Fables and Fairy Tales Books

I thought I was the only person whose tongue got suck to a frozen popsicle. I read "The Boy Who Stuck Out His Tongue" and laughed aloud at the funny predicament. I also read it to my younger sister and she found it amusing, too. I hope Ms. Tarbescu writes more funny bks. I also loved "Bring Back My Gebil," and read that to my sister, too. If you want to laugh, order this book.

This is yet another tale told in this writer's delightful style. I highly recommend this and all of her books. The reviewer from the American Library Association seems disappointed that the boy learns his lesson. Come on now!!! Helping adults and children learn from our mistakes is why folktales and fables have lasted for centuries. A lot of new stories do well to last a decade. This rendition should be around for quite some time. She gives the ending just the right touch in my opinion. I work in the public schools and I'm greatly concerned about the need to help children to learn civilized behavior. Children can learn from it but there is nothing preachy about it at all. It's like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

In The Boy Who Stuck Out His Tongue, Edith Tarbescu retells an old Yiddish folk tale about the son of a widow. When his mother asks him to light the fire He just sticks his tongue out at here. he would rather make snowballs than help with chores. But then sticking his tongue out gets him into a problematic situation. When this happens, all the folk of his little Hungarian village rally to his aid -- and our young man learns an invaluable lesson. Judith Mills' colorful artwork is a perfect enhancement to Edith Tarbescu's engaging and entertaining story that will have young readers gleefully turning the pages, one after another!

This book is very entertaining to read and the folk tale could be for all ages "at heart." The tale is very well written with enchanting illustrations. I highly recommend it.

The son of the peddler's widow is a lazy and unhelpful boy. When his mother calls him in from playing in the snow to help her light a fire in the stove, he sticks out his tongue and runs away from her. As she chases him, he trips and falls in the deep snow and his tongue sticks to a cold iron fence. The poor boy is stuck and his mother doesn't know how to set him free. She runs into the village and enlists the help of first the cobbler, then the butcher, the baker and even the cook. As a crowd grows, no one in the village can figure out a way to free her son. The boy, stuck to the fence begins to feel a little guilty and starts to cry. All these good townspeople care about what happens to him and all he has ever done is refuse to help them when they've asked. Soon a traveling blacksmith comes along and solves the problem and the boy is free, promising to be helpful whenever the villagers need him..... Edith Tarbescu has written an amusing folk tale that will delight and charm youngsters with it's silly humor and subtle wisdom. Judith Christine Mills beautiful, expressive and detailed artwork adds just the right touch and compliments the story perfectly. Together they have produced a warm and wonderful story your kids will want to read again and again. Perfect for children 3-8, The Boy Who Stuck Out His Tongue is a great addition to all home libraries.

Time after time, my 7 year old goes back to this book. It features the Olsen twins, pre-anorexia when they were young and inocent, dressed as various Disney princesses. Each story is lovingly told (Cinderella etc.). There are also craft projects included you can do themed to each story; I don't recommend them unless you have a LOT of time on your hands.

ITS 6 STORIES IN TOTAL. MK AND ASH. ADD FUN TO DO ACTIVITIES AFTER EACH STORY

Once upon a time there were a pair of twins in a storybook called Once Upon a Time with Mary-Kate and Ashley. The book is cute. It has six different Disney stories like Aladddin and Beauty and the Beast. Before each story they tell you what they think of it. After each story they give you instructions to build a product that goes with the story that you just read.

I'm a dutch girl, so sorry for my english, i can read it but don't speak it!!! i think this book is great!!! i am a big mary-kate and Ashley olsen fan, and i like Disney alot to!! if you have children that like disney and the twins, this book is a must!!

This book is really cute and has six of Mary-Kate and Ashleys favorite Disney stories. Stories like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Snow White and the Seven Dworfs, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. In each story they tell you little things and before each story they tell you why it is their favorite and their thoughts about the story. After each cute story they give you a project to make something that is based on the story you just read. It even has pictures of them and of the stories you read. Before each story they dress up like the main character. Over all the book has more than one story in it and is really cute and good for little kids.

I love all the fairy books by Andrew Lang (red, orange, olive, crimson, grey, yellow, blue,etc). They are well written, exciting, and captivating. If you like fairy tales at all you must try one of his books.

This is just another of Andrew Lang's fairy books. It is a perfect book if you want to read to your child, or if you just like to read fairy tales. The book contains 59 black and white illustrations, and 35 short stories, ranging in length from a couple pages to about 20. The fairy tales include: The Impossible Enchantment, The Story of Dschemil and Dschemila, The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles, The White Wolf, Bobino, The Sunchild, The Unlooked-for Prince, annetella, Prunella, and many more.
I loved it

Andrew Lang could be decisevly one of the forefathers of fairytales for his many renditions of the fairytales we all love so much. His books have kept many fairytales in popular culture today, for instance the tale of Donkeyskin. Donkeyskin, in its hayday, was a tale that as many fairytales do, undermined and inforced ideologies of it's days. It spoke out against arranged marriages and demonstrated the cruelty and moral incorrectness of incestuous affairs. These ideals were new to the day, and hence such ideas as one might have noticed are still held by many people most likely due to this books influence. Yet, the concepts of a womans role and how a woman should be subservient was reinforced by the tale, but it would seem the story's life force has still been held by Lang. In short this colage of fairy tales is one of great importance and one that should be on everyones books shelves

Amazon's rating of the "Reading level: Baby-Preschool" is not correct.

Young people should be exposed to the beauty of good stories and art because it helps them to appreciate the finer thing. This series is a perfect tool to do this.

"The Grey Fairy Book" is a marvelous collection of tales from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Islamic countries. Once again we get to visit, the horrible, fantastic world of the fairy tale, complete with amazing drawings. These are the *unknown* tales that Disney ignores, but are beautiful in their own right. This is a must have for any collector or anyone who still needs their fairy tales. Who can outgrow these things?

This story of love between a boy and a blind Canada goose is a beautiful one and sadly, a connection that society is destroying with lies. We need to seek to connect with animals again because our lives depend on it; this world needs love, not hatred, not war. I highly recommend this book for all ages!

As an elementary school librarian, I had the pleasure ofintroducing this treasure to many classes the last few years. All ofthe above reviews are valid for me. While discussing how unique each person is, I always get asked about Stephanie. I promised the students I would go to Lake Merrit and look for her, see if she truly exists and if so, if she's still there. Yesterday (5/22/00) was the magic day. She and Ms. Polocco have been close friends for years, and it was right that the author write about the warmth of Stephanie's character. I could not have been welcomed more graciously, and Stephanie, on her own time, will be meeting with the students at my school. I also learned that the other main character, Fondo, is connected with Ms. Polacco's nephew to whom the book is dedicated. If you can take only one fiction (?) book with you on a desert island, each time you reread this, you will have new joy in your heart.

This is a beautiful book, very moving and life-affirming. I would recommend this to anyone; young or old. The illustrations are very charming and heart-felt as is the story. This is what a children's book should be: timeless, personal yet universal in its themes of love, hope
and kindness. This is a book for all the dreamers in the world, and those
for whom compassion and gentleness is a way of life.

I use this book in my classroom where I work with kids who have ADHD and other learning diabilities. I first discovered this book while searching for another by the same author. My daughter and I sat in the floor and read it. She is a child who has never felt like she fits in. She said that Fondo was like her. When Fondo miraculously finds his place in life I told her that all of us have a place in this world, it just takes some of us longer to find it. The other day I read this book to my class, sharing the same message with them. I noticed a girl crying afterwards. She raised her hand and said, "This book tells me that there is hope for me. I can belong somewhere." Now, there is no way that the kids in my class see her as they did before. They have reached out to her. This book has an important message for us all.

This book is a great book for starting discussions in literature circles. It pairs nicely with other picture books like Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting and Way Home by Libby Hathorn (unfortunately out of print). Paula Fox's chapter book "Monkey Island" also connects nicely.

This book is fabulous. I grew up watching these stories come to like on the Jim Henson Hour, and I love having these stories at my finger tips. The stories are very intersting and original. The art work in the book is also fabulous!! They match the television portrail of story exactly. I am so glad that I am able to read and share these stories with my friends and family!

The television series was one of the best things ever to be shown on TV, but it's more than worthwhile to pick up this book just to be able to focus on Anthony Minghella's (yep, he of "The English Patient") way with words. Minghella doesn't just write good narration, he writes good, old-fashioned *story-telling* Like, say, Kipling's "Just-So Stories," Minghella's "The Storyteller" captures the language of the very best tale tellers.

Many years ago my family sat around the television, wide eyed and filled with magic; we were watching the Jim Henson Storyteller series. We waited and waited for it to reappear one day- to no avail. But FINALLY, a book! To be able to relive the "hugs and snoodles" of Hans My Hedghog, the stone soup tale of a "Story Short"- all of it beautifully, and creatively written, with illustrations to match- will take you back to your childhood. I find it hard to believe this has yet to be discovered. Don't miss the videos that are now out, at long last!

Perfection is the TV series that preceded this book. Of course, I must gloat and say that I knew all those many years ago that Anthony Minghella was the most exquisite writer I had ever heard/read. His words coupled with the genius of Jim Henson and company made for the best (no exaggeration) thing ever to be broadcast on television. To be able to read the words from these shows and have them readily available on your bookshelf is heaven. I've been recommending the TV series and this book for years. I still recommend it today.

Just so you know, all 9 episodes of The Storyteller are now out on a single DVD - something many of us have been waiting for for years. This book is, I think, the original screenplay of Jim Henson's Storyteller series because it follows *very* closely to the stories and dialogue seen on TV. The illustrations are also taken from the show and are very nice. The written word is different from television, however, and these stories take on a different light often in one versus the other, and there are some expansions here that didn't make the final editing cuts.

My kid and I love "The Storyteller" series, and this book is a pleasant addition for bedtime reading.

I started reading this book with my 10 year old and we could not put it down. Every chapter revealed something new and exciting. While magical things happen in this book there is an foundation of scientific thought behind them and that appealed to me.

After we finished the book, we went back through it to find all of the other "appearances" of Justin in the book. It was like watching a movie over again to see the extra things missed the first time.

All of this makes me wonder what will be coming next from the author's creative mind. We've been to Egypt, Italy, Montana, and other places. What's next G.A. Mercer? Don't make us wait too long!

P.S. The only negative is that my son is driving me crazy playing "Orb of Time" all over the house!

by Kir Devon

Justin Flowers discovers that he is not like other kids in his thirteenth year of life. Everything changes when he discovers that he is a time traveler. Soon, Justin is visiting the ancient and more modern worlds with regularity. He is a Defender of History and must rescue The Orb of Time and keep it out of enemy hands.

As Justin rides through the time stream and takes advice from major and minor historical figures, he knows he must stay one step ahead of the sinister Raveler. Soon, Justin begins to acclimate to the changes and learns some important lessons about himself.

Justin Flowers and the Orb of Time is an intriguing blend of middle reader science fiction and fantasy. This is certain to appeal to Harry Potter fans. Justin's adjustments seemed glossed over, but did not truly prevent me from enjoying this book.

Justin Flowers and the Orb of Time is captivating to all audiences. Not only did my 9 year old son enjoyed it-so have I and my co-workers. Justin Flowers entertains us through adventure and history. I can't wait until the sequel!

Justin Flowers and the Orb of Time has become required reading at my children's school for the 2004-2004 school year. I, of course, wanted to read this book before my children do. This book will become as welcomed addition to our home library.
The author, G.A. Mercer, does an excellent job of sparking the reader's imagination. The book takes you from the plains of Montana to ancient Italy and ancient Egypt. Justin Flowers, the thirteen year old, with the ability to time travel must defend history against the evil time traveler the Raveler. This book is another example of how good really does triumph over evil.
Justin Flowers and the Orb of Time is an excellent choice for readers both young and old alike. I would highly recommend this novel to everyone.

Teen Justin Flowers is his school's best sprinter and is confident he can win his event in the upcoming race. However, his youthful enthusiasm collapses when his best friend linebacker Erik Greiner suffers a broken leg needing surgery due to a series of misfortunate incidents starting with an errant pass from Justin. However, his teen optimism and angst ends when in his locker Justin finds a strange stick that looks like a totem pole model that one can tote. Later at home he receives a letter claiming he is a Defender of History if he is willing to travel the time stream.

Justin begins a journey like no other as he communicates in Italian with Leonardo Da Vinci. With the great Renaissance Man's help, Justin translates the time pole's Egyptian letters into Italian and learns he needs to continue his trek to the Ancient Nile. There he must claim the Orb of Time before the evil Raveler obtains it. Leonardo warns Justin to watch himself especially since he thinks he saw a lad looking through the window at the pole.

JUSTIN FLOWERS AND THE ORB OF TIME targets the Harry Potter crowd with an exciting time travel tale of goodly innocence vs. selfish malevolence. The story line is fun to follow from the moment Justin begins to learn he has a few additional problems besides puberty. The trips back in time seem genuine though readers must accept that a Defender of History acclimates to any era with no major discomfit or anachronistic thoughts. Pre teen fans of fantasy tales will want to accompany Justin on his trek back in time.

Harriet Klausner

These are great international stories with good values. The shipping took forever (3 months?) but it was worth the wait for a unique book.

This is a family favorite. My children pick it up often, even if no one is reading to them and look through the pages. I like that some of the stories are old classics, but many are tales I've never read before. The variety is terrific.

We really love this book for bedtimes. It has a great multicultural focus and the stories are engaging and promote good lessons in character training. My kids love them and ask for them over and over again. Definately a keeper!

My daughter, age 6, loves this book. She is an avid reader, so she reads the stories on her own but loves them so much she begs me to read them to her as well. They are good, entertaining stories, and we like that the table of contents lists what country the stories originated. Also, the stories are pretty short so when your child begs for "one more story" before bed, you can actually say ok.

We checked this book out of the library & I just HAD to get one of my own. I am reading it with my 5-year-old son for the second time through now - we both adore it. It is especially written to be read aloud & you can tell. Charming stories from all over the world give us a glimpse into those cultures. We are buying them for ALL the nieces, nephews and cousins for Christmas this year!!

Set in a Swedish village long ago, Per and the Dala Horse is the charming tale of a young boy's quest to recover a golden chalice stolen by trolls. When an old farmer dies, he leaves all his worldly possessions to his three sons. The eldest inherits the farm. The middle son receives a fine riding horse. But Per, the youngest son, receives only a beautifully carved and painted wooden horse. The two elder brothers laugh at Per and his seemingly worthless wooden horse; but Per cherishes it, sure that it will one day prove useful. When the trolls steal the golden communion chalice from the village church, Per's two older brothers try unsuccessfully to rescue it. It is Per, with the help of his magnificent Dala horse, who is able to rescue the cherished stolen chalice. Yvonne Gilbert's stunning colored pencil illustrations are more vibrant than ever in this new edition of Per and the Dala Horse. Rebecca Hickox's spirited text makes this an enchanting picture book.

Illustrated by Yvonne Gilbert

This really is a must for anyone of Swedish heritage - especially for boys. The story is suitable for around 3-8 years. The illustrations are probably the most gorgeous I have ever seen in any child's book. The author has combined the best of many traditional Swedish stories. Consequently the book has a very evocative, almost primal feel. Anyone with Swedish blood will relate to this story in a very deep way. This is a magical book and it really should come back into print - publishers, why are you wasting time! Reprint this book!

My heritage is 100% Swedish. It is difficult for me to find books about Swedish culture in general, and close to impossible to find Swedish stories to which my seven-year old son can relate.

I believe each cultural has its own beauty and much to offer the world. I often encounter people assuming that because we speak English and are Lutheran, then our cultural heritage is the same as Britain's (we're are not Anglo-Saxons, the Church of England has nothing to do with Scandinavia, and our native tongue is Swedish) or since Swedish is a Germanic language, then our culture must be like the Germans'. Like every other society that has evolved on its own, the Swedes are proud of who they are and how they came to be.

I remember Dala horses all over my grandparents' homes and in my house growing up as well. I want very much for my son to enjoy the richness of where his family comes from, and why we still remain so close to our relatives in "the old country." This is simply a wonderful book that has aided in giving my son his own cultural identity.

I am very grateful that this book is so Swedish. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for new perspectives about the smaller European nations.

Set in a Swedish village long ago, Per and the Dala Horse is the tale of a young boy's quest to recover a golden chalice stolen by trolls. When an old farmer dies, he leaves all his worldly possessions to his three sons. The eldest inherits the farm. The middle son receives a fine riding horse. But Per, the youngest son, receives only a beautifully carved and painted wooden horse. When the trolls steal the golden communion chalice from the village church, Per, with the help of his magnificent Dala horse, is able to rescue the cherished stolen chalice. Yvonne Gilbert's stunning colored pencil illustrations are more vibrant than ever in this new edition of Per and the Dala Horse. Rebecca Hickox's spirited text makes this an enchanting picture book. Ages 4-9. Paperback.

This book so captured our imaginations that I had to purchase a little wooden Dala horse for our son. The artwork is beautiful, the story is culturally sensitive, the scenes are exciting and the language is rich. I've been reading this book to my son since he was two. He's four, now, and still loves it!

The story is touching and the illustrations are haunting. The ethos of the old man, to make something out of seemingly nothing, is a wonderful trait that many would be lucky to emulate. The language is poetic and the artwork striking. I would recommend this book to be part of any school library collection for its content, language, images and message.

I was drawn into this book the first time by the beautifully intricate illustrations. It has a dark, lonely feel to it, and reminds me somewhat of Maurice Sendak's work (especially the work of Dear Mili). On a second read, I enjoyed how the text is spare and achingly poetic. It's just a gorgeous, gorgeous book.

I used this book in a 3rd grade class as the last lesson in a rainforest unit and it worked wonderfully well. After reading the story, the students loved doing a picture walk of the beautiful illustrations and noticed many interesting things about them not obvious from the first perusal.

The Tin Forest is recommended for readers from 4-8, but this book, to me, is a wonderful book for all ages. The story teaches the lesson of hanging onto one's dream, of not letting it go, of nourishing it, tending to it, until it indeed sprouts leaves and blossoms into a life of its own. The old man constantly held onto his dream, and never gave up what he wanted to achieve. He had hope and that hope spurred him on. The forest he constantly dreamed of became a reality.

He lived in forgotten place, where he was surrounded by trash and objects that others once wanted, but no longer did. He tirelessly cleared away the trash, organized it, and dreamed at night of his forest with wild animals and lush flowers. One day, the idea came to him of making his own forest, if one was not going to spout up amidst all of the garbage. He made a forest of "things", a forest of tin, fashioned only after his own imagination and the books he devoured each night. He made trees, and flowers, and plants and the wild creatures that would inhabit his forest. Then one day, a visitor arrived in the form of a colorful bird, eating the crumbs the old man gave him, and singing his thanks back to the man. Sadly, the bird left the next morning, which left the old man very lonely.

Yet, the next day, the old man awoke to the melody of his visitor and his mate. They brought seeds to plant and decided to make their home here, in the tin forest. Soon, green shoots sprouted, flowers bloomed and various wild animals came to the forest to make their home. . . . "And in the house lived an old man who never stopped dreaming."

This book is just precious and the illustrations are just as wonderful and precious. I absolutely LOVED this book! A wonderful tale of teaching children that nothing is beyond their grasp.

"There was once a wide, windswept place . . . . but where there is a dream, hope can grow."

"There was once a wide, windswept place near nowhere and close to forgotten, that was filled with all the things that no one wanted. Right in the middle was a small house, with small windows, that looked out on other people's garbage and bad weather. In the house lived an old man..." The old man had a big dream. Every night when he went to bed, he dreamed he lived in a lush, wonderful forest, full of exotic plants, flowers, and trees, wild animals, and beautiful birds. But each morning when he woke up, nothing had changed. Then one day he noticed a broken light fixture, and realized how much it looked like a flower, and an idea began to bloom. Soon all the trash, garbage, and bent metal pieces began to take shape as the old man created his own "tin forest", just the way he remembered it in his mind. And then one day, a beautiful bird landed on one of his tin branches..... Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson have authored an engaging and whimsical story, with a gentle message, that won't be lost on young readers. Ms Ward's simple, lyrical, yet eloquent text is full of imagery and magic, and beautifully complemented by Mr Anderson's evocative and detailed artwork that blooms from dull sad grays to vibrant gold and warm, joyful colors. Together word and art will send little imaginations soaring as the old man's dream becomes real. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Tin Forest is a masterpiece to treasure and share, and a reminder that with imagination and hope, all your dreams can come true.

This is hilarious light reading with excellent illustrations.

The conversations we've had with our kids about how they become baby elephants, and vultures, in their manners and behaviour has been a treasure.

A delightful light allegory about growing up and parenting.

I buy this book for my grown kids who are expecting their first "zagazoos" so they'll get a glimpse of what it's gonna be like. Really great perspective from the parents and kids point of veiw.

My daughter loves this book(23 months)She doesn't understand the subtle and VERY amusing story line but the pictures and text have kept it in the favorite pile for many readings(sometimes 2x a night)It makes me laugh every time I read it.....

I love reading this book to my 2 year old because he thinks it is funny and interesting and I chuckle to myself about all the various stages of wild animal that we have yet to experience! It makes me sentimental for the times my husband and I had together before our Zagazoo came along! It is sweet. It is a great book that I will send to all the parents I know.

We took this book out of our local library, and I am now online to purchase 5 or more copies to have on hand to give to all my friends as they become parents. This book appealed to me particularly as a parent, because in a clever and amusing, albeit heartfelt way, it relates the feelings and thoughts a parent experiences as their child grows and develops.

I loved everything about it - the humor, the pathos, the simplicity of the storyline, and the colorful illustrations by Mr. Blake. My child really enjoys it - and he didn't mind my explaining the parts to him he didn't understand - or won't - until he, too, becomes a parent!!

In the vein of Shel Silverstein.

Just great.