A world of stories
Fairy tale collections take kids 'round the world
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 9/1/2006
Once upon a time, parents reinforced good behavior in their kids—tell the truth, be kind to others, work hard—with a tall tale and a wink. Fables, folklore and fairy tales have long been a favorite with families, and today's readers are no exception. This holiday season, retailers will have a lot more to choose from, with a host of new gift-ready anthologies debuting in the fall. Each collection features lush illustrations, modern translations, and a few tantalizing twists. Some titles even offer stories not widely available in the U.S.—until now.
Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection from F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada—which debuts this month in both English and Spanish versions—contains new versions of 12 traditional tales illustrated by four Latino artists: Felipe Davalos, Susan Guevara, Leyla Torres and Vivi Escriva. Each story includes information on its origins, plus alternate versions. ($19.95) Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (Atheneum), New York
Each page of The Fairy Tales, which debuts in October, features artist Jan Pienkowski's striking silhouettes, bringing a dark mystery and mood to “Snow White,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “Cinderella.” David Walser translates the popular stories of Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm from their original French and German texts to reflect their earliest, most enchanted versions. ($19.99) Penguin Young Readers Group (Viking Children's), New York
Each selection in Grandmothers' Stories: Wise Woman Tales from Many Cultures offers a new take on grandmothers via stories of plucky—and wise—grannies from Senegal, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland, Germany and Sweden retold by Burleigh Mutén and illustrated by Siân Bailey. This 1999 collection will be re-issued this month along with a pair of read-along CDs narrated by Olympia Dukakis. ($19.99) Barefoot Books, Cambridge, Mass.
The Fables of La Fontaine: A Selection in English, which debuts this month, offers more than 100 of 17th century French poet Jean de La Fontaine's classic fables for children, including the “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Raven and the Fox.” Each tale in the collection—which borrows liberally from Aesop—is translated into English verse by C.J. Moore and illustrated by Jean-Noël Rochut. ($27.95) Steiner Books (Floris Books), Herndon, Va.
Asian Children's Favorite Stories, which debuts in October, compiles 13 beloved stories from eight countries. Each tale—written and translated by David Conger, Marian Davies Toth, Kay Lyons, Liana Romulo or Joan Suyenaga—is illustrated by award-winning artist Patrick Yee ($24.95) Tuttle Publishing, North Clarendon, Vt.
In Spirits Dark and Light: Supernatural Tales from the Five Civilized Tribes, which debuts this month, Choctaw storyteller Tim Tingle retells traditional stories from the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole and Choctaw nations of the southern U.S. In each tale, Tingle weaves the spirit world and the natural world together, illuminating how they are connected and impact one another. ($15.95) August House, Little Rock, Ark.
