Fav Stories Many Land

by Walter Retan

Fourteen tales from as many countries, including England's Lazy Jack, India's Tit for Tat, and West Africa's How There Came to Be Anansi Stories. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0448191830
• ISBN13: 9780448191836
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.4" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A very nice collection of folk tales from around the world.

This is a great collection of international folk tales for children. Some of the stories included are fairly common (i.e. "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"), while others may be new to you. It's been one of my favorites since I was young. The writing is very simple, so it can either be read aloud to a child or they can read it themselves. Most of the stories have some sort of moral or lesson, though others are simply good for a laugh. Each tale is, as the book's title suggests, from a different part of the world, as follows:Norway: "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" - This story is known by most children, but seems to be a favorite. This version is traditional - three goats wish to cross a bridge to reach a pasture on the other side, but must first outwit the hungry troll that lurks beneath.Spain: "Little Half-Chick" - Here a spoiled young chicken is so full of himself that he refuses to help those that ask for his assistance. Eventually he is taught a grave lesson as those whom he spurned catch up with him to mete out punishment.India: "Tit for Tat" - A camel carries a jackal (who cannot swim) across a river so the camel can eat sugar cane and the jackal can collect fish and crabs. But the jackal betrays his friend, alerting villagers to the camel's presence in the canefield. The camel then throws the jackal into the water on the return trip. I found this story slightly disturbing.Germany: "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids" - This is similar to the story of "Little Red Riding Hood." Seven goat kids are left at home and told not to open the door for strangers. A wolf tricks them and eats them, and then takes a nap. The mother goat finds him and swaps the eaten kids for large rocks.Russia: "The Little Snow Maiden" - An old man and woman, sad that they have had no children, decide to build a snow maiden one winter. She comes to life and brings them much happiness, but then disappears when summer arrives.Rumania: "Why the Woodpecker Has a Long Beak" - This is another version of the Greek myth of Pandora's box. Here an old woman is given a sack and told not to open it. Of course, she does, and unleashes a multitude of bugs, and as punishment is turned into a woodpecker who must re-collect all the insects.Japan: "Little Peachling" - The point of this story was rather lost on me. It tells of a boy found in a giant peach. He departs one day for the island of the ogres to "put an end to their evil mischief-making." With some friends, he ultimately sends the ogres packing and collects their treasure.England: "Lazy Jack" - This is another story that seems to have no message other than that bumbling blockheads can stumble upon good fortune. It's still entertaining, however, as we see Lazy Jack repeatedly make stupid mistakes while trying to help his mother. He ultimately marries a beautiful girl after making her laugh for the first upon seeing him carrying a donkey on his shoulder (much like the story of "The Golden Goose").France: "The Three Wishes" - Here we get