Nine inspiring folktales about heroes, including selections from Hungary, Switzerland, India, Japan, and other parts of the world. Each of these classic stories shares an inspiring message of courage and perseverance.
Everyone remembers the exploits of Br'er Rabbit and his cohorts Br'er Fox, Br'er Possum, and other sly characters. But while these tales were circulating among slaves in the southern United States, another set of stories was passed along just as enthusiastically only here the clever tricksters were female. Who better to tackle the stories of these sister tricksters than the San Souci brothers? Utilizing a contagiously rhythmic, pitch-perfect dialect, writer Robert gleefully interprets the exploits of Molly Cottontail, Miz Grasshopper, Miz Duck, and Miz Goose against worthy (and not-so-worthy) foes such as Mistah Slickry Sly-fox, Mistah Rooster, and Mistah Bear. Brother Daniel's comically realistic paintings capture the slapstick frenzy of these characters engaged in battles of wits against the rural Southern landscape that nourished the tales in their infancy.
A collection of nine traditional tales about leprechauns, dwarfs, shapeshifters and other enchanted creatures from various countries, including Russia, Norway, and Germany.
This collection of nine short stories features a range of cat "tales" from different countries that are especially worth sharing. You will find stories that explain why cats choose women over men, how cats trick other (in cat's view) "lesser" animals, how cats outwit humans, and how cats wait patiently for their time in the sun.
This unique collection of American stories from the frozen tundra of Alaska to the lush green hills of Virginia; from the sweltering bayous of Louisiana to the windswept prairies of South Dakota is told in DeSpain's signature gentle style. Every reader will find something of interest - the stories range from practical tales of wisdom such as Pulling the Rope to silly and scary ones such as The Haint that Roared and The Big, Smelly, Hairy Toe. The stories represent not only the geographic diversity of the United States but also offer a portrait of our nation's character, values, beliefs, and customs that differ from region to region yet retain a fundamental sense of shared community.
Maybe it's because his mother was a teacher. Or maybe it's because he has spent most of his life in classrooms - as a wide-eyed first grader, a naive college student, a seminarian, and now as a visiting writer in residencies across the country. There's something about school that infuses the work of Donald Davis and he has collected his all-time favorite school stories in the book. Whether we're traveling around the world with Miss Daisy, the fourth grade teacher who was integrating arithmetic, geography and English before the term whole language ever surfaced; or watching in awe as a classmate conjugates malaprops in Miss Vergilius Darwin's Latin class; or driving a school bus and learning about segregation - we experience flashes of recognition in moments that transcend Donald Davis's childhood stories.
The author presents eight short stories about his mother and other family members as they grew up in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Bubbling with beautiful princesses, dragon-slaying underdogs, and crafty tricksters, these Franco-American stories explore a heritage that has become known as "a quiet presence". Co-authors, Parent and Olivier recount the lutin's tricks on farmers, the Jack-like adventures of Ti-Jean, Pierre and his modern-day chainsaw, a beautiful princess conquering an evil witch, and family stories passed down from generation to generation. Meet Michael's grandfather, Honor Fournier, who spoiled his grandchildren with kindly generosity, and Alexis Lacasse, Julien's grandfather, who didn't let a prank stop him from arriving to dinner on time. Life in Franco-American families revolved around two entities: family and church. The authors address these two important aspects and how they have influenced their stories. Olivier and Parent inherited their families' love of stories and continue that legacy by sharing their ancestry and heritage in this charming book.
The fourteen personal stories in this delightful coming of age book apply universal elements with characters and situations that everyone will recognize so that only the names, places and times change from our own childhood stories.
Jim May writes the stories of his youth, growing up in the rural Midwest between the Truman and the JFK eras, where trading stories was as common as trading horses, and frequently required the same skills. Neighboring, as his mother called it, was part of the social fabric. These 18 poignant and humorous stories of life's joys and trials told with the freshness of youth, yet tempered with the wisdom of age evoke a simpler time in our nation's history without romanticizing the inherent hardships.
This collection of African-American folktales highlights the unbroken chain of a rich oral tradition. The stories share the richness and variety of a cultural heritage that has crossed the Atlantic, survived slavery, and triumphed over the ignorance of racism and bigotry.
Highly acclaimed, award winning author Donald Davis wants us all to remember and share our family stories. Among other tall tales, he writes about how his uncle hung onto the multitudinous Democratic votes of the Ratherton clan while at the very same time keeping them from shooting Davis' squirrels in a lean year; how he got Phyleete, wife Jolly, their eleven sub-natural sons and one forgettably natural daughter to move their log house from the unlikely place they'd built it; and how he tried to solve the problem of the chatty Misses Lena and Lucy Leatherwood, who clogged up the eight-party telephone line so badly that Uncle Frank paid for his new phone four months before he ever got the chance to talk on it. Davis offers seventeen vintage family stories, including Rainy Weather, The Southern Bells, and Old Man Hawkins' Lucky Day.
In this abundant and kaleidoscopic collection, Spagnoli includes stories from Japan, India, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Laos, Tibet, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Burma, and Nepal. After profiling modern Asian storytellers practicing traditional storytelling styles, she arranges the stories around dominant Asian themes such as Harmony and Friendship
High John the Conqueror sometimes called simply High John or John was a slave trickster who always outwits Old Master. Much like Greek slave Aesop's animal characters, High John was the subject of a series of subversive narratives, whose mission was to outsmart his oppressors. Tall tales of High John's exploits flourished during slavery, but after emancipation they fell out of circulation and his antics were all but forgotten.
An examination of the differences in religious and political beliefs between Western nations and Islamic extremists, as well as the ways in which information is shared and manipulated.
A compelling look at the Mongols, including how they built the most widespread empire in history, their lifestyle, their weapons, and how they remain a part of today's culture through books and film.
A compelling look at the Vikings, including the ways they terrorized western Europe, their lifestyle, their weapons, and how they remain a part of today's culture through books and film.
In this title, examine the life of accomplished physics researcher and experimentalist Chien-Shiung Wu. Readers will enjoy digging into Wu's personal story, beginning with her childhood in China where her father encouraged her curiosity and interest in science. Students can trace Wu's success from her education at the University of California-Berkeley, where she met physics giants Oppenheimer, Fermi, and Segre, to her secret involvement with the Manhattan Project and her tenure as a researcher and professor at Columbia University. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as nuclear physics, beta decay, and the law of parity. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of imaginative biotechnology inventor and health care pioneer Hayat Sindi. Readers will enjoy digging into Sindi's personal story, beginning with her childhood in Saudi Arabia and her innocent lie to leave and study science and medicine in London. Students can trace Sindi's success, from her education at King's College to her innovations at Cambridge University, Harvard University, and Diagnostics for All. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as how biotechnology can be used for environmental and health care applications. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of adventurous cloud explorer and weather pioneer Joanne Simpson. Readers will enjoy digging into Simpson's personal story, beginning with her childhood flying planes out of Boston and sailing boats at Cape Cod. Students can trace Simpson's success, from her education at the University of Chicago and research at Woods Hole to her work on Project Stormfury with the National Weather Bureau and the development of the TRMM satellite with NASA. Engaging text and photos offer insight on meteorology topics such as cloud formation, hurricanes, tropical rainfall, and more. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of imaginative space traveler and medical innovator Mae Jemison. Readers will enjoy digging into Jemison's personal story, beginning with her childhood in Chicago where she watched Star Trek and conducted dozens of her own science experiments. Students can trace Jemison's success, from her education at Stanford University and Cornell University to her years volunteering with the Peace Corps, before her acceptance into the NASA space program and flight into space on the Endeavour. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as astronomy, gravity, and biomedical engineering. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of dedicated children's doctor and public health servant Antonia Novello. Readers will enjoy digging into Novello's personal story, beginning with her childhood in Puerto Rico where she found inspiration in her own childhood illness to become a doctor. Students can trace Novello's success from her education at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School to her work with the National Institutes of Health, her tenure as US Surgeon General, and her service as commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. Engaging text and photos offer insight on health concerns relating to children, women, ethnic groups, and poor communities. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in China, land of the Forbidden City, the Yangtze River, the Great Wall of China, more than 1 billion people, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces China's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Brazil, land of the Amazon River, coffee, Carnaval, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Brazil's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Egypt, land of the Sphinx, the ancient city of Alexandria, the Nile River, the Aswan High Dam, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Egypt's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
