A Book of Magic Animals

It's more of a history book to him...

Manning-Sanders, Ruth. A Book of Magic Animals. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc. 1975.

Plot: The title offers a collection of tales featuring magical beasts. Some creatures, such as the small-toothed dog and Elsa's bear are actually enchanted humans. Others, like the dolphin king and Mainu the frog are genuine animals, but with extraordinary abilities. They all assist the protagonists to defeat overwhelming evil, conquer complex challenges, and earn fantastic rewards.

Genre: Animals, Fairy Tales, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Dragon Emperor, The Sea King's Daughter, The Seven Chinese Brothers

Personal Thoughts: While the title uses dated diction and has an annoying tendency to bounce between past and present tense, it also offers a pleasant blend of stories, mostly from Europe. A lot of the stories have similar counterparts in modern literature, particularly in the "beauty and the beast"-type of fairy tale. It also manages to offer different, less well known stories and can easily satisfy fans of folk and fairy tales.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Folktale

Yes, yesss...

Pay attention to the mirror and not the mosasaur stealing your medal

Steptoe, John. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Folktale. New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987.

Plot: One of Mufaro's daughters is industrious, kind, and generous, while the other is demanding, slanderous, and manipulative. Both are beautiful and the pride of their father. When the local king sends a proclamation requesting a wife, both women seem ideal. The trip to the king's palace will reveal the one with a true queenly nature, however.

Genre: Picture Books, Folktales, Fairy Tales

Reading Level: Grades Pre-K through 4.

Similar Titles: The Blind Hunter, What is My Song

Personal Thoughts: The title earned a Caldecott Honor Book award and enjoyed a feature on Reading Rainbow. While the book is fairly old, it still manages to appeal to modern audiences with its timeless diction and attractive illustrations. Also, like most folktales, it offers a fable about human nature. Two women seek their fortunes, but the kind nature of one ultimately serves her better than the rudeness of the other. Notably, both the good and the bad daughter are beautiful, reminding the audience that beauty is not the only value of a person. The way a person treats others reveals their worth. 

Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland

...sounds like the beginning of a strange and yummy recipe

Leodhas, Sorche Nic. Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland. Holt, Rinehart and Winston : New York, 1962.

Plot: A collection of folk and fairy tales from Scotland, the title offers a slightly different view of the British Isles. Faire folk and sorcerers threaten the local population, but unexpected and reliable heroes arise to counter them. Sometimes, though, the best solution stems from an unlikely source.

Genre: Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Mythical Birds and Beasts from Many Lands, A Child's Book of Fairies

Personal Thoughts: The title earned a Newbery Honor.

I really enjoyed this book's old-time stories with slightly dated phrasing. Also, I noticed a shift in fairy tales over the past few decades. In the text, pirates, fairies, and wilderness were viewed as dangerous, while elders, civilization, and clergy were considered good. While the shift between the past and current ideals has several valid and not-so-valid reasons, it still was a striking to read the difference.

The Shark King

Teehee...forced perspective

Johnson, R. Kikuo. The Shark King. New York, NY : TOON Books, 2012.

Plot: After rescuing her from a dangerous bay, a handsome young man successfully courts a woman in a remote Hawaiian village. While they love each other dearly, the man eventually reveals himself to be the Shark King. Unable to stay with his love, he leaves her to care for their child. The boy, named Nanaue, proves to have an insatiable appetite. He eventually resorts to stealing from the local fisherman and inadvertently drives their quarry away. Once caught, he flees to the location prepared for him by his father.

Genre: Folktales, Animals, Graphic Novels

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Shark God, Punia and the King of the Sharks: A Hawaiian Folktale

Personal Thoughts: A surprisingly light-hearted retelling a Hawaiian folktale, The Shark King combines bright drawings and classic storytelling to create a pleasant title.

Meow: Cat Stories from Around the World

Meow, nya, miao, or miav?

Yolen, Jane. Meow: Cat Stories from Around the World. New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, 2005.

Plot: As the title implies, the book offers several stories about felines from a number of locations. Additionally, the text includes popular sayings, rhymes, and proverbs about cats. Colorful, elaborate illustrations adorn the text and complement the stories.

Genre: Animals, Folklore, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades Kindergarten - 4

Similar Titles: Puss in Boots, Three Samurai Cats

Personal Thoughts: The book nicely balances cat stereotypes. For example, the title includes hunting cats, compassionate cats, rude cats, polite cats, smart cats, and silly cats. The variety prevents the stories from becoming monotonous. 

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS: The Boy Who Drew Cats

 BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

Johnson, David. The Boy Who Drew Cats. Westport, CT : Rabbit Ears Books, 1991.

VS.

Levine, Arthur A. The Boy Who Drew Cats: A Japanese Folktale. New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 1994.

Plot: Both stories closely follow the original folktale about a weak, but artistic, boy's obsession with drawing cats. Johnson's rendition, however, focuses more on the personification of the characters. By contrast, Levine tends to make his protagonists blank slates, offering the readers the opportunity for self-insertion. Levine's book also focuses on fewer characters, while Johnson adds a smith for the boy to interact with.

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Analysis: Johnson's retelling offering originally came with an audio tape, and its origins show in the text. The story is wordier, and focuses more on the text than the illustrations, which show little color with sharp outlines. Additionally, the naughtiness of the boy finds ample mention, making the tale more of a fable, perhaps earning parental approval. As a result, the story provides a more modern view of the tale than Levine's mystery-laden story.

Levine's text focuses more on the vagueness and unknown aspects of a typical fairy tale. Conversations and interactions are alluded to, instead of described, making the story more like a classic folk story. Characterization also takes a secondary role in the tale. Most of the text relies on the colorful, eerie pictures to set the tone, which is more sombre and strange than Johnson's tale.

Overall, I prefer Levine's story, since it captures the mystery and approachability of classic folktales. By contrast, while Johnson's text is more modern, it leave less to the imagination. Still, people seeking a direct story may prefer Johnson's rendition.

Zen Ghosts

Muth, John J. Zen Ghosts. New York : Scholastic Press, 2010.

Plot: The text offers the retelling of a traditional, but eerie, Buddhist tale. Stillwater, a panda neighbor to three children, offers to tell the kids a ghost story after they go trick-or-treating. The tale, told by a Stillwater look-alike, begins with two children falling in love. When the girl's parents choose a different man to marry her, the childhood friends elope. Guilt over leaving their families eventually drives the two to return to her parents, where they discover, much like the three children, things are not as they seem...

Genre: Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 1 and up

Similar Titles: Zen Shorts, Old Turtle and the Broken Truth

Personal Thoughts: Like Muth's previous works, the text combines beautiful watercolor illustrations with ancient tales to bring readers to a deeper understanding of the world. This particular tale focuses on duality. The daughter splits between her lover and her parents, revealing a different character within one person. Despite the strangeness of the tale, it does encourage readers to consider the truth of perception versus reality. The text offers a view differing wildly from many ghost stories, but still manages to maintain a sufficiently eerie tone.

Ghosts, Vampires, and Werewolves: Eerie Tales from Translvania

Spariosu, Mihai. Ghosts, Vampires, and Werewolves: Eerie Tales from Transylvania. New York : Orchard Books, 1994.

Plot: A collection of strange and scary tales from one of the haunting (and misunderstood) places on earth. Many of the stories represent a blend of new beliefs and old superstitions. Like many tales, the text focuses on the interactions between the supernatural and mortal realms. In the stories, honest men sometimes prosper. More often, though, greed for gold and contempt for tradition condemn all parties involved. Each story enjoys notes at the back of the text offering further details such as the story's location, terms, and traditions.

Genre: Horror, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: The Man Who Tricked a Ghost, The Headless Haunt and other African-American Ghost Stories

Personal Thoughts: The text offers solid retellings of stories from a little-known portion of the world. According to the author's notes, stories from Transylvania typically end unhappily, which may trouble sensitive readers. Also, some users may feel disappointed in the book's inclusion of only one werewolf and one vampire story. Fans of ghost stories will love the text, though. While the stories do not focus on gore, they do mention supernatural vengeance, deals, and promises persisting through the afterlife. A highly recommended collection for readers of creepy stories.

Side Note: Are you okay, Jerome?

Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Czechoslovakia.

Haviland, Virgina. Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Czechoslovakia. Boston, Little, Brown : 1966.

Plot: The text offers a five-story collection of tales from Czechoslovakia. A few stories follow typical themes, such as princes and princesses, but with unexpected twists, such as hair retrieval. Others seem very familiar, such as "The Twelve Months," a variation of Cinderella. Unlike the French heroine, however, the Czech maid finds assistance not through a fairy godmother, but through the personifications of the twelve months of the year. One story seems truly unique. It features a monstrous chicken's attempt to devour everything and everyone in his path. Readers seeking an unfamiliar familiar will enjoy the title.

Genre: Fairy Tales, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Favorite Fairy Tales Told in England, Once Upon a Fairy Tale: Four Favorite Stories

Personal Thoughts: While this particular series is fairly old, it remains relevant through use of everyday language, timeless stories, and creative illustrations. The illustrations often follow the "national style" of the tales place of origin. In this title, the pictures use few colors and simple facial features with elaborate clothing, hair, and backgrounds, enhancing the exotic appeal of the stories.

Side Note: Toothless! Leave that maiden alone!

The Flying Emu and Other Australian Stories

Morgan, Sally. The Flying Emu and Other Australian Stories. New York : Alfred A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House, Inc., 1993.

Plot: Morgan, an Australian, offers a collection of stories told by her mother and brothers. Like many folktales, they attempt to describe virtues, vices, and origins. Unlike many folklore books aimed at tweens, Morgan does not avoid some of the less delicate aspects of life, claiming her brothers took every opportunity to have the villains fart, belch, or vomit. Nevertheless, the stories maintain an exotic expression of some popular concepts, such as courage, endurance, and justice. They also offer caution to gluttons, gossips, and fussbudgets.

Genre: Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Stories from the Billabong, A Ring of Tricksters

Personal Thoughts: Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Australian folklore, so I do not know if the stories are typical of the culture. Nevertheless, the title does offer a colorful and well-written introduction to stories from Land Down Under. Some of the more popular concepts of lore find stories, while unusual animals, such as kangaroos, dingos, and crocodiles find mention as well. The title offers entertaining stories for the reader seeking something unusual.

Tongues of Jade

Yep, Laurence. Tongues of Jade. New York, NY : HarperCollins, 1991.

Plot: Yep's collection of Chinese folktales at the time of the Gold Rush reflect the ideals, fears, and expectations of immigrants missing their much-loved homeland. Many, such as "Green Magic" focus on familial bonds and personal talents. Others, like "Fish Heads" and "The Little Emperor" caution the immigrants against forgetting their manners and proper behavior while visiting the Golden Mountain. However, even good intentions can lead to unintended results, as tales about professors, kittens, and beggars reveal. A few stories, particularly those including ghosts or monsters, seem to only provide entertainment, but often hide deeper meaning to the careful reader. Overall, the title offers a glimpse of Chinese systems transitioning to Chinese-American culture.

Genre: Folktales, Fairy Tales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Rainbow People, Mightier than the Sword, The Seven Chinese Brothers

Personal Thoughts: The text provides an intriguing sequel to The Rainbow People. Much like the previous title, the book presents timeless stories in a timeless fashion by avoiding slang, excessively-elaborate diction (see what I did there), and watercolor illustrations. Additionally, the stories play on consistantly relevant themes, such as courage, generosity, bravery, and faithfulness. 

Mythical Birds and Beasts from Many Lands

Mayo, Margaret. Mythical Birds and Beasts from Many Lands. New York : Dutton Children's Books, 1997.

Plot: The text includes classic stories of some of the world's most famous mythical creatures. Unicorns and Phoenix enjoy stories highlighting their unusual lifestyles and near-divine power. Other tales, particularly the story of the mermaid and pegasus, serve to warn listeners of pride and perilous creatures. A few tales attempt to explain the origin of particular land or cultural features, such as the story of the thunder bird, Quetzacoatl, and naga. The book also features bright, elaborate illustrations of the creatures and their actions.

Genre: Animals, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Water Horse, Greek Myths

Personal Thoughts: The book manages to utilize solid storytelling to introduce little-known creatures like the naga and refresh popular ones like the unicorn. Personally, I do not particularly care for the illustration style, which mixes watercolor, printed text, and layered paper. Yet, the pictures still manage to add to the exotic aspect of the "Many Lands" title. Highly recommended for fans of mythology and fairy tales. 

A Book of Magic Animals

Manning-Sanders, Ruth. A Book of Magic Animals. New York : Dutton, 1974.

Plot: A collection of supernatural animal stories from around the world. Some of the creatures, such as a clever monkey, small-toothed dog, golden goose, and eloquent bear, merely hide human beings under the enchanted coats of their respective animals. Other beasts are genuinely what they appear to be, such as a generous ox from Europe. A few, though, hide genuinely magical traits within their furry bodies or slimy skin. All of them participate in the destruction of evil to achieve happy endings.

Genre: Animals, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: A Book of Dragons, The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales from Around the World, Aesop's Fables

Personal Thoughts: A book tragically no longer in print. Rather than try to tempt readers with new stories or updated revisions, Manning-Sanders simply records the stories in a classical manner, which manages to capture ageless themes in a refreshing form. The title proves a book does not need to be original to be entertaining, but needs to offer a good story.

The Beasts of Never: A Natural History and Unnatural Monsters Mythical and Magical

McHargue, Georgess. The Beasts of Never: A Natural History and Unnatural Monsters Mythical and Magical. New York : Delacorte Press, 1988.

Plot: Throughout history, tales of supernatural creatures stalked every culture. The book attempts to identify some of the most famous mythical creatures and their powers. However, the text also tries to recognized the original sources of the creatures. For example, dragons may have sprung from sightings of large crocodiles and snakes. McHargue traces various creatures' changes through history, as well. For example, naturalists initially depicted unicorns as fierce, donkey-like or ox-like creatures, while modern interpretations display them as benign equine animals. Eventually, the text realizes nearly all myths are merely stories. With exceptions. Even in modern times, some myths, such as the Loch Ness monster manage to capture the imagination and inspire new stories.

Genre: Folktales, Fairy Tales, Animals, History

Reading Level: Grades 4-9; some technical language may annoy readers, however.

Similar Titles: Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Magic of Mythical Creatures

Personal Thoughts: While the book presents abundant information, it has not aged well. Many of the facts about modern animals, such as eels, one-horned goats, and narwhals, are not accurate. Some of the "facts" about Nessie became known as hoaxes after the book's publication. Also, the technical language can intimidate the reader. Still, it offers a solid attempt to explain the unexplainable, saving it from the library's book sale bin.

Side Note: The little white dragon in the backgrounds for this week was actually commissioned by a co-worker. I just wanted to show it off a little.

Zen Shorts

Muth, Jon J. Zen Shorts. New York : Scholastic Press, 2005.

Plot: Karl, Addy, and Michael discover a new neighbor...a panda named Stillwater. The three children eventually overcome their shyness and enjoy spending time with the wise bear with a tent and a red umbrella. He, in turn, teaches them lessons on generosity, forgiveness, and perspective through retelling of traditional Asian folktales.

Genre: Picture Books, Animals, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Titles: The Boy in the Garden, The Dancing Tiger, The Three Questions

Personal Thoughts: The book mingles traditional English and Buddhist storytelling to produce a fable encouraging readers to reconsider their view of the world. Even the pictures include a mix of the two cultures, combining English realism with Asian watercolors. Stillwater's stories feature bolder, cartoon-like ink illustrations, adding to the sense of hearing a story separated from the main plot. The end of the title includes a brief summary of the book's themes and inspirations.  

The Headless Haunt and Other African-American Ghost Stories

Haskins, James Haskins and Otero, Ben. The Headless Haunt and Other African-American Ghost Stories. New York : HarperCollins, 1994.

Plot: A collection of African-American ghost stories originating in the deep South. Most of the stories take a first-person narration, adding to the suspense and believability of the tales. Ghosts taunt ruined cabins, over-curious children, and superstitious characters. Other stories feature "haunts," restless, but sometimes protective, ghosts taking the form of animals or mangled corpses. Themes in the book include respect for tradition, proper burial rites, and acknowledgment of the supernatural. A frightful, and occasionally insightful, read.

Genre: Collections, Short Stories, Horror, Folktales, African-American

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: Scared Witless, The Man Who Tricked a Ghost, Raw Head, Bloody Bones: African-American Tales of the Supernatural

Personal Thoughts: I tend to spook easily, so I thought the book was pretty scary. Other reviewers find the stories mellow or even comical. Still, the collection offers a view of the supernatural in a unique manner. The book relates the stories, but it also describes their origins. Many of the tales emerge through a mix of African, American, and European superstition and beliefs. As such, the stories offer a view of a unique culture during the post-Civil War period.

More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World

Olsen, Arielle North Olson; Schwartz Howard Schwartz; and Gist E. M. More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World. New York : Viking, 2008.

Plot: A collection of frightening stories from different cultures. Some stories echo traditional themes, such as being careful what to wish for, obeying parents, being kind to others, and avoiding strangers. Others seem a bit more foreign, such as the story of the grey, hairy arm and the tale of the iron scorpion. Even traditional motifs, such as headless horsemen, restless ghosts, and grim challenges take elaborate variations. Perhaps the only consistent theme in every story is the twist ending.

Genre: Horror, Folktales, Fairy Tales, Monsters

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: Scary Stories: Tales to Chill Your Bones, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Personal Thoughts: I have never really been a fan of horror stories (I spook easily). Still, the collection kept my attention without creeping me out too much. The twists kept me guessing, because, like the best horror, the protagonist was not guaranteed to survive the ending. Yet, the majority of the stories end on poetic justice with monsters defeated and unfair bargains broken. Still, every once in a story, someone does not make off quite as well as would be expected...

The Blizzard of 1896

Bird, E. J. The Blizzard of 1896. Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books, 1990.

Plot: Uncle Tim, one of the family's oldest survivors, often reflects on the intense blizzard of 1896 and the strange stories that arose from it. Such stories include a farmer loosing his white barn in the snow, a prospector's sudden night vision, and a failed but successful feast. While the stories contain a solid, home-grown feel, they lead to the "author's" own blizzard story. His story of the blizzard lacks snow, but includes the assault of a fierce bearskin rug.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Folktales

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: American Tall Tales, The Tales of Uncle Remus

Personal Thoughts: Often, readers view historical fiction as a fairly new phenomena. However, it dates back to the stories of Romulus and Remus in ancient Rome. The novel reminds readers of the agelessness of historical fiction through its slightly larger-than-life stories of the everyman in a large blizzard. A good complement to a collection of tall tales or American folklore.

Ninja Attack!: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai, and Outlaws

Yoda, Hiroko and Alt, Matt. Ninja Attack!: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai, and Outlaws. New York : Kodansha International, 2010.

Plot: Yoda and Alt make a solid attempt to separate fact from fiction in this history book. Ninjas, they explain, were not the black-clad shinobi recognized today. Instead, ninjas provided information and assassinations, usually for a price or for country, disguised as "plainsclothes" - farmers, servants, and other, normal, people. Yet, ninjas enjoyed a mythical status even early in their creation. As a result, the two authors discuss factual ninjas, mythical ninjas, non-ninjas (with ninja-like behavior), and Oda Nobunaga, the ultimate ninja killer.

Genre: History, Ninjas, Myth, Folktales

Reading Level: Most of the writing is fairly high-brow, but information about assassins, spys, and femme fatales may not be suitable for younger readers.

Similar Titles: Ninja: The Shadow Warrior, 101 Great Samurai Prints

Personal Thoughts: I would definitely recommend this to any ninja (and even most non-ninja) fans. The book considers both the modern view and influence of ninjas as well as the actual origins of the so-called dark warriors in a comprehensible manner without being patronizing. Additionally, the illustrations attract attention while adding to the stories of the larger-than-life individuals.

As a side note, there is nothing special about the photo. It is just a standard mosasaur in a woven jewelry box.

Japanese Tales (Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore Library)

Tyler, Royall. Japanese Tales (Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folktale Library). New York : Pantheon Books, 1987.

Plot: With over 180 folk and fairy tales from early Japan, the book offers a good overview of Japanese monsters, heroes, proverbs, and fables. Some stories tap into popular concepts, such as dragons' gifts, tengu tricks, and heroic deeds. Others reflect lesser-known ideas, such as cleansing rituals and Shinto rites. To assist newcomers to Japanese concepts, Royall includes a introduction offering insight into ancient Japanese culture.

Genre: Folktales, Fairy Tales

Reading Level: Aimed at adults; many stories contain graphic or sexual descriptions, so be cautious about suggesting it to younger readers.

Similar Titles: Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yokai, Tales of Old Japan: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Ghost Stories and Legends of the Samurai

Personal Thoughts: Japanese folktales are intense. Then again, so are "un-Disneyed" European folktales. I do not know when people decided such stories are suitable for children, but a quick read of unedited folktales reveals stories with more gore, sexual innuendos, and tragedy than most R rated films. That said, I like the book. It does reveal common themes in Japanese stories and, for anime and manga fans, offers insight to some popular Japanese concepts. Just do not read it out loud at the next preschool story hour.