Fables and Fairy Tales Books


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Fables and Fairy Tales Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Fables and Fairy Tales
The Book of Beasts
Published in Hardcover by Walker Books Ltd (2001-09-03)
Author: E. Nesbit
List price: $26.85
New price: $18.67
Used price: $11.99

Average review score:

Colorful Tale of Dragons and Hippogriffs and More!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-06
This large, colorful picture book is a faithful retelling of "The Book of Beasts," one of many stories originally found in "The Book of Dragons," written by E. Nesbit over one hundred years ago. In this story, a young boy named Lionel is, to his great surprise, crowned king after the death of his great-great-great-great-great grandfather. His grandfather was said by some to be a magician and sure enough, he finds in the royal library a book called "The Book of Beasts." He lets out of it some wonderful creatures, such as a butterfly "all red, and brown, and yellow, and blue," but then he ends up setting a dragon loose upon the kingdom. It's an upsetting start to his days as king, but eventually young Lionel vows to set things right.

The story is abridged (but done very well) and fully illustrated in ink, oil pastels and oils by Inga Moore. The illustrations are beautiful and fanciful, many covering entire pages and others woven into the text. Fantasy fans of all ages will enjoy this story and may be inspired to take a look at "The Book of Dragons," if they haven't already.

An instant favorite!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-06
My daughter (6) and I loved this story. Imaginative, beautiful illustrations. Told skillfully with charming style, wit and a refreshing sense of resoursefulness. This one is a keeper! =)

Very clever and, yes, enchanting!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-03
This is one of those special children's books that has captivated me, as well my son. The text is filled with funny remarks for parental appreciation. And it appeals to a child's imagination, portraying the child as probelm solver as well as trouble maker. The story resolves in a surprisingly clever way, dispelling all the trouble caused by the dragon. This is a witty enchanting fantasy!

100 YEARS LATER AND IT STILL ENCHANTS
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-21
This reissue of the classic tale by E. Nesbit originally published in 1900 is more than welcome, it's a joy. Abridged and illustrated by Inga Moore it will fascinate and entertain another generation of youngsters.

The Book Of Beasts revolves around Lionel, a young boy who learns that he is to be king. He is informed of this startling news by two elderly robed gentlemen wearing gold coronets "with velvet sticking up out of the middle like cream in jam tarts."

After being crowned he is delighted to find a wondrous library in the palace. Lionel is drawn to a large brown book that lay on a table; it was titled "The Book Of Beasts." When he opened it he saw a painting of a beautiful butterfly. Most amazing of all, the butterfly flew right off the page!

Even though the chancellor warned him not to look at the book, Lionel crept back to the library during the night and looked at the book once more, and he looked again the next day when, horrors, he came upon a page marked "Dragon," and the most fearsome beast was released.

Now, it has fallen to King Lionel to find another beast in the magic book, another beast strong and brave enough to defeat the dragon so that the people will be saved.

One hundred years later The Book Of Beasts still enchants.

Watch Out For That Dragon!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-22
This book is a lot of fun, sparkling with the wit of E.Nesbit and filled with fantastic beasts that stir up quite a bit of trouble for a little boy whose great-great-great-great-great grandfather has died and left a kingdom to him. The original, unabridged version was written in 1900 and is included in a collection of stories called "The Book of Dragons". Inge Moore's new version of the story of the Book of Beasts is a wonderful opportunity for us to enjoy these fun-filled characters and the gentle humour of this great childrens' author.
Meet the Blue Bird of Paradise, the huge Red Dragon,the Manticora, and the beautiful Hippogriff and discover young King Lionel's thoughtful solutions to the problems they create when they spring to life straight off the pages of the magical Book of Beasts.
Moore's illustrations are colorful and comic and I enjoyed them a lot. I am so pleased that this captivating E. Nesbit tale is once again available to a wide readership. Don't miss it.

Fables and Fairy Tales
Cindy Big Hair
Published in Hardcover by Piggy Toes Press (2005-02-28)
Author: Annie Auerbach
List price: $12.95
New price: $7.98
Used price: $3.99

Average review score:

Makes for good auntie points!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-18
I sent this book to my niece and she just loved it. She's old enough to read it to herself, and when I asked her about it she took great pains to let me know why the step-sisters were mean and what was really important in the story (and in life). A fun read with a wonderful message woven into it.

Cindy Big Hair
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-10
My granddaughters LOVE this book. It is interactive, funny and a has a wonderful message at the end.

Funny, Colorful story with a GREAT message!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-27
Cindy Big Hair is a fairy tale about a little girl who wants to win the trophy for Biggest Hair at the Big Hair Ball. Her stepsisters always win the trophy year after year, but this year, Cindy's Hairy Godmother arrives to give her the biggest hair. However, in the end, it's Cindy's big heart that wins her the trophy. This is an awesome children's book - very funny, with colorful illustrations. Highly recommended!

A great read along book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-10
We received this book as a gift and it has turned out to be one of my daughter's favorites to read before bedtime...definitely a great childrens' book to read

Daughter of a friend loves it!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-03-15
Some friends of mine have a young daughter who absolutely loves this book. I've probably read it to her a half-dozen times already. She loves princesses, and since this is based on Cinderella, it qualifies. It's a good story with fun, colorful art, and the Hairy Godmother is fun to read. Definitely recommended.

Fables and Fairy Tales
The First Strawberries (Picture Puffin)
Published in Paperback by Puffin (1998-06-01)
Authors: Joseph Bruchac and Anna Vojtech
List price: $6.99
New price: $3.50
Used price: $2.98
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

short n sweet
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-03
this is the legend of how the first strawberries came into being, and it's kind of nice because it's a love story. i'm going to summarize it so if you don't want to know skip over.

one day a husband comes home from hunting to find his wife picking flowers instead of cooking. he angrily reprimands her for this and she indignantly walks off. the husband immediately feels sorry for getting so angry and tries to catch up to his wife to apologize but she's too fast for him so he asks the sun to slow her down. the sun shines itself on various berries but the wife is too angry to see them so the sun makes strawberries right on the ground so the wife would see them, and voila the first strawberries. the wife sees them and thinks to herself that it would be nice to share these with her husband so stops to pick some. the husband catches up to her and they live happily ever after.

it was a nice story. i enjoyed it.

First Strawberries - a definite pick!
Helpful Votes: 19 out of 20 total.
Review Date: 2000-05-17
This Cheyenne tale is a great lesson about how words of anger hurt and about forgiveness. Also a nature pour-quoi tale! Can be shared easily with very young, important message for older boys and girls as well as adults. After reading this, eating strawberries will be just a little sweeter!

The Best Book on Relationships
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-31
A wonderful story that teaches a timeless lesson. Everyone married or yearning to be should read it. Now I always get strawberries to follow-up an arguement.

Get this book!
Helpful Votes: 22 out of 25 total.
Review Date: 2000-12-03
I love this book both for it's great story and because it is a terrific resource for teachers. It's one of those books (like Where the Wild Things Are or Runaway Bunny) that just grabs kids up and speaks directly to things they are deeply connected to. In this case: inequity, anger and how to deal with those feelings.

If you are a teacher (or parent) and want a book that addresses these issues witout being overly complicated or inauthentic - run, don't walk and buy this wonderful book!

A beautifully illustrated book about reconciliation
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-09
This beautifully illustrated lyrical book is very special. It's story of thoughtless words, anger and forgiveness is told simply, but powerfully. It is a lesson both adults and children can hear over and over. The lush watercolor illustrations are breathtaking. I buy this book as a wedding present, and read it on the last day of classes that I teach, and think of it whenever I bite into a ripe, sweet strawberry.

Fables and Fairy Tales
Fly, Eagle, Fly: An African Tale
Published in Hardcover by Margaret K. McElderry (2000-02-01)
Author: Christopher Gregorowski
List price: $18.95
New price: $5.93
Used price: $4.59

Average review score:

Deeply Moving
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-21
One day, someone told me this story. I was so moved by the story that I checked Amazon and they had this beautiful book. The story and pictures have become a very important symbol that I have bought numerous copies to hand out to the teenage boys that have difficult lives that I have worked with at school. In addition, I keep a few on hand to give out to anyone I feel needs to have this wonderful book. It is my hope that they can refer back to it when life gets very dark for them. This story is more than PMA, it is true. It was awesome to read where the story originated from and the watercolored pictures and tastefully done. In addition, the information about the author is very touching and the forward by Bishop Tutu is remarkable. Yes, you will want to buy this book. Yes, you do!

An African Myth of Claiming Our Birthright's Potential
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-13
This was a wonderfully illustrated children's book sold at an African gallery in New York City on Broadway. An old tale from Ghana about how an Eagle realized it was the King of the Birds, Majestic, Regal, and meant to SOAR rather than grovel on the ground with chickens. Nothing is sadder than a soul who won't claim their best self and rise up to the challenge.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together and in the words of Les Brown "You can go out every day and find pidgeons but it takes time to find eagles, and eagles fly!"

Teach your children to claim their Eagle spirit today!

Fly Eagle Fly
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-04
This African Tale is about a farmer who comes across a baby eagle and decides that he will raise it as a chicken, and so he takes it back to his farm and puts it with the other chickens. The eagle soon learns how to act like a chicken. Everything continues on fine until one day the farmers friends comes over and says this is no chicken this is an eagle and he belongs in the sky. It takes the man three times until the eagle flies away into the sunset. I like this story because it shows how much things change depending on their current environments, and sometimes that environment can hold us back from being the best we can. The author does a great job at portraying the act of finding ones true self and become independent. The illustrations in this book are also great.

Spread Your Wings & Fly!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-07
I truly enjoyed this children's picture book, which appeals to all ages, because of the inspiration and message it conveys. In Africa a small eagle chick if found lost after a storm. It is taken back to a village where it is raised as a chicken. It talks, walks and eats like a chicken unto one day a visitor notices that amongst the chickens there is an eagle. He tries everything to get it to fly but it believes and acts like it is a chicken, until one day he takes it back to the mountains where it was found as a chick to meet the sun at sunrise. Upon the mountain, once taken from the environment it has been placed in and seeing the bright light of the horizon and the view it realizes it can fly and does so and never lives the life of a chicken again as it soars high in the sky.

I loved the message because it shows that we as a people have been treated like chickens by society, but we are truly royal eagles. Don't be content on being a chicken, but stretch forth your wings and fly! The illustrations are wonderful, and the message is worth attaining the book alone. This is a good book to add to the treasure chest of books within your home or your children's collection to inspire them to spread their wings and fly to reach new heights in the horizon's light! God is Love!

Discovering the eagle's potential
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-09
I bought this wonderful book for my nephews and loved it so much I'm buying another for my grandson. The story of an eagle that is brought up among chickens and thinks and acts like a chicken until it is encouraged to fly like an eagle has several messages. I'm a prison chaplain and it reminds me of the men and women who could be soaring on eagles wings if they can break out of the mold of their emotional environment. It has a spiritual message - we are children of God and can live a victorious life if only we will appropriate it. It also can illustrate the release of the soul at death. But it is definitely a delightful tale in it's own right.

Fables and Fairy Tales
The Gingerbread Cowboy
Published in Hardcover by Laura Geringer (2006-08-01)
Author: Janet Squires
List price: $16.99
New price: $9.66
Used price: $9.74
Collectible price: $16.99

Average review score:

Yee HAW!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-25
Nifty! It's a great twist on the classic. I collect versions of the Ginger bread. This one is a great addition. I like the ending with the fox/wolf being replaced by a coyote.

Imaginative retake on an old story! Fabulous illustrations!
Helpful Votes: 23 out of 23 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-02
This is a great book for the youngest readers! Your little ones will delight in the Gingerbread Cowboy's chase across the barren lands of the Old West as he runs to save his life. Many animals are after him but he manages to outwit them all, even the clever old coyote, with the help of the rancher's wife.

Kids will laugh when they hear the Gingerbread Cowboy chant, " ... You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man." They will certainly enjoy the colorful illustrations of the animals depicted against the contrasting, muted background of the Old West desert and mountains.

Hazel Rochman, BOOKLIST reviewer, describes this story best (see Editorial Reviews above): " ... universal trickster tale with a cowboy slant."

SIDENOTE: You may have noticed that Amazon has made some changes to its website. If it looks the same to you right now, look out for a new format that will be rolling out gradually in the weeks to come. If you can see the changes, especially the review format, I'd like to know what you think. Please leave me a comment with your opinion.

"Love the new look" or "Hate the new look" comments are perfectly acceptable.

My e-mail address is at top of this review. Thank you for your time."

Another great gingerbread book!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-21
As a Kindergarten teacher, I am always looking for a new twist on an old story. One of the best ways to help children to start crafting their own stories is to have them use a character they already know and change the setting or other characters in the story to make it their own. This book is a great example of doing this. My class enjoyed the book. When I lent the book to another teacher, her children loved it so they were running around the yard calling Giddy up! as they chased each other. She told me that they didn't have that reaction to the original story!

The Gingerbread Cowboy
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-08
Great twist on a classic tale. My class of first graders LOVED it!

Baked Treat Runs Wild in the West
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-02
The classic tale of the gingerbread man searching for freedom with the wrong people goes out west. The artwork is done in a style that accentuates the western theme. Well worth adding to any early reader's library.

Fables and Fairy Tales
Greek Myths for Young Children
Published in Hardcover by Candlewick (1992-10-01)
Author:
List price: $17.95
New price: $187.88
Used price: $6.75

Average review score:

GREEK MYTHS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-12
I LIKED THIS BOOK - I ORDERED IT FOR MY SEVEN YEAR OLD AND READ IT TO HIM. THE CARTOON FORMAT IS FUN AND THE TEXT IS TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL MYTHS. SOME OF THE HUMOUR WAS OVER HIS HEAD, BUT IF YOU STICK TO THE TEXT AND LEAVE OUT THE DIALOGUE "BUBBLES" THE STORIES ARE WELL TOLD.

Great!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-25
My daughter is 10, and loves this book. Her Grandmother gave it to her when she was about 5. She reads it with her Grandmother whenever possible. I notice it has helped with her reading a great deal. She will "act" out the characters while they read and gets very into the stories. Her favorite is Pandora's Box. The stories are a great educational tool, she is learning lessons and doesn't even realize it. She will ask questions and want to know more about different subjects brought up in the stories.
I recommend this book highly!

When it's all Greek to your child
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-03
Does your child look at you blankly when you mention "Pandora's Box"? Do they think that "Hercules" is a Disney-originated character? Even the most stubborn young reader will get a kick out of this comic book version of some of the Greek myths, and you will too when you read the hilarious little speech boxes of the cartoon drawings.

This book introduces the following myths in a very basic bare-bones format, but without sparing the gory bits:

Pandora's Box - starring Prometheus, Zeus, Epimetheus and Pandora

Arion and the Dolphins - starring Periander and Arion, with a cast of a couple dozen extras and some dolphins

Orpheus and Eurydice - otherwise known as "Don't Look Back", featuring Orpheus and Eurydice of course, plus Charon, Cerberus, Pluto and Persephone

The Twelve tasks of Heracles (also known as Hercules) - this story also has Hera, Eurystheus, some Amazons, and a lot of beasts and monsters. Some animals were reportedly injured during the making of this story.

Daedalus and Icarus - also with Athene and King Minos

Perseus and the Gorgon's Head - Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, Dictys, Polydectes, Athene, Hermes, plus the all-girl groups of Gorgons, Grey Ones and Ocean Nymphs.

Theseus and the Minotaur - King Minos, Theseus, Aegeus, Ariadne, and a Minotaur in a labyrinth

Arachne versus Athene - A weave-off to end all weave-offs

Illustrated in vivid color and injected with humor, this book may not have all the myths, but will be enough to develop your child's interest in mythology. You can also make a note to try the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (young adult fiction), which also introduces Greek mythology.



Amanda Richards, July 2, 2006

It was wonderful and delightful
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 1998-10-19
This book was very funny. I liked the comic strips. My favorite story was the one about Perseus and the Gorgon head. My five year old sister loved this book too. Her favorite story was the one about Arachne.

My Son LOVES this!
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-14
When I first saw this book, before giving it to my son, I didn't think he would care for the format of it. Boy, was I wrong. I guess 5 year old boys have different tastes than their moms. We had to read this every night for months! Some of the comic strips are kind of gross, but of course, he loved that too. If your child is interested in Hercules, he or she will probably LOVE learning about all the other heroes (and villains) in Greek mythology. I highly recommend this book.

Fables and Fairy Tales
The Horned Toad Prince
Published in Hardcover by Peachtree Publishers (2000-03)
Authors: Jackie Hopkins and Jackie M. Hopkins
List price: $15.95
New price: $8.25
Used price: $3.84

Average review score:

Read this book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-28
I recommend this book to you his book is a very hilarious book and the ending is very, very unexpected.

A girl named Reba Jo who is a cowgirl went out on her horse to the dessert. She saw a vulture on the arroyos her father had warned her not to but she went to catch the vulture.

As soon as Reba Jo threw her lasso a gust of wind came out of the arroyo. The wind had blown her new cowgirl hat into the dusty old well. Then she heard a voice say, "Que pasa, and senorita." But then, she spotted a big fat toad looking at her. "Oh" The horned toad looked at her and said, "I'll fetch your hat for you if you will do three favors for me."

Reba Jo asked "what are the three small favors." "The favors are for me to get some chilly, play me a song and let me sleep in your hat. Reba Jo said "ok" and took him home.

I really recommend this book to you. I have not told you the whole story so you should read it because after I read it I wanted to read it again and again and I wished to read more books by the author.

By Sinan Asdar
(Pakistan)

The Horned Toad Prince
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-30
This hilarious Southwestern retelling of the Frog Prince, not only was enjoyed by my fourteen year old granddaughter, but by my four year old grandson as well. I'm sure that this book will be read many times in this house.

Hopping Good!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-28
Jackie M. Hopkins spins a lively tale with spicy flavor. "The Horned Toad Prince" is peppered with Spanish words that are easy to understand in context with the story -- but just in case a word proves troublesome, there is a handy Spanish/English dictionary at the end of the book. Does Reba Jo meet her match in the Horned Toad? She's a feisty gal; the toad is as clever as a Texas day is hot. Enjoy!

The Horned Toad Prince by Jackie Hopkins
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-12
As I read this book to my first graders they just giggled and giggled. I had their full attention for the entire book. At the end of the story we discussed our favorite part and we decided it was when the horned toad ate the bowl of chili. The illustrations are just wonderful!

The Horned Toad Prince is a GREAT read aloud !
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-07
This delightful tale by Jackie M. Hopkins will make you laugh out loud! Peppered with Spanish words and phrases, Reba Jo and the Horned Toad's dialogue is absolutely a hoot! Kids of all ages love to hear fractured fairy tales, and I am sure this one will be a favorite. I highly recommend this title and plan to use it in my school library!

Fables and Fairy Tales
Irish Fairy and Folk Tales
Published in Hardcover by Dorset Press (1987-07)
Author: W. B. Yeats
List price: $6.95
New price: $3.41
Used price: $1.67

Average review score:

Lightning
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-24
JPII was a man that knew what was going on. His mind pierces through much of the nowadays rubbish that soils our world. In the name of Faith and Reason, the late pope's work comes forth like lightning from heaven.

From a World Long Forgotten
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-10
This is a new and expanded version of the original volume published by in 1892 under the title "Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry." It was subsequently re-titled, "Irish Fairy and Folk Tales," and has seen several editions from different publishers.
This edition, with an illuminating forward by Paul Muldoon, also has other additions that help the reader penetrate the sometimes dense and archaic language. If I had to choose between the original edition and this one, I would definitely choose this one. The main body of the book is identical to the original.
Both Yeats and Lady Gregory were especially concerned that the best of the tales from the Irish countryside be preserved before their main purveyors, the Shenaches (storytellers) vanished. Those collected here are a varied lot, and not all of them will appeal to every reader. That, however, does not affect their value at all, for here a way of life is preserved and we can look through a small window into the beliefs and habits of the Irish people in the days when the "Fairy Faith" was still common amongst them. It is probably best not to read the collection straight through, but rather peruse it, selecting from it that which most appeals.
Yeats's singular contribution is the dividing the denizens of the Irish Enchanted Countryside into categories: The Trooping Fairy, The Solitary Fairy, the Sociable Fairy, etc, together with Ghosts, Witches, Giants and the like. Within each "type" there are essays, songs, poems, hearsay, histories ... in short, something to appeal to every taste, as long as that taste has a goodly sampling of fancy about it.
These fairies are not the gossamer winged, luminous beings of Victorian paintings. These fairies are as likely to curse as to bless and it does not benefit the unwary or skeptical to offend them. Here are pookas, leprechauns, far darrig, Ban-Shees, and lanawn-shees.
These creatures were ever present to the Irish peasantry, and were forgotten with the industrialization of modern times. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of Yeats and others like him, much of this world was preserved for us.
Some of the stories and poems retain their Irish intonation and syntax and may be difficult for some to follow, but patience will be rewarded; One can almost "hear" the storyteller and the bard.
This is a volume well worth going back to again and again.

A fascinating look at the tradition of folklore in Ireland.
Helpful Votes: 15 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 2004-05-20
In this delightful volume, first published in 1892, William Butler Yeats has collected all manner of Irish folklore (mostly short stories, with a few poems) from a wide variety sources. He has divided the works into categories as follows: the "Trooping Fairies" (fairies, changelings, and the "merrow" or mermaids); the "Solitary Fairies" (the lepracaun, the pooka - an animal spirit, and the banshee); "Ghosts"; "Witches & Fairy Doctors"; "T'yeer-na-n-Oge" or "Tir-na-n-Og" (a legendary island said to appear and disappear); "Saints & Priests"; "The Devil"; "Giants"; and "Kings / Queens / Princesses / Earls / Robbers." Yeats introduces each section with background information on the creature the stories in that category will concern. He also includes numerous footnotes of interest, making this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn about the tradition of Irish folklore.

While I have given this anthology a five-star rating based on it's value as a source of information on Irish mythology, it would probably be worth only four stars for entertainment value alone. Some of the stories are very short and/or don't have much of a point, and are less interesting. These tend to serve more as testimony to the nature of a particular mythical being rather than being an actual story with a plot and message for the reader. Nevertheless, the book as a whole offers a very comprehensive look at just what defines Irish folk culture. The stories that do have a point sometimes take the form of "how things came to be this way" tales, or provide a moral lesson, etc. Many of the stories are rather dark, as that tends to be the nature of lore from this region, but there are also some lighthearted and cheerful pieces.

Despite the book having been compiled more than one hundred years ago, most of the stories are quite easy to read. Yeats makes things even more simple for the reader by making footnotes where old Irish words or phrases are used, giving us their meaning. However, there are a few stories that have been left in a more archaic form, which is distracting and a bit harder to decipher. Take, for example, the following excerpt:

". . . the minit he puts his knife into the fish, there was a murtherin' screech, that you'd the life id lave you if you hurd it, and away jumps the throut out av the fryin'-pan into the middle o' the flure; and an the spot where it fell, up riz a lovely lady - the beautifullest crathur that eyes ever seen, dressed in white, and a band o' goold in her hair, and a sthrame o' blood runnin' down her arm" (pg. 46).

I should probably make note of the fact, for those whom it might interest, that although the title page says the book is "profusely illustrated," there are actually only a few pictures. I believe only six of the over seventy stories are illustrated, and these with simple (but nice), old-fashioned line drawings in black and white. However this is not really a criticism as I view it, since I like the book for its literary content and wouldn't really care if it had no pictures at all.

One of the things I enjoy most about literature is finding connections with other works I've read, and "Irish Fairy & Folk Tales" does not disappoint in this regard. Many of the pieces are derivations of other, more common fairy tales. For instance, "Smallhead and the King's Sons" (Ghosts / pg. 194) incorporates some elements from both "Cinderella" and "Hansel and Gretel," while "The Giant's Stairs" (Giants / pg. 355) has some similarities to the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk." There are more connections like this. On the whole I found this book to be very enjoyable, and also a valuable read from a literary / academic standpoint. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone interesting in the history of Irish culture, the study of fairy tales and folklore, or both.

Absolutely charming!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-02
This absolutely charming collection of stories truly represents the best of "fairy" tales in which the fairy folk feature prominantly as well as a number of other folk beasties. WB Yeats has managed to capture all of the humor, fright, and love involved in the fairy world and it is a joy to follow him around in a world he seems to know so well.

I loved this book!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-07
Yeats has long been one of my favorite poets; however, I did not expect his re-telling of Irish Fairy and Folk Tales to be up to his poetry standard. With that said, let me say he does an excellent job re-telling these old stories and if you have any interest whatsoever in fairy tales or Irish Mythology, read this book. "The Trooping Fairies" and "Witches, Fairy Doctors" were 2 of my favorite chapters but overall the whole book is a delight to read. It's an easy read, some stories are funny, some are scary, but most are just entertaining. Also there are some poems mixed in with the stories which add to the story-telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Fables and Fairy Tales
The Juniper Tree: And Other Tales from Grimm
Published in Paperback by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (1983-01-01)
Authors: Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
List price: $9.95
New price: $17.95
Used price: $0.45
Collectible price: $25.00

Average review score:

Who can top Sendak for fairy tale power?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-18
If I had any one visual image deep in my brain when I began to write Take Me With You When You Go, it was Sendak's illustration in this collection of Hansel and Gretel lost in the woods, which I'd read and seen many years before. No one has illustrated fairy tales more richly than Sendak, and the collection he chose to combine is good, and Lore Segal's telling is fine. This is one of the best entry points for children into real fairy tales, as opposed to Disney. My own book attempts to bridge beyond Grimm and the older fairy tale tradition, but at the heart there's still the closely bonded Brother and Sister growing strong together on their own....Good grief! I just noticed that another one of the stories in the collection is actually titled "Brother and Sister." I'd totally forgotten.

Morose and melencholy
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-29
You won't find any pixy dust in this adaptation of German fairy tales. Delving into the strange and bizarre, these stories aren't the kind you want to be reading your 4 year old before they go to bed at night. Simplistic in writing, engaging in content, entertaining in substance, these are great short stories for someone who enjoys the abnormal, the peculiar, and the extraordinary.

Beloved Childhood Book
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-01
As a child I found this book at a garage sale. It instantly became one of my most treasured books - that was over 20 years ago. It has some of the most interesting Fairy Tales, many have a slightly "different twist" than your typical tales (some outright silly while others dark and bit disturbing). Most of the stories are 3 to 5 pages long and are very quick reading, and the sketched illustrations are beautifully detailed. Excellent stories for children and adults alike. With my current copy falling apart - I was happy to see the book has been re-issued!

Great Stories and Great Pictures
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-09-11
My mom & step dad bought me this while on their honeymoon in Carmel in 1978 (I was 8 at the time). I loved it so much that it must be handled with care these days. Grimms fairy tales aren't necessarily for everyone. Several are very dark, but I truly enjoyed them. And who can beat Maurice Sendak as an illustrator???

Lost in translation no longer
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-26
After hearing Sendak speak of the tragic fate that has befallen the fairy tale, I immediately went online in search of the Juniper Tree collection, a seventies-era translation of Grimm's fairy tales that professed to be true to the originals.

According to Sendak, modern adaptations of fairy tales lack the vigor and violence of the originals, which themselves were adaptation of the spoken-word. Call it Disney-fication, but new translations seemed to candy-coat old tales into generic rubbish. Sendak said that he took on this commission in order to rejuvenate the fairy-tale genre. And I can only find success in the venture. The new translation adds spice to fairy tales that I have heard countless times, in addition to adding many more obscure fairy tales to a reader's collection. And Sendak's beautiful black and white illustrations certainly don't hurt the package. His characteristic drawings add life and excitement to the written word.

Definitely get this copy instead of any cheesy new version of a fairy tale. It's not as violent/different from normal fairy tale editions as I expected, but the change is significant enought to have warranted this translation. And sure, there isn't a Sendak illustration on every page, but kids need something to look forward to in a book, don't they?

Fables and Fairy Tales
The Legend of the Lady Slipper (Ojibwe Tale)
Published in Paperback by Houghton Mifflin (2004-05-25)
Author:
List price: $5.95
New price: $0.01
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Average review score:

A mighty heroine
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-14
A great book for showing girls as heroines and teaching about giving to others. A Native American folktale told by Native Americans adds to the richness of the story. Lends itself to several classroom studies including northern lights, heroes, folktales & legends, ladyslipper flowers and Native American culture.

a little heroin from the North country
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-20
This beautifully illustrated edition of the Ojibway legend lends itself easily to reading outloud to groups of children in the classroom or anywhere else. The colorful pictures help the flow of the story, both of which help hold the youngsters spellbound. Young children identify with the characters in the story and having one of their own age group in a situation of bravery and steadfast love empowers them. Excellent book.

Delightful
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-31
I read this book as part of an assingment for a class (Children Resources for Children and Young Adults). I loved it. I am also currently taken Ojibwe and enjoyed how the authors incorportated Ojibwe words. The illustrations are simple, yes, but add charm to the well told (or rather retelling) of the origin of the lady slipper.
I recommend this to any teacher. Please, incorporate it in your class (high school teachers, too!). On a latter note, after reviewing it for class, I realized that this book was written by my teacher. Margi is the nicest person and an excellent teacher. And her book reflects her spirit.

Excellent Choice!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-01
This book is excellent for all ages. It contains beautiful illustrations to compliment the story of a little girl's courage. A good one for use in a classroom.

Ma-ki-sin-waa-big-waan, the Moccasin Flower
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-28
This is such a pretty book that tells the tale of the Ojibwe legend of the laddy slipper or moccasin flower. The illustrations are simple and colorful and greatly add to the folk atmosphere of the book. A little girl must go on a heroic journey through a freezing wintry night to find healing herbs when her whole village is stricken with terrible disease. She is encouraged along her route by the spirits of the stormy environment who speak to her in the Ojibwe tongue. This is an exciting and satisfying story and makes an excellent conversation starter to teach little ones about communing with the elements of Nature.


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