Fables and Fairy Tales Books

I read to my son's class and had selected two stories to read. By the time I left I had read the entire book. They kept asking for me to "read another one". Need I say more? This is a wonderful book for children. Highly recommended.

What I liked most about Once is the great messages in the stories. When I first read it I thought how much my kids would like it, but then, by the time I finished reading it, I realized how much I liked it. The messages are not just for the kids. Bunny Green is so true to life and yet told in a way that kids will easily understand the message and the meaning.

I was really suprised how much a kiddies book could have an effect on me. Grouch almost made me cry and made me realize how much I love my friends.

A great book, a great buy and a great bunch of messages.

"Once.." really does have it all. Great stories, funny characters, wonderful morals, and cute lovable illustrations. I really hope this book wins an award. It really is a great buy, my kids loved it and I enjoy reading it to them. I hope there is a "Once II..." or at least a follow up? Amazon...do you know if that will happen? Let us know.

It is not often I find such a wonderful book by chance. I read Once from cover to cover before reading it to my children who loved the characters as much as I did.

Herman the Pebble is now a star in his own right with my children.

As an elementary education major, I am always on the lookout for new childrens' books. "Once" is a fabulous new children's book. The characters are cute and loveable (my favorite is Herman the pebble) and each character must learn to deal with various life situations. This book is good for children of all ages. Each story is wonderful. I plan on reading this book to my students for years to come. When is the next one coming out? :)

In this magical book, courage comes from inside. There are no battles with phasers or light sabers or even old-fashioned swords. The battles the characters win come from within. Some of the expressions of courage in this book are very surprising - tests of inner will, caring and generosity top the list.

A really nice selection of characters make up the team in this book who are working to recharge the Cave of Courage so that mankind will have enough courage for the next one hundred years. I think anyone reading this book will end up loving trolls. They have wonderful traits and spirits. The leprechaun and dwarf are good characters too. And we finally get to meet Mother Nature in this installment of the series. Well, sort of - she's a rainbow in this book.

In this story the fairies are not facing monsters. The fairies and other magical beings have to face their own faults and personality defects (greed, fear, etc...) and overcome stereotypes and prejudices. I didn't expect a book about fairies to be quite so philosophical and relevant. This is a very clever children's book that adults might do well to read and take notice of.

This book is not so much about battle-bravery courage as it is about stepping out of a comfort zone to work together effectively. If this was an adult-geared book, it would be about surviving and getting along in the workplace. I think my kids really learned--or were at least inspired--from this, as far as getting along, being kind, and accepting others for who they are.

My daughter learned to write haiku poetry from one of the books in this series. Spiderwort and the Princess of Haiku (The Fairy Chronicles)
I am so proud of her.

She wrote this haiku about Periwinkle and the Cave of Courage:
"The fairies found more
than courage when they traveled
through a shrinking door."

She wrote this one too:
"Haiku is easy
when you know the secret of
counting syllables."

This book has a really fun mix of magical characters and the adventure through the cave really held my daughter's interest.

I went to a birthday party last week. We got to ride on a pony and played games. We got a book to take home and this is my book.
It takes courage to go into a cave. There is a treasure in the cave but they don't take it out. Cinnabar rides on a snake to get a key.That takes courage. The brownies help the fairies.
Annie gave her prize to everyone in the end. I like this book.

Our favorite book by far! The texture of the pages, the incredible artwork, the uniqueness of the handwritten words, and most of all, the touching beauty of the story messages all lend themselves to this being an amazing book. Patience, hope, friendship, forgiveness, and working together give such important meaning to this story. I'm grateful it is a part of my kids' childhoods. Invaluable!

Mr. Ering came to talk at our school today. He shared his wonderful, creative mind & exciting spirit with our students! They loved his presentation & enthusiastic readings of his books. What a treat!

My students & my own children at home LOVE his illustrations -- especially in this book.

"Frog Belly Rat Bone" and "Necks Out for Adventure: The True Story of Edwin Wiggleskin" speak to the importance of perseverance & patience -- terrific lessons for us all. :-)

I am looking forward to more from Mr. Ering!

This book is terrific. My 5 and 3 year old children equally love it. They like the transformation of Cementland, they enjoy the little thieves and laugh at the ingredients that make up Frog Belly Rat Bone. My kids will repeat the Frog Belly Rat Bone chant as well. Great job!

I had heard of this book from a friend, and thank goodness I did. The book is not only fun for my almost 5 year old, but is fun for an adult too. The story line flows for easy reading with funny parts, and lessens to be learned. Take time to look at each drawing, every time you look you see something new. As a parent I always look for books with a good vocabulary and this book meets that and then some. I give Frog bell rat bone 5 Stars. It is truly one of the wondrous riches to our book collection.
Connie

Absolutely amazing in its story and creativity. My girls love this book. We ordered this for the local library so everyone could enjoy. My three year old has really bonded with frog belly and chants the funny saying. This is a simple but beautiful story.

This is an amazing collection of tales with female protagonists. I grew up on this book and I've loved it ever since I heard the first story. I finally bought my sisters and their daughters a copy since my sisters also grew up on it. We lost the family copy, probably when I was in grade school, most likely to a teacher who saw the value of such a book. Its got tales from various cultures, and various themes. Its not always just the love of a man that she's fighting for, which rocks. I love this book!

I remembered this collection of world tales from my own youth and was pleased that it was just as vibrant and fun as I remembered. Although the tales center around female protagonists, children and adults of any gender can enjoy the action, wit, and surprising tales featured here.

My 8 yo daughter has been getting a little sarcastic as of late. I turned to stories to try to remedy the situation. Tatterhood has opened up her world with strong, often humorous, female role models. I am so glad I bought the book! My 6 yo son and my husband and I enjoy it as well.

This is one of the best collections of fairy tales featuring strong and enterprising hereoines. It includes stories from may different cultures, but all feature clever, resourceful women who overcome adversity. some of the stories were already familiar to me, but many I'd never read before. If you thought all fairy tale heroines were ninnies like Cinderella and snow White, you need to read this excellent book and discover women like Kate Crackernuts, Clever Manka, Sea Girl, and the Three Strong Women.

My mother purchased this book for me as a very young girl, along with other collections of short-stories, and I remember being enchanted with it. The legends are fascinating, although I don't think the fact that they were all about young women and girls ever crossed my mind (an observation that leads me to believe this book would be good for boys, as well).

I recently re-read the stories, and was delighted. I remember being confused as a girl, since the places, people, and customs are mostly foreign, and so I wouldn't recommend these books to any one younger then six. And even then, with the lack of pictures, it's great for adults to read to kids (no matter what age, within reason). Worth the money.

I just recently finished this book and I have to say that yet again Peter David has thoroughly engrossed me in the story and the narrative. Peter Pan is fun again and its just an amazingly fun read and you dont know where its going but your along for the ride and it is a blast.

I dont care if your young or if your old, this is definitely a book for all ages. This book proves to me yet again, anything Peter David writes is always top notch and I will read it. If you want some suggestions I would recommend his Sir Apropos of Nothing series, the Knight Life book series, and most definitely his Star Trek New Frontier book line-and these are just a few of his works that are brilliant. Check them out!

I picked my copy up from Peter David himself in New York. Truely a magnificent book. Every bit as fun as Harry Potter and twice as smart. It works on so many different levels. David explored concepts that J.M. Barrie never even dreamed of. Tigerheart is packed with detail without feeling bogged down, creating a world that the adventurous in everyone will want to be a part of. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

While reading Tigerheart I experienced many things. I saw the world through reasonable but incorrect explanations that made more sense than anything in the real world. I dealt with the psychiatric implications of "The Boy" to a child. I also nearly curled into a fetal position when misfortune struck Paul's family. That was all in the first 100 pages.

I was reasonably interested in the plot summery of the book and found I liked what I read inside much more. I can't explain it without giving too much away, but it's one of the most depressingly noble quest I've read in a book. Tigerheart is a beautiful blend of both the good and evil that exists in Paul's world, a character who is surprisingly reasonable for his age, sympathetic, and just plain likable.

I give it a 4 out of 5, only because it switches moods so frequently that there is no safe stopping point. Any interruptions were completely unbearable, I just wanted to be rid of my world until I was finished with Paul's world. Though a welcome change from many books I've read lately, the level of addiction I experienced was probably a bit unhealthy.

Good book with a "re-imagining" of the Peter Pan with an interesting twist.

I enjoyed it, even though it is written in a Narrator form that I usually find boring.

I would recommend this to anyone that has enjoyed any of the other Peter Pan stories (movies, books, whatever).

There is nothing better than a weekend with lots of reading time, especially when the books you spend your time reading turn out to be terrific. I don't give out 5 stars to books very often. I've read 54 books this year, and Tigerheart by Peter David is the 5th book I consider a 5-star read. It is based on Barrie's Peter Pan, but it's not a sequel or a prequel - more of Peter Pan in an alternate universe. A re-telling of the story. David was gutsy to take on one of the most beloved children's stories of all time - it could have failed in a big, big way. Fotunately for him, it works, and works brilliantly.

This book is everything you could possibly want in a novel: adventure, magic, love, danger, truth, tragedy, and triumph. The best thing is that this is a children's novel in the same way that the Harry Potter books are "children's books." By which I mean that anyone who loves a good story will appreciate this book.

Tigerheart is the story of Paul Dear. Paul's father has regaled him with stories about The Boy and his magical land, Anyplace, where The Boy fights pirates and saves Indian princesses and has a pixie for a sidekick. When Paul's new baby sister dies, his mother changes, and Paul is determined to find a new baby sister for her - in Anyplace. His adventures with The Boy, Fiddlefix, Gwenny, the White Tiger, and the Vagabonds demand more of him than he ever imagined, and make more of him than he ever thought he could be.

After reading the first chapter, I knew I wanted to read this aloud to the kids, but I needed to read it quickly so I could comment on the book's forum for Del Rey Books. I will definitely be coming back to it in the next few months so that I can share it with the kids. The author's style is not as much narrator as it is storyteller, complete with asides and advice to the readers. This is all done delightfully tongue-in-cheek, and makes for many laugh-out-loud moments.

I hope that this won't be Peter David's only adventure in Anyplace.

My husband remembered loving this series as a kid and was delighted to be able to get them for our son. At age 7 our son would read the Enchanted Wood and the Faraway Tree over and over. Enid Blyton connects perfectly with the magical imagination of kids this age.

I remember reading this book as a little girl. Enid Blyton is in my opinion the best children's writers. Now that I'm a mom I'm getting this book and other Blyton favourites for my kids.

The enchanted wood is a fab book its about three children Joe,Beth and Frannie. They live in the contry side and they find a magic tree and up the tree they make loads of friends but at the top of the tree there are lands some lands are good and some lands are bad. If you liked the sound of that you will have to get the book!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember reading this book when I was little. I recently came across it again at my parent's house and found it to be just as delightful now at 32 as I did when I was 7! It is filled with magical wonder and fantasy. A great recommendation for children of all ages!

Any child that reads this book will enter into a magical world......I am now 34 yrs old....I read this book as a child and still remember liking the stories.......I am originally from Guyana formally British Guiana......I grew up on all Enid Blyton books....they are a delight to read.......this is one book I suggest you get for you children.

Oh my goodness, what a great book about the tooth fairy and other traditions around the world. My 6yr old just lost her 1st tooth, but we purchased this book before she lost it so that she could read about other kids and what they do with their baby teeth. She loves this book, and I love this book because it teaches her about different places, people, and traditions from around the world with a subject that she can totally relate to!

This is a fun book for all children. It raises awareness of traditions from different cultures. With older children you can look at themes behind the custom.

Am a Dental Hygienist and enjoy this book for the entertainment of my patients.

My 6 year old grandson, Evan, and I took turns reading, questioning, and laughing as we turned the pages of this interesting and enlightening little book. We had some light conversation and lots of laughs about what parents (and grandparents) in our culture and parents in other cultures tell their children when the first tooth is lost. Evan wanted to know why such a "common" experience caused such a variety of responses. And, why parents had to make up stories in the first place. Well now, that's a good question!

What an awesome read! It had never occured to me that children in other countries may not have a "tooth fairy" experience. I purchased this book for my pre-K class (none of the kids have lost any teeth yet, but are really looking forward to it!) Children in many countries around the world are visited by "El Raton" a rat or mouse who comes during the night to take away lost teeth and sometimes replaces them with money or gifts. My favorite country in this book was Brazil. In Brazil, the birds come to take lost teeth- but only if they are clean. Dirty teeth mean no money is left for the child. This is a great encouragement for Brazilian children to brush their teeth every day! Great for 5 to 12-year-olds.

We're thrilled to join Tick & Tock on their adventures! With the amazing illustrations it's almost as if we're right next to them. So there's another book in the works? We're so there!!!

GREAT STORY! This was a fun read and a great length for a bedtime story. The pictures are very colorful and are quick to grab you and your child's attention. The story line is fun and whimsical and is an easy read outloud. I enjoyed interjecting my own voices for Tick, Tock, Tommy, and the narrator. My 4 year old daughter already wants book two read to her tonight (I had to tell her it's not out yet....so she's settled for book one again...and again....and again....and.....). We all can't wait to see what happens next. NICE JOB!

This is a great kids' book. It is perfect for reading aloud to little ones, and also perfect for older kids to read for themselves. The illustrations are incredible with unbelievable detail and color. I think elementary teachers and librarians should have copies of this book to share. COOL BOOK!

If you're looking for a book your kids will love and that you will love reading with them, look no further. Here it is!!! Tick and Tock are delightful imps; their friend Tommy is a precious little boy; and their adventures will delight you and your kids (or grandkids) while teaching them a valuable lesson about getting along with others. And the colorful drawings are more than half the fun. Brent Evans truly has a gift for taking you inside the secret world of clock pixies with his beautifully drawn pictures. Tick and Tock are sure to be on everyone's list of favorites.

I loved the story. I loved reading it, knowing the children in my life were going to love it and get a kick out of the pictures and the adventures of Tick & Tock. My 3-year-old niece wants to know what happens next...I can't wait for the next book.

I am a big fan of the Anansi tales, and the spider's adventures are delightful as well as thought-provoking. For edutainment (educational entertainment) and discussion, I include them in my high school / college level introduction to mythology / humanities survey courses. All ages can enjoy a clever trickster hero who possesses many human qualities, the good and bad--who makes us think about our own deeds and behavior.

In Anansi The Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti, Gerald McDermott retells an Anansi story with warmth, cultural sensitivity, and bright, attention-seizing illustrations. Among the children's books about Anansi, McDermott's efforts stand in a unique place because the text is used sparingly and with great effect, conveying important events only and not burying key ideas in lavish descriptions or dialogues. In this book, the elaborate, geometric illustrations paint the "descriptions" that the text omits.

Features that I like...

The map in the opening that shows the continent of Africa and the country of Ghana. (I'm always happy to see a bit of geography dropped into stories, especially those designed for children.)

The Prologue, which describes the importance of folklore, mythology, and legends. I especially appreciate this statement: "Folklore prepares man for adult life. It places him within his culture."

Rather than beginning the story with the familiar "Once upon a time...," the author uses "Time was..." which is cool! :)

Each of the spider sons in the story is unique in design, appearance, and talent, which makes him easy (and fun) to identify as the tale unfolds. The six sons are See Trouble, Road Builder, River Drinker, Game Skinner, Stone Thrower, and Cushions.

The character of Anansi is rendered with an expressive personality and face while his sons' faces are not shown--just their designs, bodies, and talents. Anansi's face changes emotions based on his experiences, and this would be an excellent teaching element for very young children upon hearing / seeing the story.

Themes & Talking Points the book offers:

Counting, colors, shapes, animals, teamwork, family, intro to Africa [Very Young Children]

Reading; Cause & Effect; Critical Thinking & Response; African Culture. How does Anansi get into and out of trouble? // Each spider is an individual with a specific skill or trait; each spider has a place in the family. What does this suggest about the culture of the Ashanti? // The rescue of Anansi is really a team effort by the sons, but who should get the reward? Does the ending solve this problem? [For children 5-12]

Reading & Design; Symbolism; Critical Analysis; Author Intent; Culture. Why did the author / illustrator choose not to show the faces of the six sons in the story? How does this choice affect the story? How does Anansi's face tell his story? What is the relationship between a son's name and his unique design? In what instances is Anansi's face NOT shown and why? What lessons are taught in this tale? What universal themes are present? Does this book deserve its "honor" designation? [For tweens through college students]

Anansi and his sons are popular guys in our home. My son and daughter (nearly 4 and 6) just adore them, and I enjoy the fact that this book demonstrates how well cooperation works. Not to mention that we get to discuss the story, Ghana, and how people are both like us *and* are different from us.

In this story Anansi heads out for a walk only to be besieged by problems, first from a hungry fish, and then from a falcon. He would have been lunch were it not for his caring sons who fortunately have super-arachnid abilities.

Four Stars. Good Read-aloud. Good story with a moral. My daughter even decided to practice reading this fun and exciting story.

Anansi is one cool African trickster, and he does it again in this book! When he tries to determine which of his six sons to reward for saving his life, he becomes responsible for putting the moon in the sky.

My 18 month old son loves the artwork in this book. There is a lot to talk about on each page. For the first time it seems that my son is following the story and not just dealing with one page at a time. He waits eagerly for the page when Anansi is swallowed by a fish (don't worry it is not violent in any way!) Since there are 6 spider sons there are lots of opportunities for counting. My 18 month old can now count to 6.

The Anansi stories have been handed down through generations of Ashanti culture. This book is a wonderful, vibrant and vivid story for children of all ages. Born in Ghana I left at aged 3, leaving much of the Ghanaian culture behind. At aged 30 I can still remember a song about Anansi the spider, the only remnants left of my native tongue. I was given the Anansi book as a child, it captivated me, I read it over and over again, and it provided a connection to my past. At 16, I spent hours crafting a cushion embroidered an illustration from the book that was a childhood favorite. Sadly, the book was lost and I never thought I could get it again. Now, some 14 years since I last saw the book I can still visualize the pictures and hear the wonderful tale of Anansi the spider, his sons and the moon. I have just bought two copies, one for my niece and one for my two year old daughter. I absolutely cannot wait to read them again and again and pass this memorable story to a new generation.

If you like knights, kingdoms, and enchanted forests, then you'll simply love The Enchanted Wood. The Enchanted Wood, by Ruth Sanderson, is a book set back in the medieval times of kings and kingdoms, and takes place in a kingdom. After giving birth to her third son, the queen dies and the king and the land share the same grief. Then the king decides that the only way to end the drought is by going and finding the heart of the world and ask for the drought to end.
There are many good qualities about The Enchanted Wood and here are a few. The genres of The Enchanted Wood are historical fiction and fantasy. One good thing that Ruth Sanderson did is that her themes are very easy to find, like her theme," Don't be distracted in life by things that you want, just be glad with the things you have." The main character is Galen the king's youngest son and he wants to prove himself to everbody by finding the heart of the world. This book's genre is similar to Cinderella's genre because both books are historical fiction and fantasy.
The Enchanted Wood would be a good book for younger kids because ruth Sanderson wrote the book like it was for little kids. I believe that Ruth Sanderson should use more forceful language. The Enchanted Wood's theme is very easy to find where other books have it harder to find the theme. I think that this is a good book because it has a great theme. Remember, if you like medieval times then you will love The Enchanted Wood.

This book is a great story, filled with marvelous paintings. I love this book, and Ruth Sanderson is probably my favorite artist.

Thank you, Ruth Sanderson, for writing and painting!

This story teaches so much it is anything but 'weak'!! The folly of selfishness and vanity are foremost among the lessons to be learned. Devotion to a greater good than our own individual desires is modeled, and the pitfalls of the opposite character trait. I find it fascinating that the one temptation that ruled each of the first two princes turned out to be all 'smoke & mirrors'when the enchantment was gone. There WAS no black knight, only hack marks in the trees. So often in real life, the things that detour us from a noble purpose turn out to be irrelevant.

Ruth Sanderson is an excellent story-teller and author. This is a fine book to add to anyone's collection of fairytales or picture books. Highly recommended!

First of all, I need to clarify what at least two other reviewers have mistaken: this book is NOT Enid Blyton's 'Enchanted Wood' as part of her Faraway Tree trilogy. This is a children's picture book confusingly by the same name - an original fairytale by author and illustrator Ruth Sanderson, also know for her works 'The Crystal Mountain', 'Cinderella' and 'The Golden Mare, the Firebird and the Magic Ring'.

That said, this book is an interesting mix of truly beautiful paintings (its a pity there isn't a picture of the cover on this webpage, as that always puts people off buying products) and a traditional, predicable story.

After a beautiful kingdom becomes plauged by a drought the king sends his three sons Edmund, Owen and Galen to find the Heart of the World that lies within the Enchanted Wood to restore the kingdom - in finding it their purpose will be magically achieved. Successively the three head off, and individually come to a cottage on the verge of the forest, where an old woman warns them not to wander off the path no matter what. Well, you don't really need to be told any more to know exactly what happens. The two older sons succumb to temptation, while the youngest remains true to his quest and succeeds, inheriting the kingdom and marrying the old woman's beautiful daughter Rose who accompanied him through the forest (for both mother and daughter had been unwilling gatekeepers of the forest, though eventually liberated by Galen's nobility). It is an old formula, encompassing all the cliches of a beautiful maiden, the threefold trial, the cursed kingdom, the virtueous youngest brother... Even though children will certainly not be bothered by this, seasoned fairytale lovers will know the tune oh-so-well and be frustrated at its predictability. Thus the title 'original fairytale' is somewhat misused.

On the other end of the scale however, some points of the story are quite confusing. It is unclear why finding the Heart of the World restores the land to its former glory, nor how it actually manages to achieve this. Furthermore, though Edmund and Owen's submissions to temptation (respectively to hunt a white stag and engage in battle with a Black Knight) are indeed vices, we are never really certain whether Galen did the right thing in turning his back on his own brothers when witnessing them in peril. Lastly, the meaning of the silver key that Rose drops into the Heart's waters and the 'ceremony' that she performs is unclear in its meaning and point.

However, *please* don't let my grousing over this feature stop you from finding this book as they pale in comparison to Sanderson's exquisite oil paintings, and are in fact (in my opinion) her best. In no other book of hers has she reached the level of detail and realism that she does in 'The Enchanted Wood'. She captures motion perfectly, her animals (deer and horses) are beautiful, and all little girls be satisfied that the heroine Rose is stunning. The best part however is Sanderson's illustrations of the forest - their misty, mysterious, shrouded depths are gorgeously created, from their forbidding entrance at the iron gates to the Heart of the World - three treetrunks intertwinging to make one.
The illustrations more than make up for the story and make this book a must-have for all lovers of great art, children's books, fairytales or beauty in general.

It is unfortunate that it has such a well-used title, as I know of two other books by the same name (Enid Blyton's, and another 'Enchanted Wood' by the Australian writer and illustrator Shirley Barber) but the illustrations *are* worth the effort to tracks this book down, either from Amazon or your library.