Book Description

Illus. in full color. Upstarts like Davy Crockett, giants like Paul Bunyan,

and gentle souls like Johnny Appleseed are among the nine "tall" heroes

featured in this exuberant collection of traditional American folk tales.

"McCurdy's intricate wood engravings set these larger-than-life folk on

majestic landscapes brimming with energy, rich with wildlife and local color.

The author's thoughtful introduction and notes round out this superlative

offering."--(starred) School Library Journal.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

Competent retelling
Stoutenberg competently retells the familiar stories of Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Stormalong, Mike Fink, Davy Crockett, Johnny Applessed, John Henry, and Joe Magarac in a way that stresses the common tall tale elements and should be appealing to upper-elementary school readers. Useful in schools when balanced with some of the more recent and sprightlier stories featuring heroines. ... Read more

Book Description

Once upon a mountaintop, three trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. Each of their dreams come true in the most unexpected of ways. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

An excellent addition to my Christian library.
I wasn't even looking for a childrens book the other day when I accidentally happened upon "The Tale of Three Trees". I was brought nearly to tears by this touching little tale. I took it home and read it to my children that very night at bedtime, and even they were touched by this story. The sysnopsis above really tells it all. It is a story of Gods love for us, and his own unique gifts to us all in this world. I plan on giving it as a gift to friends with children, so they may share this special little story with them as well.

WOW! This blew me away!
I had never heard this story before and had no idea what to expect when I read it...as I got to the part about the third tree's destiny, I started crying - it touched me that much...what a great lesson is contained in this simple tale -- each tree's dream was fulfilled although not precisely in the way that they anticipated...excellent jumping off point for discussions with little ones -- As the room mom for my 5-year-old son's kindergarten class, I got this book for his teacher's birthday and had all the children "sign" it - the teacher was touched by this powerfully moving story, as were the parents who came to her party...really a great book to keep and especially to give.

Good, easy read for Christian children
My homeschooled children (grades 1 & 3) enjoy reading this from time to time. The binding is great, the pictures are good, the print is large, and the text is easy to read. A touching classic.

Great Book!
I received this book from my parents for a Christmas gift when I was 25 years old. And I love it! It has become my favorite book to give as gifts to every child...young and old. This book stays on my coffee table through out the year and I pick it up and read it all the time.

The story is very good and really makes you think about what God has in store of each of us...usally not what we think!

Would definitely recommend to every one!

Tale of Three Trees- - - - - Spectacular
I received this book for Christmas this year totally amazed that my friend would sent me a child's book I thought of it as some sort of joke!! But as I read through the pages and looked at the pictures, my eyes filled with tears as the story unfolded, each tree received their wish, I was just amazed! Excellent book for young and old alike. I am glad my friend sent me this to treasure for years to come!! ... Read more

Book Description

"There was a girl in the village who loved horses... She led the horses to drink at the river. She spoke softly and they followed. People noticed that she understood horses in a special way."

And so begins the story of a young Native American girl devoted to the care of her tribe's horses. With simple text and brilliant illustrations. Paul Goble tells how she eventually becomes one of them to forever run free. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A horse is a horse, of course of course
The ultimate girl/horse story. There are plenty of tales in which a young girl bonds with a very special horse. This is the rare book in which the girl not only bonds with a horse but, in the end, becomes one herself (as well as that horse's mate). Paul Goble made quite a career out of telling Native American folktales in picture book form. In this particular story, a girl's love for four-legged beasts is taken to its logical extreme.

In this book, a girl once cared for her tribe's horses during the day. She would water them and find them places to feed. One day, a storm rose while the girl slept and the horses grazed. In a panic, the animals began to stampede away, and it was only by her skill that the girl was able to climb aboard one. When at last they stopped, the girl met the leader of all the wild horses, a beautiful spotted stallion. The girl continued to live with the creatures until one day she was successfully captured by members of her own tribe. She was happy to see her parents once more, but begged to return to the horses. The tribe agreed and each year she would return briefly to give the people a new colt. When she didn't return one year, riders swore that they saw a black mare that greatly resembled the girl, now the mate of the spotted stallion. The book ends with a Navaho's song about his horse and Black Elk (an Oglala Sioux)'s dream about a stallion's song.

I was a little shocked that this tale never identified the tribe to which the girl belonged. Since, however, this is an original story and not a retelling of a classic Native American tale (or so the book would lead you to believe) I wasn't too perturbed by the omission. After all, when people tell stories about themselves, they rarely identify their nationality or allegiance. In this book, the girl's tribe is referred to simply as "the people". If you've ever seen a Paul Goble book before, you know what to expect when you read this. His characters are fairly featureless, though as an artist he spends a significant bit of time detailing their clothing, hair, weapons, homes, etc. He expresses a great love of color in all his pictures, and it's quite enjoyable to flip through the shots of multicolored horses. In its construction, this book is incredibly lovely. But the question that came to my mind while reading it was, how interesting will children find this tale? For those kids obsessed by horses, I think this book will go over like gangbusters. After all, as horse-love goes, this girl is an extreme example. In other ways, the book is a bit dull. When you illustrate a tale in which emotions are not visible on the characters, you're going to lose those readers that like seeing happy and sad expressions. It's a style choice on the part of the author/illustrator and while I respect it I cannot wholly recommend it.

Just the same, it's a lovely book to flip through. Just know that it is an original Native American tale and not a retelling. For every child that has imagined running away and joining a band of wild animals, this is the perfect story to read. A lovely lively concoction.

Wild Horses actually do drag this young girl away
"The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses" is a straightforward tale of the Plains Indians, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble, unlike those that he has told about the trickster, Iktomi. This myth does not folllow any one story exactly but is put together from a great number of stories belonging to the peoples who lived on the Great Plains that Goble had read or listened to over the years. This story is premised on the importance of horses to these peoples. The title character is a girl in the village would loved horses so much that she would led them to drink at the river and when she spoke softly to them they would follow her. Her people recognized that she understood horses in a special way, which explains why this story ends the way that it does.

Every day after doing her chores the young girl would run off to be with the horses. One day there is a great lightning storm that drives the horses, carrying the young girl, over the horizon to a land she had never seen before. There she finds a beautiful spotted stallion, stronger and prouder and more handsome than any horse she had ever dreamed of. He is the leader of all the wild horses who roamed the hills and he welcome her to live with them. But a year later two hunters from her people discover her in the hills where the wild horses lived and they will try to bring the girl back to her parents. The question is whether the girl can be happy back with her people now that she has lived with the wild horses.

Goble's distinctive artwork, which recalls the art of the Plains Indians of the 19th century, is particularly well suited to this simple tale. As was the case in one of his earlier books, "The Gift of the Sacred Dog," which told how the first horses came into the lives of the people, you can tell that Goble likes to draw horses. In "The Girl Who Loves Wild Horses" he has ample opportunity to draw dozens of them, as well as the young girl decked out in her colorful garb, and I particularly liked the plant life he draws this time around. No wonder this book was the winner of the Caldecott Medal.

Beautiful art.
Paul Goble transcends perfection. Any artist, or anyone who loves art, will want to look at this book again and again...

Simon & Schuster recommends the book for ages 5 to 8, but any child approaching or in his or her early teens would be enchanted by the simplicity of the artwork and the way it so powerfully conveys the story the words tell. Even adults will enjoy this poetic picture book.

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses is about a young girl who struggles to find a friend in her tribe but finds herself to be very close with the wild horses that graze near her tribe. One day a thunderstorm comes and scares the wild horses off and she feels lost. The leader of the wild horses comes to her one night and asks if she wants to be one of them and she excitedly answers yes leaving her home and family behind her. Many children can relate to this book if they feel as though they have no one to confide in but there pets or different animals. Kids that are socially impaired would benefit from reading this book along with any child who has an interest in reading a good book.

Wonderful Book!
My daughter and I just love this book. The illustrations are simply beautiful and the story is enchanting. This was one of the first books my daughter read by herself. We have read almost all of his wonderful books. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Book Review
This is a beautifully told Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story. From reading this story we learn that not all things are seen with the eyes, but with the heart, as with the Rough-Face Girl who earns the love of and the right to marry the Invisible Being. We should all be like the Rough-Face Girl by seeing the beauty of the earth around us and not taking any thing for granted.

I highly recommend this book.

Impossible things are happening every day
I first read a version of the Algonquin Cinderella story in the collected folktale book, "World Tales", compilated by Idries Shah. The version repeated in that book and then retold in "The Rough-Face Girl" is almost perfectly identical. In a way, this proves the entrancing nature of this tale, and its capacity for retellings. With Rafe Martin's book, one of the best Cinderella stories from around the globe (if not THE best) is accompanied by David Shannon's fabulous illustrations. The combination is incredible.

In this tale, once an Algonquin girl lived with her father and cruel older sisters. These girls forced their younger sibling to feed their fires, causing her arms and face to become burnt and scarred. Her hair became charred and lifeless as well. Also in this village was an invisible man who was rumored to be rich and powerful. One day the sisters decide to wed the Invisible Being (I guess they both figured on sharing him). When confronted by his sister, the girls are asked to describe his bow and the runner of his sled. Unable to do so, they are sent away. The next day the rough faced girl goes to do the same and she too meets with the sister of the Invisible Being. You can probably guess the rest.

As Cinderella tales go, this one gives its heroine more of an active role than the European Cinderella ever had. Where Cinderella relies on a magical fairy godmother and a prince to track her down, the rough faced girl fashions her own clothing and sets out to meet the Invisible Being despite the taunts of the villagers that doubt her. True, this is a fairy tale and therefore subject to the idea that for women, fulfillment comes with a good marriage. But honestly, most tales rely on this conceit. This tale has elements of the Cupid/Psyche stories, Beauty and the Beast, and many others, while at the same time remaining a true and accomplished original.

Shannon's accompanying illustrations are very interesting. Most artists that depict Native Americans in storybook form (like, say, "A Boy Called Slow") don't draw characters that display much in the way of emotion. Call it a different kind of racism, if you will. Shannon, however, seems to have taken heart from the fact that this is a fantasy and not a piece of non-fiction. His evil sisters sneer and flounce. As they parade through the village in their new clothes their noses are held quite high. His rough faced girl is never viewed directly, so long as she remains scarred and unhappy. The closest moment we get is when she is crouched beside the fire, the shadows playing on her face and bandaged arms. When at last she bathes in a lake and is revealed to be beautiful the moment, while nice, is accompanied by an odd illustration that conjures up the word "pin-up" more than anything else. In my favorite illustration, we see the Invisible Being towering over his new betrothed, obviously a really good looking dude. Shannon has a way of playing with light and shadow in this book that conceals as much as it reveals. I was particularly taken with the clever picture that displayed the Invisible Being astride the milky way, his waist made up the three stars that represent Orion's Belt.

Truthfully, I am not well acquainted with the Algonquin way of life. I therefore cannot vouch that this book is perfectly faithful to the mode of dress and lives of its people. What I can ascertain is that the book is respectful to its subjects as well as its subject matter. It's a fabulous looking and sounding creation that every child, teen, and adult should be well-acquainted with. Worth a gander.

This is a beautiful story :)
The Rough-Face Girl is a delightful story. It is a modern story of Cinderella. I love the impact that the story gives. It shows that beauty comes form within. The girl in the story goes though many changes and with everything she goes though she keeps a beautiful body image. The illustrations were detailed wonderfully. This is a story book that everyone should own.

Rough-Face Girl
The language is beautiful; the illustrations are exquisite. A universal theme that beauty comes from within.

The Rough Face Gril
The Rough Face Girl By Ar-Day Wilson

The rough face girl was about a girl that had two

sisters and a father. The two sisters would boss her

around. They made her stand by the fire; so her face got

burned. She later married an invisible man and they lived

happily ever after.

The rough face girl was the youngest, friendly, and nicest

person. She is a very beautiful girl, but on the outside she

doesn't really know that.

Nobody thinks she should marry the invisible being.

When she came to his teepee his

sister was waiting for her and asked her three questions.

She got them all right.

The way she solves the problem is by going to marry the

invisible being. So that nobody will ever make fun of her

again. If they do they will deal with the invisible

being.

I think this is a good book because it teaches you that

it doesn't matter how you look on the outside but you look on

the inside. I would recommend this book to others because it

teaches you how it is important not to judge people from the

outside. ... Read more

Book Description

Who was the largest baby ever born in the state of Maine? Who dug the Great Lakes? Who gouged out the Grand Canyon? Why, Paul Bunyan, of course, America's finest, fastest, funniest lumberman and favorite tall-tale hero. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jeff's Book Review
This book is very funny and entertaining.It was funny to see how Paul Bunyan, who was gigantic as both a baby and an adult, delt with all of the people and monsters who were much smaller than him. This book has great pictures and will make you laugh.

Wonderfully Illustrated!
This is a very enjoyable story retold with the most captivating illustrations. The vocabulary telling this story is wonderful and is a great book to read to the young and an excellent book for the early reader. Children will enjoy this enhanced version! This is not a book to miss.

fun with tall tales
Students are sure to enjoy this hilarious account of how many of our nation's wonders were created. This tall tale has been "spruced up" with a rich and colorful vocubulary, and is combined with illustrations that will keep the reader coming back for discovery time and time again. Steven Kellog's series of tall tales are invaluable in the classroom as students experience various literary elements such as: genre, author/illustrators, and theme related impressions. ... Read more

Book Description

Retold from Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings, this collection of fanciful folktales is enlivened by the extraordinary artwork of the late illustrator Don Daily. Children of all ages will chuckle at the adventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends, told in wise, entertaining stories which contain valuable lessons that speak to young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ed Young drops the ball
Not everyone knows this, but authors don't always have control over the artists that illustrate their books. Sometimes a well-established author will be paired with an up-and-coming illustrator, and sometimes it's the other way around. In an ideal situation, the text and the art compliment one another flawlessly, making it so that the reader finds it impossible to imagine any other pairing for that particular book. If I had been Penny Pollock, I would have been initially overjoyed to learn that Ed Young had been selected to illustrate my work. After all, Mr. Young is a winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. His books include the beyond beautiful "Lon Po Po" as well as the technically adept and gorgeous "Seven Blind Mice". Which makes it all the more painful that Ed essentially slept through the making of "The Turkey Girl". While the book has a rather interesting and remarkable story, Young's illustrations look slapdash and amateurish. This is a book that has been ruined by its pictures. Worse still, it's been ruined by a formerly very talent artist.

This Zuni tale is a kind of Cinderella story with a dour ending. It tells the simple tale of a girl who lived in her village and was very poor. Her only means of sustenance came from tending the turkeys of the rich, thereby earning her the moniker, Turkey Girl. One day the Turkey Girl overhears that there is to be a fabulous harvest dance that everyone may attend. The Turkey Girl understands that she hasn't the clothes or appearance for such an event, so she contents herself by telling her woes to her only friends, the turkeys. To her amazement, however, the turkeys respond by talking to her. Not the dumb birds we have taken them for, the turkeys present their mistress with a beautiful dress and jewelry for the dance. They insist, however, that she return to them that night before the sun sets. If she does not, they will fly far away and never return. The Turkey Girl promises and goes off to join the dance. She's a hit, but as the afternoon turns to evening she keeps putting off her return to the turkeys. Finally she tears herself away, only to find that they've all gone and that her dress has been returned to rags. As Pollack says in her Author's Note, this book (like some other Native American versions) ends with, "the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price".

Though it's a little depressing in the end, I liked what this tale had to say. The author has an excellent voice, and the scenes are beautifully presented through her narration. Then we get to the pictures. At first, I was captivated by Young's style. Using pastel and oil crayon, Young works with colors that are native to the American Southwest (where this tale takes place). Though a little fuzzy at first, I was more than willing to give Young the benefit of the doubt. The fuzzy image of the Turkey Girl leading her charges out of the pueblo village looks as if we are viewing the scene through the wavy lines of heat you get on especially bright sunny days. But as the book continued I realized that this style of drawing, while lovely, was completely misplaced here. Though the action in the text becomes interesting and intense, the illustrations are static and without any detail at all. In the section where the Turkey Girl goes to a spring and hears the other girls gossip (soon followed by the announcement of the dance), the picture shows a fuzzy white image of a girl perched on top of (why?) a pueblo as similarly fuzzy images walk away with pots of water on their heads. The scene where the Turkey Girl receives a beautifully described dress of, "white doeskin...belted with red-and-yellow cloth", is accompanied by a shot of two or three somewhat grotesque turkeys taking up 1.25 pages. Worst of all is the dance. The closest we get to seeing ANYTHING at all is a washed out watery shot of eight or so legs that are, for all intents and purposes, not moving. How hard would it have been for Young to infuse a little life into these pictures? Or even, heaven forbid, a little detail. The illustrator seems to be under the impression that to show any intricacies would be to betray the story itself. If so, allow me to assure you Mr. Young that we would have been GLAD to read a book where in the event that a character does something...you see it! Instead, a section that says that, "The Turkey Girl danced every dance, her heart beating in time with her stomping feet", is accompanied by a lazy-hazy view of slightly turkey-shaped clouds against a peach background. If I have no patience for this, then I can guarantee that a five year old being read this story is definitely not going to have any patience with it either.

Which is a real pity. Though Pollock's tale is a bit dark and sad at the end (not only is the Turkey Girl tawdry once more but she's also out of a job) it could easily have worked beautifully with some well placed illustrations. I just can't understand how Ed Young screwed this up. Maybe he was really busy the month he was supposed to be drawing this. Perhaps it didn't pique his interest. Whatever the reason, this book looks like nothing so much as some rudimentary studies of Zuni color schemes hastily scrawled onto a series of pages. If you'd like an adept and haunting Native American picture book fable, allow me to recommend, Rafe Martin's "The Rough-Face Girl". An Algonquin (rather than Zuni) Cinderella tale, that book has the life and energy that this book lacks. All I can say is that I feel very badly for Penny Pollock. I hope that in the future she's given an illustrator that spends a little more time and energy on the final product. For as much as I admire Ed Young, I cannot understand how he allowed himself to produce such a drab creation. I guess it just happens to the best of us sometimes. Maybe.

Not authentic!
Many professional and lay people have given this a positive review, but my study of the book reveals it strays significantly from the way the Zuni people tell this story. While it may be poetic and well written to an uninformed eye, it fails miserably to convey the values and concepts within Zuni culture. As such, it cannot be used in a unit that teaches children about Zuni people.

A Cinderella with substance
This wonderfully evocative retelling of the Cinderella tale has a very different spin, giving the reader much more to think about than the more familiar version. It will make you reflect on your own integrity and will leave you with a clearer understanding of just how much your actions influence your future. Very powerful.

An excellent American Native version of the Cinderella story
Turkey Girl is one of the finest versions of the Cinderella Story to use in your fairy tale and Native American curriculumns. I use Turkey Girl when reading in school classrooms and in my public library, and the children love to hear a story where there are consequences to one's actions. Too many fairy tales rely on the "happy ever after" ending, when everyone knows that if you break a promise, there are consequences to it. This book leads to lots of good discussion about promises and consequences and can be used with children from first through fourth grade. Penny Pollock writes beautifully as always.

Exquisite Native American tale of Cinderella.
A classic. Beautifully illustrated and a moving story. The book is culturally accurate and well researched. It is an exquisitely retold Cinderella's tale in a Native American setting ... Read more

Book Description

Brer Rabbit is one of the craftiest characters you will ever meet. Locked in an eternal game of catch-me-if-you-can with Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit thinks up the most outrageous tricks to outsmart him time and time again. And when he's not scheming against hungry Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit is busy trying to outwit Brer Weasel, Brer Terrapin, Brer Bear, and all of his other friends just for the fun of it. African-American storyteller Karima Amin's lively retelling of ten classic Brer Rabbit tales is based on the stories that she heard as a child. "I was a little girl when I first met Brer Rabbit," she recalls. "My mother brought him into our house and into my life. Many years later, I learned that Brer Rabbit was a hero-trickster character created by my foreparents, enslaved Africans," Amin uses her storyteller's art to recreate the oral tradition that kept these powerful stories alive on the plantations of the Old South. Eric Copeland's illustrations match the humor and mischief of the text, while photographs invite readers to explore the stories' settings, their African roots, and the life of their collector, Joel Chandler Harris. Great fun to read aloud, these are stories to be shared and treasured by all. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Brer Rabbit, Every Child's Pal
I give The Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Friends to every new baby I know! As a parent, grandparent, early childhood educator and school board member, I am thrilled to find a book that meets my criteria for excellence. Karima Amin has skillfully combined the richness of the vernacular language with current concepts and expressions familiar to today's child. The colorful, active illustrations also draw us into the wonderful world of pranks, surprises, and fun. Sections on the African storytelling tradition, the Southern plantation world of Brer Rabbit, and the animals native to Southern USA deepen our learning and appreciation of the treasured tales we have in this lovely book. Brer Rabbit and Friends is perfect for lap reading, group reading, dramatization and learning to be a storyteller. Karima Amin's Brer Rabbit is truly every child's pal!

Great Book for Kids
This is a very good book that my son loves to read over and over again at night:) It not only is entertaining for children, but it teaches them a lesson.

A Magic Spring Tonic
November is a chilly, leafless month where I live in Western New York. However I just finished re-reading The Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Friends as retold by performing storyteller Karima Amin, and it was like drinking a magic spring tonic. Instantly, I found myself transported to the warm, sun-drenched, dreamy world of Brer Rabbit and his myriad animal neighbors. The text of each story wraps and winds its way around the lush color illustrations by Eric Copeland, with a sprinkling of big, bold, bouncy exclamations of "Bookity-Bookity", "Splishy-splushy", and "Lippity-clippety" jumping out to grab your attention at just the right moment. The stories have a universal appeal because they reflect the "life lessons" we all struggle to learn when growing up - to pay attention, to get along with your neighbors, to use your natural abilities, to take time to laugh. Of course, these stories didn't appear out of thin air and the book includes insightful background on the historical context of these classic African American tales and their even-earlier African origins. The only way the publishers could have improved upon this well-done project would have been to offer a cassette or cd/book read-along package. That would have allowed readers the pleasure of following along as Karima Amin brings to life these charming oral tradition folk tales.

Brer Rabbit - An Exposure to the Legacy of African America
As the parent of an African-American child, it is very important that I expose my daughter to the richness of her legacy - Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Friends has assisted in this exposure. Karima Amin has compiled a vast variety of interesting, comical, and spirited stories that were once shared among my ancestors - my appreciation cannot be expressed. I read the collection to my daughter practically every night (per her request - she's two) and there is no book that makes me feel quite this proud. The stories are in the tradition of oral storytelling - teaching as well as entertaining. If you are interested in a book that performs these duties and keeps your children asking for more, then Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Friends is the book for you. The book is complete with the history of Brer Rabbit (an excellent, added feature) and is guaranteed to remain in your hands once your child has left your lap. Please - share these beautiful words with your children!

It's a very funny and interesting.
My name is Edward Welch, I read the book about Brer Rabbit and Friends while I was sitting in a speical place. It made me laugh because Brer Rabbit was always trying to fool people. He always played jokes on people, but he got caught.

I learn a lesson to always be careful because you can get into alot of trouble by fooling others. We should always helping and share with others.

I want to know if you are going to write another book soon?
I am sharing my book with my friends. They like it very much. One of my friends mother said she is going to get it for a present.

Please keep writing books.

Edward ... Read more

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

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

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 version is very different from other versions I'm familiar with (such as Ezra Jack Keat's), but I love it.

Pinkney, who has teamed up with Lester on other books (my favorite is "Sam and the Tigers"), provides beautiful illustrations to accompany the text.

So-so
My 5 year old was only half interested in this book. I think the story was a bit long, and the wording did not flow well. The drawings were nice, but I think they appealed to me more than my son. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (17)

A delightful trickster story.
This children's book is a retelling of an African-American folktale about a lazy bear and an industrious rabbit, a trickster, who grows different crops on the bear's land. Sometimes the bear wants the top of the crops while the hare takes the bottoms. Other times the bear demands the bottoms. Each time, the hare grows a crop which makes him the "winner" in the deal. The book was a 1996 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

A new classic - well worth buying!!
It seems Mr. Rabbit is in a bit of a fix. After losing that race to Turtle, he's in a bit of a financial jam. So, he goes to Bear and makes a deal.

The Rabbit family will plant and harvest the crops on Bear's land. Rabbit will split the crops with Bear 50/50. All Bear has to do is decide which half - tops or bottoms - he wants.

Unfortunately, whether the crop is potatoes, lettuce, corn, or radishes, Bear keeps picking the "wrong half".

This is a hillarious story that kids of all ages will appreciate. For visual interest, the book is designed to flip from top to bottom (as opposed from left to right).

Janet Stevens' artwork alone is worth the cost of the book!

Enjoy!

Heads and tails
When I first picked up the charming, "Tops and Bottoms" picture book by Janet Stevens, I was initially certain that this was a kind of Brer Rabbit tale. It had all the markings of it. Animals in clothing tricking one another out of food of one sort or another. The hero was a hare and the villain a bear. But on reading this book I was in for a shock. A staple of the Brer Rabbit tales is the idea that sometimes luck and laziness go hand in hand. Brer Rabbit is forever tricking the other animals into doing his work for him rather than the other way around. But in "Tops and Bottoms" we have a very familiar message to contend with. Hard work pays off.

The book is drawn in a rather original format. Rather than holding the book with the spine horizontal, instead this tale can only be read with the spine completely vertical. Pictures are long here, rather than wide, and the result is an eclectic new way of telling a tale. It's enormously effective. In this story, a lazy bear owns most of the land. One day, Hare decides its time to buy some of his own land back. He strikes up a deal with the prematurely hibernating neighbor and the two become business partners. If Hare does all the work, Bear can chose the part of the crop he prefers. Either the tops or the bottoms. It soon becomes clear that Bear is no match for the sly hare. After all, when Bear chooses the tops, Hare plants carrots. When Bear understands his mistake he chooses bottoms and Hare plants lettuce and celery. And when Bear demands both the tops AND the bottoms, Hare plants corn and gets the middle. In the end, Bear learns the benefits of hard work (and staying on top of things) and Hare has enough money from the crops to own his own land again.

A word of caution: If you're using this book with the intention of utilizing it to teach youngsters about farming cycles, cease and desist. In the course of this tale, Hare harvests his crops three times over the summer months. His youngsters also weed the garden of unusually hardy dandelions each and every time Bear instructs Hare to plant again. Still, as complaints go this one's fairly petty. The story is funny and well written. Hare has a wonderful way of roping Bear into the deal, coming off with phrases like, "Yes, sir, Bear, we're in this together. I'll work and you sleep". Better still are the illustrations. From Bear's permanently loose tie and oversized shoes to Hare's gaudy carrot covered Hawaiian shirt, the characters here are alive and kicking. Stevens also has a great talent drawing vegetables. I've rarely seen the stems of radishes as wonderfully rendered as they are in this book. And best of all, Hare is aided and abetted by his hard working kin. Baby rabbits fill the pages, usually hiding over, under, above, and through every vegetable in the book. My favorite moment was the scene in which Hare presents the tops AND bottoms of the corn. There, in the lower left hand corner stands Mrs. Hare, studiously removing the roots of the plant to place in the "bottoms" pile.

In effect, Janet Stevens has taken the essence of the Brer Rabbit tales and switched the message about 180 degrees. And you know what? It doesn't matter. Because Hare still gets the best of Bear and the story is a well-told romp. Add in the gorgeous pictures and the amazing format and you've got yourself a bonafide hit. As great read aloud books go, this is definitely one of the best. A highly recommended story time favorite.

Wonderful!
I enjoyed reading this and looking at the pictures as much as a child. To me, that's a real hit when you have both the child and adult looking forward to the reading.

What a shrewd bunny!
The characters are amazing... and amazingly easy to impersonate.
My children love when I give each of the main characters (bear and rabbit) a different voice. The story is really about entrepreneurship, but the little ones only need to know the difference between a root vegetable and a leaf vegetable. Anyway, my kids cannot look at a corn field now without saying "Tops or Bottoms"? And that to me is the best compliment given to a book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful
I was fortunate to hear the author speak in the early 90s in my hometown of Syracuse, NY. He is an engaging storyteller. It was then that I discovered his book. The artwork in this edition is rich and appealing. The vignettes of each moon, combined with the illustrations, make an appealing canvas for young and/or exploring minds.

Traditional View of Seasonal meanings
This book is an excellent work of Native American children's literature. Joseph Bruchac is a well-known Abenaki story-teller who profiles in this book the thirteen moons of the year, and profiles for each moon what is important about that season to different Native Nations. The artwork is a beautiful compliment to the story. If you are looking for a solid and sensitive look at inter-tribal stories for children, this is a great place to start! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

A huge dissapointment for furry fans
This fable seems like a furry lover's dream - beautiful illustrations depicting two anthropomorphic tribesmen and their adventures in coming of age. However, when you read the text, it hits you: these characters are not furries at all. They are MEN with the names of animals. The story isn't bad, it's well written and inspirational, and the illustrations are worth a purchase for those interested in furry art. However, if you're interested in a good furry story, as opposed to a good story about men, look elsewhere as you won't get one, despite the illustrations. A major letdown for fans of the talking animal genre.

A Story to Share Again and Again
I have given more copies of Crow and Weasel away than any other book in recent years. It is the most beautiful portrait of male friendship available in any genre for children or adults. I most often give copies to young men facing some important transition in their own lives...graduation from high school or college when they too will be asked to go beyond what is familiar, and in doing so, will learn more about themselves. This is a story to share with those you love again and again. As Lopez says, "If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed..." This is just such a story.

Lessons learned from a weasel...
...and a crow, and many other insightful characters within "Crow and Weasel" have stayed with me since I first read it almost 10 years ago. The story itself is vibrant, almost to the point of actual narrative. Beautiful landscapes and dialogue throughout lend themselves to the imagination; I feel very much a part of what I'm reading-a true escape. And I like that it teaches me by surprise. Everytime I finish this book, I find that my joy in diversity, my desire to be kind, and my reverence for the natural world have grown. Tom Pohrt's illustrations are each works of art, and complement the story perfectly. I wish they were available as prints. Share this book with the young, and then go share it with everybody else.

Excellent book teaching social skills and diversity
This is a good book that can be read to or by children ages 7-15. This book could be read in 2-3 hours and has natural breaks that allows you to return to the book a number of different times. The story is interesting and keeps the listeners or readers attention. I teach special education for behavior disorder students and this book is useful in teaching a variety of different social skills. I also have to sons that have enjoyed the story line and the messages that the story contains. The illustrations are colorful and add life to the books content. I highly recommend this book for any youth library. ... Read more

Book Description

Raven, the Native American trickster, feels sorry for those who must live in darkness, and he decides to help. He flies over mountains, valleys, and lakes and discovers that light is being kept hidden inside the house of the Sky Chief. Using his cleverness, Raven finds a way to bring light to the world. “The physical environment, oral literature, and traditional life of the Pacific Coast Indians come alive in this amusing and well-conceived picture book.”--School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (7)

How Raven brought the people of the world the gift of light
One of the recurring figures of myths and legends from around the world is the trickster, known as Zemo the Rabbit in West Africa, Jabuti the Tortoise in the Amazon, and Raven in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, from the coast of the Pacific Northwest to as far north as Alaska it is Raven who is the central character in many Native American myths and tales as a trickster of a cosmic scale, who might be a mischief-maker but who is also a cultural hero. Both brave and cunning, Raven is a shape-shifter who has magical powers. Sometimes he causes havoc with his mischief, but other times he gives his people gifts like that of fire.

In this Caldecott Honor Book "Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest," Gerald McDermott retells a story that is told in various versions among all the tribes of the area. When he sees that the world was in darkness and the people lived in the dark and the cold Raven wants to give them the gift of light, but that means he has to find out where the Sky Chief keeps that particular treasure. So he goes to the house of the Sky Chief and, seeing the Sky Chief's daughter, Raven changes into a pine needle that falls into the water so that when she takes a drink she swallows the pine needle. Then the girl gives birth to the Raven as a boy child.

Young readers will enjoy the great length to which Raven goes to bring the people of the world the gift of light as well as the way McDermott contrasts the sharp colors of Raven with the pastels of the world in which he lives and plays his tricks. McDermott has written and illustrated many books on myth, such as the Pueblo myth of the "Arrow to the Sun," and the African tale of "Anansi the Spider." Other books in this series tell other tales of the trickster from around the world, giving young readers and teachers alike ample evidence that this is indeed a universal figure. However, children should be warned that as they find other stories of Raven that he is not always as generous as he is in this particular tale.

glorious, sumptuous and respectful
I get antsy when Native American themes and stories appear in children's books. Too often they reek of cultural misappropriation.

But this beautiful book--gorgeous watercolor backgrounds to the Northwest Native American-style imagery--feels respectful, and does a great telling of a favorite Tlingit Haida tale of how light came into the world.

The illustration of the morphing of the Sky Chief's spoiled grandson back into Raven is particularly effective.And when Raven fills the sky with the sun in his beak, it's very easy to buy into this story as a valid creation myth.

I've now bought three copies of this book for various pre-schoolers I know, and all my grown-up friensd who've seen this book have fallen in love with it, too. This is a definite winner, bound to become as classic in its own way as Robert McCloskey's ``Blueberries for Sal.''

They ask to listen to it again and again!
The children in my Pre-K class cannot get enough of this book. The magic of the illustrations and the text has them mesmerized. Many times, when we have finished reading the story, they want to here it again!

Beautiful Illustrations
This is a wonderful book! My daughter and I really enjoyed the way that this tale was re-told and the illustrations were beautiful!

The tale of the Raven and the Sun.
This book for children is based on the myth of the mischievious Raven from the Indians of the Pacific Northwest and how the Raven discovered the Sun and placed it in the sky. The book was a 1994 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a children's book. Every child I've come across has enjoyed this story and loved the illustrations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Two sisters lived down Louisiana way long ago: Rose, who was unpleasant, mean, and the older of the two; and her younger sister, Blanche, who was "sweet and kind and sharp as forty crickets." Guess who has to do all the work for Rose and their mother? Blanche's kind and obedient nature finally pays off when she helps an old woman who has magical powers--and a chicken house full of talking eggs containing treasures for those who do as they're told: gold and silver, jewels, silk dresses, satin shoes, "even a handsome carriage that grew in a wink from the size of a matchbox...." Robert D. San Souci's lively, humorous retelling of this Creole folktale abounds with colorful expressions, and Jerry Pinkney's full-page illustrations make us believe in the marvels that Blanche finds, even the two-headed cow, square-dancing rabbits, and rainbow-colored chickens! This inspired collaboration, a 1989 Caldecott Honor Book, will delight young readers who like a captivating story with a strong heroine and a dash of mystery. (Ages 5 to 10) --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great Story!
The Talking Eggs was a great story!The way the author put the story together was wonderful.Blanche had a mean mother and sister.Poor Blanche had to do all the work. But then she got what she deserved when she met an old woman on the road. I would say that this story was great. I would recommend the book to ages 6 and up.

An Imaginative, Heart-Warming Variation on Cinderella
This book received a Caldecott Honor as one of the best illustrated children's books in 1990. The rich, subtle watercolors expand the reader's appreciation of the story, and help keep some of its stronger elements in balance for younger children. The story itself is a cross between several favorite fairy tales, most significantly Cinderella, and represents a retelling of a Creole story from the American South.

A widow has two daughters, and lives with them on a poor farm that "looked like the tail end of bad luck." Rose, who was like her mother, was "cross and mean and didn't know beans from birds' eggs." Her sister, Blanche, was "sweet and kind and sharp as forty crickets."

Unfortunately, their mother liked Rose best because they were so similar, being "bad-tempered, sharp-tongued, and always putting on airs." While the two of them chatted, Blanche did the work.

One day, Blanche was getting water and ran into an older woman who asked for a drink. Blanche helped her. As a result, Blanche was late returning and received much ill-treatment from her mother and sister. Running off, Blanche saw the old woman again, who asked Blanche to join her. She warned Blanche not to laugh and to do as she was told. Soon, they are in a magical place where all kinds of strange things happen. But there is plenty to eat and drink. At the end, Blanche is told to bring back certain talking eggs and throw them over her shoulder. When she does, a nice set of surprises occurs.

Immediately jealous, her mother sends Rose to the old woman to get similar help. But Rose cannot follow directions, and the magic either doesn't work for her or causes her problems.

In each case, justice is done.

The story is told in an imaginative way that makes the reader want to know what will happen next. Unlike many fairy tales where you can pretty much outline the rest of the plot near the beginning, this one has some interesting, unexpected twists.

The writing is witty, and makes good use of the story's inherent charm in praising goodness of character.

If you have a sensitive child, this may not be the right book for you to acquire. The treatment of Blanche can upset some children. The magic involves creatures having two heads, and the old woman being able to take her head on and off again. In one scene, Rose takes the woman's head as a ploy to get some talking eggs, too. You can see how this might be a bit much for a sensitive four year old. Children who are able to suspend their sense of reality will probably have no problems with the story.

I enjoyed the watercolors very much. They provided a richness in their exquisite detail that made me feel good just holding the book. Also, it made the book seem more sophisticated than the typical treatment of fairy and folk tales.

The book deals with many realistic problems that occur in families, like having only one parent, not having enough money, having one child be favored over another, having one child be treated poorly, and children looking for sympathy from nonfamily members. This will provide many opportunities to discuss these issues, and find out what your child thinks.

I also suggest that you talk about whether or not Blanche should have gone off with the old woman. The book seems to suggest that looking for help from strangers is a good idea. That's not an idea that I wanted my children to have, so you will probably want to clarify your feelings on this subject as you read the book.

May all be loved, and treated fairly!

The Cajun folktale of Blanche and the Talking Eggs
I suppose "The Talking Eggs" is a variation of sorts on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella, although there are a couple of significant differences. One such difference would be that in this story retold by Robert D. San Souci there is neither a prince nor a grand ball, so there is no notion of romance involved. But the most interesting difference is that there is no wicked stepmother. In fact, the story is about a widow and her two daughters. Blanche is "sweet and kind and sharp as forty crickets" while Rose was "cross and mean and didn't know beans from birds' eggs." The mother makes Blanche do all the work because she likes Rose best; they are, all, just like too peas in a pod in that they are bad-tempered, sharp-tongued, and always putting on airs.

What changes this unhappy state of affairs is that on a hot day Blanche is sent to the well to fetch a bucket of cool water. But at the well she meets an old woman nearly fainting from the heat and the kindly Blanche gives her a drink of water. The old woman says she will be blessed by God for her kind deed, but when she returns home she is yelled at for taking so long that the water is now warm. So Blanche runs away into the woods and finds the kindly old woman who takes her home so that the child can have a supper and a clean bed. However, the old woman makes Blanche promise that she will not laugh at anything she sees.

This become important the first thing she sees at the old woman's tumbledown shack is a cow with two heads and horns like corkscrews. There are even stranger sights to be seen that evening and the next morning the old woman gives Blanche a present by telling her what to do with the talking eggs that are to be found in the chicken house. Actually, it is not the eggs that are present but what is in the right ones if you throw them over your shoulder. However, Blanche getting treasures is only half of the payoff for this story, because her mother and sister have to get their comeuppance as well, which, in the grand scheme of things, is even more satisfying.

The full title of this book is "The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South," but the story is specifically adapted from a Creole folktale originally included in a collection of Louisiana stories published late in the 19th century. San Sourci explains that the story probably had its roots in popular European fairy tales that were brought to Cajun country by French émigrés and that eventually the story was spread throughout the South in different variations with Cajun or Gullah overtones.

The wonderful watercolor illustrations for this Caldecott Honor Book are by Jerry Pinkney, who brings a delightful sense of imagination and detail. My favorite is the double-page spread when the rabbits come out of the underbrush all dressed up and start dancing. There are some rather frightening aspects to this story (the old woman takes her head off so she can fix her hair) but Pinkney avoids showing such things directly, so that the story retains its sense of the fantastical. Young readers will appreciate not only the sense of imagination in both the telling and the illustrating of this tale, but the fact that in the end Blanche gets to live happily ever after while those who mistreated her end up sore, stung, and covered with mud.

Beautifully