This collection of world tales focuses on stories originating from nearly every continent. They are short, gripping stories that "kick in fast including comedy, trickster, tall tales and family themes for middle and young readers.
Kids love to tell stories among themselves, and the two most popular types are funny stories and scary stories. Scared Witless delivers double dividends - it contains thirteen stories that are funny and scary. These tales are surefire entertainment for sleepovers, summer camp and parties.
This collection of urban myths assembles 50 brief stories from modern oral tradition. Commonly attributed to FOAFs (friend of a friend), they are intriguing and often frightening tales passed along in casual conversation. These tales are the substance of modern folklore, an evolving treasury of narratives. From the famous Vanishing Hitchhiker to incredulous tales of alligators in the New York City sewer system these stories still live in our collective imagination.
A humorous collection of modern urban myths and legends grouped under chapters as "School Days," "The Home Front," "Scary Stories," "Scams and Conspiracies," and "Dumb Luck and Bad Breaks.
This collection of humorous folktales from around the world share one common feature: the character of a fool.
In this book, the award winning author shares humorous childhood memories of Christmas with his family in rural Appalachia.
Appalachian humor can be dry, colorful, and earthy. The chapters vary greatly ranging from topics of Love and Marriage; Schools, Religion; Lawyers; Mountaineers and the Law; Animals and Hunting; Mountaineers and City Folks; Health and Medicine; and Rural Life.
A hilarious collection of short folktales from all over the world featuring silly characters, nonsensical situations, and general tomfoolery.
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.
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.
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.
Posey Prefers Pink introduces an "it-must-be-pink" little girl named Posey and her patient-about-pink family. The story uses a lot of "p-word" alliteration in conveying Posey's preferences for pink furniture and decor, foods, clothes, and toys. She will throw a pink-hot tantrum when her parents try to insist on incorporating other colors into her clothing or food choices. But during a trip to the mall Posey surprises everyone--especially herself--when she suddenly prefers...a purple dress!
Elephant, Alligator, and Stork share poolside hijinks as they mix up their towels, tussle over ice cream, and compare diving styles. Best-selling author/illustrator Ethan Long brings his energetic and engaging style to this delightful story of poolside fun and summertime friendship.
This charming concept book puts the child-reader "in charge" of an assortment of unruly little monsters (stand-ins for their real-life counterparts). Each displays certain "monstrous" behaviors (crabbiness, selfishness, etc.), which kids will recognize in themselves. Being in charge motivates kids to handle/address these behaviors and provides a sense of ownership over how to help them be happier, more well-behaved monsters. It's an ideal little book for young kids to share with a grown-up.
An awesome series takes root! Animal Princess first appeared in The Totally Awesome Epic Quest of the Brave Boy Knight. Now she has her own trio of fulsomely funny adventures (with a cameo by Brave Boy Knight) set in a magical funkadelic kingdom ruled by Queen Mom and King Dad. Though they sometimes force her to wear awful, frilly dresses, Animal Princess prefers magical pajamas, quests, and battling three-headed wizards. Pink? Not her thing! It's radically awesome, big, funny fun!
In this fresh take on a classic tale, a magic meat grinder helps a poor Jewish couple learn a little gratitude after the three wishes it grants them go awry. A cautionary story that questions today's consumerism and excessiveness, Kishka for Koppel, like the best folktales, can help children and adults alike to look both beyond and within.
Kioko had been watching the matatus come and go for as long as he could remember. But today, for his fifth birthday, he climbs aboard one with his grandfather. As the matatu pulls away from the market, the village dogs chase after them. When Kioko asks his grandfather why the dogs always bark and chase after matatus, his grandfather tells him an entertaining tale about a dog, a goat and a sheep. Set in East Africa, The Matatu is a colorful story filled with many unexpected turns and twists along the way.
Tova lives with her family on a small farm in the famous town of Chelm, a mythical village populated, according to Jewish folklore, by fools. Tova's farm has hens and even a rooster, but no cow. Her mother, Rivka, wishes they could afford to buy a cow, so they could have fresh milk and butter every day. One night Tova's father has a dream about how to get milk without actually owning a cow. He asks Tova to help him find a way to get milk from their hens, and the results are hilarious. Finally, to the family's joy and the hens' relief, the problem is solved by none other than the wise Rabbi of Chelm himself, and a little extra help from Tova.
A different take on the original nursery rhyme as Humpty's friends fall off chairs and all the kings horses and all the kings men cook them into something else such as eggnog, chocolate cake, or a poached egg. In the end, he learns that even though they are a different shape they are still his friends.
This book takes students through the exciting adventures of dinosaur hunting through grass, a jungle, and mud until they find one and have to quickly retrace their steps back to safety.
The star of Bear in Underwear is back in another zany adventure, this time on the soccer field. Bear's lucky white boxers turn PINK in a laundry mishap, his teammates are embarrassed, and members of the other team tease him. Will Bear still wear his lucky underwear? Kids will love Goldman's bold illustrations, comic sensibility, and the return of their favorite bear!
Hilarious hi-jinks are at the heart of best-selling author/illustrator Ethan Long's re-telling of "The House That Jack Built." An infectious, rhythmic refrain, along with a kooky cast of characters and comic-style illustrations, will be a sure-fire success with readers of all ages.
Doodle dynamo Deborah Zemke is back with 36 new placemats, featuring tongue-in-cheek table manner lessons from a crew of zany animal friends. Zemke has taught many readers - and eaters - how to make fun, easy, and personality-filled doodles in her best-selling Doodle books and placemats. This set is sure to be another hit with diners.
