Medusa (according to Hades) is still alive and has a small hotel and spa running. He tells the real story and every single word is true.
I really like the book because Greek stories are really interesting and all but to have it from a god's point of view is interesting. It has all the things correct but in some parts the story is changed but it has all the main parts. The book had weird places like in this quote, "The Underworld Mall was under constructions that spring. Dozens of new shops and restaurants were going up." I mean really, a mall in the underworld, what will they think of next, you think, well there is more!!! I love the new places the author adds in the book. Then there are things like this, "The one and only sibyl doll! Press the button and she'll tell you your future!"
Things like these are crazy!! I mean, you think that the gods only watch and meddle with our lives; in this book you realize that they have lives too!!! The book is funny and entertaining at the same time. It is a book I can read over and over again without any complaints. If I like it, you will too. I am sure , and I recommend you to read it too.
My favorite part of the book was everything. Yet to have an specific part is hard. I would have to say that my favorite part of the book was when Medusa's sisters come up with the plan of helping Perseus. Their plan is to take one of the fake heads that Medusa makes of herself and instead of beheading Medusa it is a fake head made of plaster. That I think is my favorite part of the book. It was a really interesting book and if you read it for yourself, you will see the hardship if choosing the most favorite part of the book.

Stone and Cheese
In the third installment to the series Hades writes about the popular myth of Medusa. As you know Medusaused to be a gorgon(A bug eyed winged monster with snakes for hair. But she wasn't born that way. She was born a beautiful moon goddess with silky black hair. A nasty goddess(Athena)made her and her sisters that way. Soon a young man named Purseus is after her head.Can Medusa save herself? This book may not have as much action as the first book but is just as good.

A different perspective on popular myths which really rings
Kate McMullan has created an excellent twist on traditional myth telling. I bought these books for my older two children (ages 9 & 7) and found them not only funny, but extremely eye opening and appropriate for adults as well. They should really be read in tandem with Bullfinch's anthologies in any mythology class, as it offers a view from the "other" side, which is rarely, if ever, explored.
In this "episode" a beautiful and very kind, minor moon goddess is transformed into the legendary "turn men into stone" gorgon by a very jealous and self important , major goddess. It is a story of how understanding and being compassionate to others can overcome even the seemingly worse circumstances and reveal the true beauty beneath. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A nice book for your nursery bookshelf.
This is a nice addition to your nursery or reading room. The book contains 75 fables for teaching your youngsters about life.

The book is well bound and of good quality. What I really like is that it matches the other Disney books in size and style and so looks nice on the shelf.

The format of this book is very nice. The fables are adapted from Disney stories of years past and are categorized according to the moral.

Each story ends with a moral for you to go over with your youngster. The stories are accompanied by nice illustrations rounding out the whole experience.

Excellent resource for parents and teachers
I bought this book primarily for classroom use, as the fable format of this book is excellent for primary grade students. Characters and stories are familiar to students, and the illustrations are beautiful.

Each story begins with the moral, and the stories are categorized according to moral. The table of contents is wonderful for quick reference if the occasion merits it. This is a wonderful book. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Unhurriedly Pragmatic Adventure Story
In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

A classic adventure novel
If you enjoy adventure style literature than the Daniel Defoe novel Robinson Crusoe if definitely a must read. The story begins in the city of York with Robinson Crusoe as the narrator. His father wanted him to pursue a career in law, however his mind was filled with visions of the sea as a young lad. His first voyage proves to be enlightening and frightening at the same time. When on his second voyage pirates board the ship and he is made a slave. After escape he becomes a plantation owner and after a couple years feels the urge to hit the high seas once more. The next voyage proves to be a turning point in the novel. Crusoe who is now shipwrecked, with some supplies left over from the wreckage, on what he believes to be a deserted island must deal with many adversities if he wishes to survive. The physical aspects of survival are difficult enough for Crusoe, but now thoughts of regret for not listening to his father now play though his mind. Crusoe becomes a devote Christian and reads The Bible with great concentration and frequency. Still alone on the island he improves his carpentry skills and begins to take his knowledge from his plantation days to start producing his own crops. Next comes the livestock and now Crusoe has himself a small farm to live off of. As the years pass Crusoe begins to notice signs of human beings and human remains on the island. With the fear of savage cannibals living among he changes the way he lives. Crusoe conjures up plans to attack the savages in hopes of saving the helpless victims in their clutches, however he must battle with his Christian beliefs on killing. Dafoe demonstrates very nicely how Crusoe must battle internally with himself throughout his time alone. Robinson Crusoe is a classic adventure novel and is recommended to all who enjoy this genre.

More than just a man on an island
It's one of the classic man-alone surviver adventure stories. The bit on the island is actually only a small portion of the overall narrative. The bulk of the book follows Crusoe's attempts to reassimilate in English society after his time on the island living as a savage. Of course the movie versions only cover the time on the island, leaving the ending to assume that Crusoe will live happily ever after once he's rescued.

Have a classic experience!
I re-read the book after 40 years and was startled at how good it is. If you are an old-timer and have forgotten it, read it again. You will see once again why it is a classic. I highly recommend it.

Great language and characterization
This is not a novel for those who like quick action and a lot of dialogue. Robinson Crusoe is superbly written, and tends to draw out the events, with a great deal of imagery provided in order to describe everything with minute details. Seeing as to how this is one of my favorite novels, I have read Robinson Crusoe probably about six times, in more than one language. My favorite aspect of this novel is the language in which it is written. Defoe's ability to make every word worth reading is enough to captivate and ignite the imagination. I do not think that if you like fast-paced novels that you would enjoy this masterpiece, but it is a matter of personal preference. If you enjoy well-developed character, then Robinson Crusoe's character is one worth devoting your time to. Defoe creates a human being, with faults and flaws, as well as dignified qualities. Robinson Crusoe is truly worthy of emulation, and is one of the greatest-developed characters in a work of literature. I recommend this novel to anyone who is willing to take the time to read every sentence and who is not so impatient as to expect action to appear on every page of the novel. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Little Bookroom, originally published in 1955 and winner of the first Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Carnegie Medal, Eleanor Farjeon mischievously tilts the workaday world to reveal its wonders and follies. Peopling her selection of her favorite stories, 27 in all, are powerful — and sometimes exceedingly silly — monarchs, and commoners who are every bit their match; musicians and dancers who live for art rather than earthly reward; six princesses who are too proud to taste life; and a goldfish who wishes to "marry the Moon, surpass the Sun, and possess the World." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Little Bookroom
I was given this book in 1955 and still have my well-read copy. I loved the stories and read and re-read them when I was around eight years old. I especially loved Westwood and the descriptions of the wonderful ball gowns that were made - each one more marvellous that the last. I also loved the story of San FairyAnn. I am going to get a copy for my granddaughter who loves to read and I hope she will be as enthralled with the stories as I was at her age. The stories are magical and transport the reader to a different world and I still remember them to this day.

"The Little Bookroom" should be in print - permanently.
It's a crying shame that this enchanting book is out of print. Perhaps tastes have deteriorated so much that the delicate, the lovely, the merely marvelous are no longer fashionable. Perhaps Eleanor Farjeon's sensibility, nurtured in the late Victorian period, and flowering in the 1920's and 1930's, is simply not able to connect with modern readers. But I don't believe it. I believe that the right child can still be entranced by her writing, and touched, even moved by her stories. Of particular note: "The King's Daughter Cries for the Moon," "Westwoods," "The Barrel-Organ," "Leaving Paradise," "And I Dance Mine Own Child," and the exquisitely poignant "The Glass Peacock." It seems unlikely that publishers comb these reviews for hints at what the public might buy, and less likely that one would see the value in this quiet masterpiece, but should one stumble across it I hope they pay attention and bring this book back to a new generation.

I want my own little bookroom
When I first read some stories from 'little bookroom', I was 9 or 10 years old, I didn't like them very much. They were very different from the stories which I liked those days such as 'little mermaid'. 'snow white' and others about beautiful princesses, hansome princes, faries, and so on in a far-away strange lands. The stories of 'little bookroom' said about a princess who left palace with a ragged servant, a king who married a maid, a goldfish who regarded a globe the whole world, a small school-boy who believed his father's white lies, and a farmer who went to poverty by spending all his money for other people etc. I thought then they were weird for fairy tale characters, so concluded the stories were unattractive. However when I grew older, I found myself thinkng repeatedly those stories and finding more and more beauties that I had not understood. I read them again and got to love them deeply. There were'nt much dazzling luxuries or heart-thrilling adventures in the stories, but all of them were warm, friendly...and so on. The weird ones I hadn't like very much looked as if some old friends whom I had thrown over the fence of 'westwood' due to my ignorance of their true beauties. Reading them, I thought I could feel what Eleanor Farjeon had felr in her little bookroom, and now I want my own little bookroom.

I want my own little bookroom !
When I was 12 or so, I read some stories of this book which was translated in Korean. At first, I didn't like the stories very much, because they were very different form those day's my favorites such as 'little mermaid'or 'other fairy tales about princess and prince of farland.' In Eleanor's stories, even the kings, princes, and princesses did something such as dusting, cooking, going market etc. But after that, I found myself thinking repeatedly about 'the king and the corn', 'westwoods', 'the seventh princess', 'the kind farmer', and 'the author's note(in Korean book, it itself was titled "the little bookroom). So I read them again, really loved them, wanted to read them in English, and got this book form amazon.com. Every story was fascinating ! The children, fairies, kings, princesses who were cooking, dusting, and going market, were like my friend who I had thrown over the fense of 'westwoods'. I was really happy to meet and love them again, and I am happy now writing this and imagining someone who read this, read 'westwoods', or 'the kind farmer' , and love them. When I was reading the book, I felt I myself was in the 'little bookroom' and now I want my own little bookroom. ... Read more

Book Description

The three goat brothers brave the terrible troll in a colorful version of the classic tale. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My Son Loved This Version
We have checked out a number of versions of The Three Billy Goats Gruff from the Library when my son was 4. This is the version he liked the most. It is very simple (as one reviewer uses as a reason to reject it) but for some ages, that simplicity is what makes it a favorite.

What the....!
I grew up with this story - what happened?! Somewhere in this grossly underproduced version they forgot that even in a kids story you need talented actors. Kids know when someone sounds wooden and unskilled - and you can't pawn something as poorly done as this off on them. They're smarter than that! I could've done a better job in my garage. "Under the bridge lived a troll..." Come on!

Faithful retelling of the fairy tale
My boys love this author's version of the Three Little Pigs, so I bought a few more of his fairy tales for them. They also liked this one, but not as much. That might just be because it's not quite as interesting a tale! But the illustrations are well done---especially the troll, who is truly scary looking! This is a good book for a reader who likes to do voices, as you really have to use dramatic effect to show how the biggest billy goat has a loud and intimidating voice while the little one has a tiny and timid voice!

I am the voice
Can I just put in a credit for myself here. I am the voice(s) on the audio cassette. Let me know what you think. Hope you enjoyed it. ... Read more

Book Description

The stunning 1995 Caldecott Honor Book

John Henry is stronger than ten men, and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Julius Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. Jerry Pinkney illustrates the story with "rich colors borrowed from the rocks and the earth, so beautiful that they summon their own share of smiles and tears" (Booklist).

"A tall tale and heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit....The story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exaggeration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world." --Booklist, starred review

* A Caldecott Honor Book
* Winner of the Society of Illustrators' Gold Medal
* An ALA Notable Book
* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
* The Horn Book Fanfare List
* A Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year
* A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
* Winner of the Aesop Prize

* A Picture Puffin
* Full-color illustrations
* 40 pages
* Ages 4 up ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If I had a hammer...
If you haven't read a book that combines the individual talents of Lester and Pinkney (Julius Lester writes, Jerry Pinkney draws) then this might be a good place to start. The two artists have reinterpreted a variety of classic African-American tales to their own liking. From their, "The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit" to the more recent "Sam and the Tigers" (a reworked "Little Black Sambo") they are nothing if not prolific. With this book they tackle one of this country's tallest tales. The legend of John Henry. And whether you delight in their version or cling to the story you learned as a child (as I confess, I did while reading it) you have to step back and admire their enthusiasm.

In this version of "John Henry" the duo has consulted a variety of texts and versions, adding some special touches and flourishes of their own. This John Henry is a baby one day and an adult the next. He can outrace the meanest man in town and carve through solid rock with a rainbow draped across his shoulders. When the final showdown against a steam drill comes, John Henry's ready. He beats that drill only to die from a burst heart. We are assured, however, that he is buried on the White House Lawn and that at night you can hear his voice singing.

There's some getting used to here, certainly. No refrain of, "I'm gonna die with a hammer in my hand" is chanted. And John Henry doesn't work the railroads with everyone else. Rather, he accidentally stumbles across the man with the steam engine while on travels of his own. And then Lester has tried to make the story applicable to the youth of today. He did this in "The Tales of Uncle Remus" too, and I had some very similar problems. In this particular book, for example, it mentions early on that, "That day John Henry helped his papa rebuild the porch he had busted through, added a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and one of the jacutzis". Personally, I don't see why this helps the text at all. I dunno. Maybe kids like hearing about Jacuzzis in their picture books. But for me, at any rate, it distracts. Pinkney's illustrations, on the other hand, are above criticism. Here we have a Ferret-Faced Freddy that has a mean weasel-like face. We see John Henry grow older and older as we watch, as well as taller and taller. I liked the clothes, the setting, and the landscapes. I especially liked the fact that John's gap-toothed grin is with him from infancy through adulthood.

The world is sorely in need of more African-American fables as remarkable as this one. And it goes without saying that everyone EVERYONE should know the ballad of John Henry by heart. I'm not willing to drop the towel and declare this particular version the epitome of all John Henrys, but it is still a noble work. Feel free to criticize it, but don't discount it. Never discount it.

Magical
Julius Lester's version of the legend of John Henry is well-told. I laughed out loud when Lester described Ferret-Faced Freddy, a man "so mean, he cried if he had a nice thought." Lester also uses marvelous metaphors (next to a large mountain, John Henry doesn't look "much bigger than a wish that wasn't going to come true"). Lester's versio