Home

Children's
Books

Folk Literature has existed for thousands of years, handed down from generation to generation. Most folk literature consists of stories in the form of fairy tales, fables, folktales, legends, and myths. However, nursery rhymes, proverbs, riddles, songs, superstitions, and religious celebrations are also included in this category.

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great, written by Gerald Morris, illus. by Aaron Renier, (Houghton Mifflin Co., 2008), 96p, Ages 6-10.
Of all the knights in Arthurian England, "there was none so fearless, so chivalrous, so honorable, so . . . shiny as the dashing Sir Lancelot." In nine chapters, the humorous adventures of Lancelot the Great surround his obsession with sparkling, spotless armor, his capture by a jealous knight, his subsequent escape using acorns, his abduction by four queens, and more. Weary from confrontations, he retires and becomes a hermit, only to return to save Queen Guinevere's honor. Lancelot ultimately learns that tournaments and shinning armor are for other knights; plain armor will do, as long as he can defend the helpless and protect the weak. Oh yes, and take an afternoon nap. This is a good book for reluctant readers and a great read-aloud.

The Apple-Pip Princess, written/illus. by Jane Ray, (Candlewick Press, 2008), 32p, Ages 6+.
In a barren land without laughter and happiness, the youngest of three princesses brings life and hope to her kingdom with an apple-pip (seed). The old king gives his daughters a task to prove which one will rule the kingdom when he dies. "You must each do something to make your mark-something to make me proud." Suzanne, the oldest, builds a tall, wooden tower to the moon. Miranda, the second princess, builds a metal tower to reach the stars. Both assume that the people will love their achievements and will not mind being poor and hungry. The youngest, Serenity, uses an apple seed left to her by her mother to start an orchard. With help from the villagers, who bring gifts of orange and lemon pips, on the seventh day the desolate kingdom returns to its original green, and Serenity is declared the winner. This original fairy tale with its distinctive illustrations reminds us of the importance of keeping our environment and community healthy.

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale, adapted/illus. by Gerald McDermott, (Viking Children's Books, 2004), 48p, Ages 4-8.
Back in print after 30 years, this Pueblo Indian legend explains how the source of life, the Solar Fire, came into the world of men. A Caldecott Medal was awarded in 1975.

Basho and the River Stones, written by Tim Myers, illus. by Oki S. Han, (Marshall Cavendish, 2004), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Basho, a great Japanese poet, lives in the forest and shares cherries with the local foxes. One greedy fox desires all the cherries and tricks Basho into giving them up. Basho may be poor, but he is wise enough to outfox the trickster. The young fox realizes his deception and decides that sharing is much more rewarding.

Beauty and the Beast, retold by Max Eilenberg, illus. by Angela Barrett, (Candlewick Press, 2006), 64p, Ages 6-10.
Timeless fairy tales such as this one make for great storytelling. Set in the nineteenth century, a brave young girl begins a journey to rescue her father from the dazzling palace of a sad and lonely monster, who is looking for release from a terrible spell. Due to her great capacity to love, Beauty frees a handsome prince from his prison as an ugly beast. "And very soon afterward they were married, and of course they lived happily ever after, for they had earned their love, and love that is earned lasts a very long time, and about that there really is no more to say." This famous story of transforming love, courage, and hope is a quite different retelling from Disney's.

Bella at Midnight, written by Diane Stanley, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline, (HarperCollins, 2006), 208p, Ages 10+.
Loosely based on "Cinderella" the heroine, Bella, is poor but of noble birth. Unwanted by her father after her mother's death, Bella is sent to live with a surrogate family. Poor but content, neither Bella nor her best friend Prince Julian notice the differences in their status. Now sixteen, Bella discovers that she is the daughter of a knight, and returns to live with her strange father, cold stepmother and unfriendly stepsisters. Caught up in a plot between two warring kingdoms (one of which is Prince Julian's), Bella finds help from a godmother with three enchanted gifts. Thus, she begins a journey to prevent the destruction of their world. Set in a medieval world, there is a love story as well as with strong values of loyalty, truth, and honor.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf, written by B. G. Hennessy, illus. by Boris Kulikov, (Simon & Schuster, 2006), 40p, Ages 3-7.
Parents have warned children for years about the consequences of "crying wolf." In this new version, a young shepherd is bored and decides to trick the townspeople into believing that wolves are after his sheep. The townspeople are fooled twice, but the third time when the wolves actually show up, they ignore the shepherd. All ends well. The sheep seek shelter up in a tree, the wolves go without a tasty dinner, and the dishonest shepherd hopefully learns his lesson. This one begs to be read aloud.

Bub or the Very Best Thing, written & illus. by Natalie Babbitt, (Michael di Capra Books, 1994), 32p, Ages 3-7.
A dispute arises between the King and Queen regarding what is best for the young Prince. Everyone in the castle is asked their opinion, but no one knows except the Prince and his four-legged friend.

But Who Will Bell the Cats?, written/illus. by Cynthia Von Buhler, (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009), 32p, Ages 4-7.
According to an Aesop's Fable, mice of long ago proposed to attach a bell to their common enemy, the cat, in order to hear its approach. However, the question of who would do the deed remained a mystery. Cynthia von Buhler has finally solved the riddle through the efforts of a small mouse and brown bat, who attempt to place bells around the necks of eight pampered castle cats. "Upstairs, the cats ate at the banquet table in the elegant dinning hall. Down below, Mouse ate crumbs that fell through the floorboards into the basement." Determined to enjoy the castle's luscious banquet, Mouse devises several schemes that involve armor, a dog costume, and a fashion show. However, Mouse is always captured and rescued by Brown Bat. During a birthday party for the Princess of the castle, his mission is finally accomplished with help from an unusual source. With themes of bravery, creativity, and determination, an act of kindness finally bells the cats. The original fable prefaces the story.

Cactus Soup, written by Eric A. Kimmel, illus. by Phil Huling, (Marshall Cavendish, 2004),
32p, Ages 4-8.
During the Mexican Revolution, a group of hungry soldiers trick the townspeople, who refuse to feed them, into making soup. The Captain asks for a cactus thorn to make soup, and before long, the townspeople contribute vegetables, chilies and chicken.

The Dragon In the Sock Drawer, written by Kate Klimo, illus. by John Shroades, (Random House, 2008), 176p, Ages 8-12.
"The world is talking to us. Everything in it has a story to tell. All we have to do is sit quietly and listen. This story begins with a rock . . ." During their summer vacation, ten-year-old cousins, Jesse and Daisy, discover what they think is a thunder egg or geode. When the egg suddenly hatches and a very loud, green baby dragon emerges, they assume responsibility of raising Emmy. An internet search leads them to "foundadragon.org," which explains that they are now "Dragon Keepers" and must protect Emmy from a centuries old legend, Saint George. This black-cloaked stranger stays alive by drinking the blood of dragons, and he desperately searches for Emmy. The loveable dragon has a mind of his own and thwarts Saint George in a very unexpected way. Children will look forward to the next installment.

East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon, translated by George Webbe Dasent, illus. by P.J. Lynch, (Candlewick Books, HC 2005, Paper 2005), 48p, Ages 7-12. A romantic Norwegian fairy tale of a young girl who travels east of the sun and west of the moon to find her beloved. As with good fairy tales, there is a quest, a magic spell, strangers bearing gifts, an impossible road to travel, and, of course, good triumphing over evil. Reissued after 13 years, P. J. Lynch's illustrations are always marvelous.

The Elephant Child, written by Rudyard Kipling, illus. by Arlette Lavie, (Child's Play, Ltd. 1986), 36p, Ages 4-8.
The question of why elephants have long trunks is answered when a small elephant with a stubby nose and an unquenchable curiosity decides to find out what a crocodile eats for dinner. The crocodile, happy to accommodate, latches onto the elephant's nose. The resulting tug-of-war produces a very long nose and the discovery of its many uses.

Epossumondas Saves the Day, written by Coleen Salley, illus. by Janet Stevens, (Harcourt Children's Books, 2006, 48p, Ages 4-7.
Down by the sugarcane fields on the banks of Bayou Lafourche, Mama bakes Epossumondas's favorite dessert for his birthday. With no sallyraytus (baking soda) left to make the fluffy biscuits, Mama enlists the guests to trot down to the local store and buy some. One by one, they meet with a hungry "GREAT, HUGE, UGLY LOUISIANA SNAPPING TURTLE". It's Epossumondas who saves the day by using sallyraytus to rescue everyone. Lovable characters and a frightening villain, together with colorful, expressive illustrations, make this a delightful read.

The Extra-Ordinary Princess, written by Carolyn Q. Ebbitt, (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2009), 320p, Ages 8-12.
The youngest of four princesses in the kingdom of Gossling, 12-year-old Amelia, feels very ordinary and unexceptional. With frizzy red hair, a bit of a temper, and little interest in schooling, she is happy to have her oldest sister reign as Queen someday. When a mysterious plague spreads throughout the kingdom, Amelia, her best friend Henry, and sisters are sent to Gossling's mountain palace for protection. When their parents succumb to the plague, a distant cousin, Count Raven, becomes interim ruler until the oldest princess turns eighteen. As he proceeds to wreak havoc on the kingdom, the three older sisters are turned into swans and a weeping willow. Amelia escapes the transformations and realizes that only she can save the kingdom. With the help of friends and family, Amelia finds hidden courage and magical knowledge needed to outwit and defeat the evil Count. With many twists and turns, good battling evil, unusual magic, hidden identities, and lessons of courage and perseverance, readers will not be able to put this one down.

The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Tales, written by Gail Carson Levine, illus. by Mark Elliott, (HarperCollins, 2006), 288p, Ages 7-12.
Six of Levine's Princess Tales from the magical village of Snettering-on-Snoakes in the Kingdom of Biddle is now contained in one anthology. Readers/listeners will laugh at a meddlesome, but well-meaning fairy, whose spells go awry in "The Fairy's Mistake ". An ordinary, but slightly allergic girl must prove she can feel a pea under twenty mattresses in "The Princess Test". A princess is endowed with too many gifts at birth from "Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep". From "Cinderellis and the Glass Hill", a young inventor tries to rescue Princess Marigold by climbing a glass hill with his "all-purpose oil-repellent extra-strength time-release on-off sticky power". Young Parsley, turned into a toad, must convince a prince to propose marriage to break the spell in "For Biddle's Sake". Last but not least, in the "The Fairy's Return", based on "The Golden Goose", a baker's son tries to win the hand of Princess Lark by making her laugh.

The Firebird, retold/illus. by Demi, (Henry Holt, 2005), 32p, Ages 6-10.
Reissued in paperback, this well-known Russian favorite tells the legend of a young archer who must undertake a series of difficult tasks to win the hand of the lovely Princess Vassilissa. With the aid of his magical horse, Dimitri fulfills the tsar's requests and wins the hand of the princess. Demi's illustrations are exquisite.

A Flea in the Ear, written by Stephen Willie, illus. by Ken Brown, (Dutton Children's Books, 1995), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A big lovable hound dog, guardian of the chicken coop, has a major flea problem. When a sneaky fox proposes a plan to rid him of the fleas, the chickens end up missing. Discover how one industrious dog outfoxes the thief, makes a deal with the fleas and gets his chickens back home safe.

Genies, Meanies, and Magic Rings: Three Tales from the Arabian Nights, retold by Stephen Mitchell, illus. by Tom Pohrt, (Walker Books, 2007), 192p, Ages 9-12.
Deceit, greed, justice, and faith are dealt with in this child-friendly version of the thousand-year-old tales from The Arabian Nights. "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" tells of a poor man who discovers thieves' gold in a cave, eludes the swords and spears of the thieves, and uses wisdom to manage his great wealth. "Abu Keer and Abu Seer" presents the story of two men (one good and one bad), the trials they suffer at each other's hands, and a king who can kill with a glance. The third tale, "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp", is set in China, and surrounds a poor boy, his mother, a sorcerer, a magic lamp, a genie, and the rescue of a princess. The afterword discusses the origins of the tales originally told by merchants who traveled on the Silk Road between China and the Middle East and the influence of 16th and 17th century European translations.

Gingerbread Baby, written & illus. by Jan Brett, (G.P. Putnam Sons, 1999), 36p, Ages 4-8.
In this delightful retelling of the beloved children's classic, the gingerbread cookie escapes from the oven in Matti's kitchen and is chased by many humans and animals, just staying out of reach. In the borders of each page another story is unfolding.

Goldilocks, retold/illus. by Ruth Sanderson, (Little, Brown & Co., 2009), 32p, Ages 4+.
"Goldilocks loved to pick blueberries. That morning, she wandered from bush to bush to bush, and before she knew it, she was standing in front of a cottage she had never seen before." Forgetting her manners, Goldilocks creates a mess by eating the inhabitants' porridge, breaking their chairs, and sleeping in their beds. Confronted by the bear inhabitants, Goldilocks is embarrassed by her rudeness and makes amends by straightening up and helping around the house with chores. Offering the bears her bucket of blueberries, they all pitch in to make blueberry muffins. Endpapers offer a delicious recipe for blueberry muffins. Of the numerous renditions of Goldilocks, this interpretation, with its delightful twist and happy ending will appeal to a new generation.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears, written & illus. by Janet Stevens, (Holiday House, 1986), 32p,
Ages 4-8.
A little girl wanders into the home of the three bears, helps herself to food, breaks the furniture, and falls asleep. The bears, however, do not take kindly to the intrusion. The message of disobedience and taking care of other's possessions is cleverly told through an ageless story handed down to each generation.

Good Enough to Eat, written/illus. by Brock Cole, (Farrar Straus, and Giroux, 2007), 32p, Ages 8+.
When an Ogre comes to town demanding a bride, the mayor decides to sacrifice a pesky, homeless girl. The poor girl is dressed in fine clothes and a paper crown, put in a sack, and is left outside the town gate to wait for the Ogre. Discover how the resourceful girl manages to outwit the Ogre and townspeople, earn a fine dowry of gold and jewels, a sharp sword, and a name for herself, Good-Enough-to-Eat.

The Goose Girl, written by Shannon Hale, (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2005 Paper, 2003 HC), 400p, Ages 10+.
In this retelling of a famous Grimms fairy tale, a young princess, on her way to marry a prince she has never met, must use all her resources to outwit attackers. Betrayed by her lady-in-waiting, Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee becomes a goose girl to survive until she can prove her identity and reclaim her rightful crown.

Hansel and Gretel, adapted by Michael Morpurgo, illus. by Emma Chichester Clark, (Candlewick Press2008), 64p, Ages 6-10.
In this rendition of the famous fairytale, Hansel and Gretel's evil stepmother convinces their father to abandon the children in the forest. However, their father has second thoughts and provides a way home for them. Again, the stepmother persuades their father to send them away, but this time the crumbs they leave on the ground are eaten by a magpie. Deep in the forest, the siblings come upon a sugarcoated gingerbread cottage inhabited by a witch. The children endure capture and torment until Gretel tricks the witch, shoves her into an oven, and rescues Hansel. Upon returning home, they find their real mother, who is no longer under the witch's/stepmother's spell, and they all live happy ever after. Themes of abandonment, starvation, and fear are countered by family love and support.

Henny Penny, written by Vivian French, illus. by Sophie Windham, (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2006), 32p, Ages 4-8.
According to Henny Penny, this is the real story of what happened when an acorn fell on her head. On the way to tell the king, she met Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey, who decided to come along. However, they encountered Foxy Loxy who convinced them that he knew the way. Of course, his way was right into the boiling pot for dinner. She saved the day by volunteering to clean his dirty house, and while Foxy napped, they all snuck away. An excellent retelling of a favorite tale.

Honey…Honey…Lion!: A Story from Africa written/illus. by Jan Brett, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005), 32p, Ages 4+.
Two animals from the African plains work together to share their food. The honeyguide bird finds the honeycomb and the African honey badger breaks it open. One day, the badger becomes greedy and the honeyguide bird decides to teach him a lesson, one which will change badger's life forever.

Igraine the Brave, written/illus. by Cornelia Funke, translated by Anthea Bell, (Scholastic Books, 2007), 224p, Ages 9-12.
Not wishing to become a magician like her parents and brother, Igraine dreams of becoming a knight. On the eve of her twelfth birthday, her parents misspeak a spell and turn themselves into pigs, and a neighbor's greedy nephew tries to capture Pimpernel Castle to steal the magic books belonging to her family. Big brother Albert, enlists the help of the castle's fire-breathing gargoyles, stone-roaring lions, and moat-hissing snakes to defend the castle. Meanwhile, Igraine befriends the Sorrowful Knight who teaches her the rules of chivalry: "Never turn your skill with a sword against weaker opponents, use it only in self-defense-and never use it to enrich yourself." Together they retrieve needed hairs from a redheaded giant to turn Igraine's parents human again, and all work together to defeat Osmund the Greedy and save the castle. Other delightful characters include Sisyphus, Igraine's talking cat, singing magic books with faces, arms and legs, and the redheaded gentle giant, Garleff. The conclusion of an action-packed battle of magicians will not disappoint readers and listeners.

Jack and the Beanstalk, written by E. Nesbit, illus. by Matt Tavares, (Candlewick Press, 2006), 48p, Ages 4-8.
Just about everything E. Nesbit wrote for children became a classic in the world of children's literature. In her retelling of this famous folktale, Jack is a lazy dreamer, and whatever he manages to do for his mother turns out wrong. One day he trades the family cow for a few beans, and they magically grow into a towering stalk. Curiosity gets the better of Jack, and he climbs up the vine, discovering a land ruled by a greedy, selfish giant. With quick wit, Jack outsmarts the giant, returns stolen treasures to their rightful owner, becomes a hero, and gains a fortune for his mother. Originally published in 1908, this retelling with new illustrations is one of the most memorable; and it should be in every child's library.

The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story, written by Rudyard Kipling, illus by Nicola Bayley, (Candlewick Press, 2005), 160p, Ages 9-12.
Three stories of Mowgli, the man-cub, are presented in this fine unabridged edition. The first, Mowgli's Brother, relates to Mowgli's upbringing by wolves and the lessons learned from Baloo, the bear and Bagherra, the panther. The second story, Kaa's Hunting, surrounds his encounters with Kaa, the python and his kidnapping by the Monkey People. The third, Tiger!, Tiger!, involve his living in an Indian village and clash with the evil tiger, Shere Khan. The Jungle Book was first published in 1894.

Kenny and the Dragon, written/illus. by Tony DiTerlizzi, (Simon & Schuster, 2008), 112p, Ages 8-12.
Reminiscent of The Reluctant Dragon, a curious, well-read rabbit named Kenny, a cultured, crème brûlée-loving dragon named Grahame, and a bookstore owner/retired dragon slayer, George, devise a plan to prevent Grahame from being killed. When they first meet, Kenny is initially wary of Grahame, but he soon realizes that the peace-loving dragon would never think of eating anyone. As their friendship grows, Kenny introduces Grahame to another friend, George, who has been selected by the King to slay the monster. With their shared love of books, the three plot to trick the townspeople and king into viewing a fake battle to end all battles. With the themes of friendship, not judging others, and doing the right thing, Tony DeTerlizzi has created charming characters that children will love and desire to read more about.

The Lion & the Mouse, illus. by Jerry Pinkney, (Little Brown & Co., 2009), 40p, Ages 3-6.
In a nearly wordless interpretation of the popular Aesop's fable, Jerry Pinkney's marvelous rendition takes place in Africa. An adventurous mouse escapes the claws of a hungry owl, only to accidentally disturb a sleeping lion. Trapped in his paws, mouse is graciously freed to live another day. When she later comes upon the lion, caught in a hunter's trap, she remembers the lion's kindness and nibbles through his ropes. The little mouse returns home with a piece of rope for her babies to chew. Endpapers show the mouse and her babies resting on the lion's back for a family outing. Artist's Note explains his concern and reverence for animal life. "It seemed fitting, then, to stage this fable in the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, with its wide horizon and abundant wildlife so awesome yet fragile-not unlike the two sides of each of the heroes starring in this great tale for all times." As always, Jerry Pinkney's illustrations are delightful. @

Little Grunt and the Big Egg: A Prehistoric Fairy Tale, written/illus. by Tomie dePaola, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2006), 32p, Ages 4+.
While gathering eggs for a Sunday brunch, Little Grunt stumbles on the biggest egg that he's ever seen, and drags it home. When a cute, little green dinosaur hatches, the family decides, "Every boy needs a pet." This one grows much too large to keep and Little Grunt returns George to the swamp. When a volcano erupts, the tribe is trapped, but it's George to the rescue, carrying everyone to safety. A must for lovers of original fairy tales, and dinosaurs too.

The Little Red Hen, written/illus. by Jerry Pinkney, (Dial Books, 2006), 32p, Ages 4-7.
In this retelling of a beloved tale, a mother hen, while hunting for worms and berries, finds a few wheat seeds, plants them, tends her garden, cuts the wheat, takes it to the town miller for grinding, and bakes the resulting bread. During each step of the process, this hardworking single mother appeals to neighbors for help, but each replies with a resounding, "Not I." When the glorious smell of baked bread whiffs out hen's window, the animals realize that they will receive no reward, for they refused to help. Lessons of sowing, reaping, responsibility, and consequences make this a grand read-aloud.

Little Red Riding Hood, written/illus. by Jerry Pinkney, (Little, Brown & Co., 2007), 40p, Ages 4-8.
"In a small cottage there lived a sweet little girl and her dear mother, who once made for her daughter a lovely red riding hood." She was known affectionately by everyone in the village as "Little Red Riding Hood." One day her mother asks her to take chicken soup and raisin muffins to her ailing grandmother, and along the way she meets a sly, hungry wolf. When the wolf discovers her mission, he races ahead, gobbles up the grandmother, and waits for Little Red Riding Hood. Jerry Pinkney's story remains faithful to the Grimm Brothers' original fairy tale, where the woodcutter kills the wolf and rescues both the Grandmother and Little Red Riding Hood. The illustrations are enough reason to include this classic tale in a home library.

The Loathsome Dragon, retold by David Wiesner/KimKahng, illus. by David Wiesner, (Clarion Books, 2005), 32p, Ages 5-8.
An evil spell is cast upon a beautiful princess, turning her into a detestable dragon. The spell can only be broken by her wandering brother, who returns just in time to save her and the rest of the kingdom.

Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes, written by Margie Palatini, illus. by Barry Moser, (Simon & Schuster, 2009), 32p, Ages 4-8.
In a humorous twist on the Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Grapes", fox spies mouth-watering grapes on a vine high in a tree. Priding himself on his cleverness, he gathers paper, pencil, and graphs to calculate a method of reaching the luscious grapes. He tells Possum, "Here's the plan. Bear stands-here. Beaver stands on Bear's head-there. Porcupine stands on Beaver's tail. I stand on Porcupine. You stand on me . . . and voila! Grapes!" Each animal tries to convince fox of a simpler plan, but their ideas are ignored. When all his calculations yield no grapes, fox gives up and stomps off stating, "I, for one, wouldn't think of eating those lousy, rotten, stinkin' grapes now, even if I could." The other animals are shown enjoying the grapes thrown down by Possum, who climbed the tree to pick them. Readers and listeners will enjoy the expressions of the doubting animals trying to accommodate the prideful fox.

Merlin and the Making of the King, retold by Margaret Hodges, illus. by Trina Schart Hyman, (Holiday House, 2004), 40p, Ages 8-12.
This brief retelling of three Arthurian tales, "The Sword in the Stone," "Excalibur," and "The Lady of the Lake" is based on Sir Thomas Malory's work. Illustrations by the late Trina Schart Hyman are captivating.

The Musicians of Bremen, written by The Brothers Grimm, retold/illus. by Niroot Puttapipat, (Candlewick Press, 2005), 32p, Ages 5-8.
In this beautiful retelling of a classic fairy tale, four aging animals, no longer of use to their masters, travel to Bremen to become troubadours. Along the way, they meet a band of robbers, who they manage to outwit, and ultimately find a new home. A great retelling that closely resembles the original Bremen Town Musicians published in 1819.

The Nothing King, written by Elle van Lieshout & Erik van Os, illus. by Paula Gerritsen, (Front Street Books, 2004), 32p, Ages 4-7.
King Bear decides to move from his castle to a third floor apartment and discovers that having nothing is more rewarding than have everything. He likes doing things for himself and taking care of the pansies. When the townspeople laugh at his poverty, he realizes that his simplistic lifestyle and happiness are more important.

Old Cricket, written by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Ponder Goembel, (Simon & Shuster, 2003 HC, Aladdin, 2006 PB), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Old Cricket wakes up cranky and refuses to fix the roof for Mrs. Cricket, faking a creak in his knee. Mrs. Cricket promptly packs him a lunch and sends him to the doctor. Along the way, he meets various neighbors, who also listen to his excuses of creaks, cracks, and cricks. When he meets Old Crow, he runs for his life, ending up on Doc's doorstep, this time with real ailments. Upon returning home, ". . . his missus was waiting with a crook in her finger as she pointed her clever husband toward their sagging rooftop."

On the Morn of Mayfest, written by Erica Silverman, & illus. by Marla Frazee, (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Told in cumulative rhyme, a young girl is pursued by a dove, who is trailed by a huntsman, who is frightened by a mouse, who is chased by a cat, and so forth, until an entire medieval village is caught up in the silliness.

The Pea Blossom, retold & illus. by Amy Lowry Poole, (Holiday House, 2005), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen's story "Five Peas in a Pod", small peas, growing in a garden near Beijing, wait to discover what the future has for them. One pea wishes to fly to the sun, another to the moon, two more want to dine with the Emperor, but the smallest pea transforms the lives of a mother and daughter.

Persephone, written by Sally Pomme Clayton, illus. by Virginia Lee, (Eerdman's Books, 2009), 26p, Ages 7-10.
Snatched by Hades, god of the Underworld, the beautiful young goddess, Persephone, is taken to his underground home to become his bride. So distraught over the loss of her daughter, Demeter, goddess of Earth, curses the land, and nothing grows. "It was a year of hunger and misery. It was winter all the time." In an effort to corect the problem, Zeus sends Hermes to fetch Persephone back. Before leaving the underground world, Persephone eats three pomegranate seeds, causing her to remain for three months every year with Hades while winter sets in above ground. This dramatic retelling of a famous Greek myth explains the reason for the changing of seasons. Endnotes describe how Greek myths intermingled with ancient Greek religion and culture.

The Princess and the Unicorn, written by Carol Hughes, (Random House, 2009), 288p, Ages 9-12.
The only witness to the departure of Swinley Forest's sole unicorn is a young fairy, Joyce, who is given the responsibility of retrieving the animal from Buckingham Palace. Uncertain of her ability to fly long distances, Joyce wonders about crossing the sky alone. "She looked up at the tiny patches of sunset that showed through the dark leaves and remembered how terrifyingly big the sky had looked at the edge of the forest." Ten-year-old Princess Eleanor, only child of the British King and Queen, discovers the unicorn during a royal hunt and takes him back to the palace at the instigation of her evil governess, who is interested in selling the unicorn for profit. As both the unicorn and the forest begin to die, the two girls work together with humans and palace fairies to thwart the greedy governess and return the unicorn to its forest home. Overcoming hurdles in both the human and fairy world, they encounter rigid rules, unbending attitudes, evil adversaries, and discover loyalty and friendship.

Princess of the Midnight Ball, written by Jessica Day George, (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2009), 304p, Ages 12+.
Based on the famous Grimms' fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Jessica Day George spins an engaging tale about an honorable young soldier, twelve enchanted princesses, an evil King, an invisible cloak, knitting needles, a magic rug, and a silver forest. Returning from a lengthy war, young Galen is taken in by his uncle, the King's head gardener. He eventually meets Princess Rose and her sisters, who mysteriously disappear each night to dance at the Midnight Ball for the evil King Under Stone and return each morning with worn out shoes. Determined to break the spell, Galen uses information and possessions given to him by an old woman, and follows the princesses for three nights. Working together, Galen and Rose break the spell, defeat dark forces above and below ground, save the kingdom, and find true love. This tale of heroism, perseverance, and love will leave readers yearning for more retellings of classic fairy tales. Endpapers contain a short history of men who knit, patterns for knitting items used in the story, and a Pronunciation Guide to German names.

The Runaway Princess, written by Kate Coombs, (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006), 288p, Ages 10+.
King Stromgard offers his daughter's hand in marriage and half of his kingdom to any prince who can rid his land of an evil dragon, a wicked witch, and bandits, (who steal from the rich and give to the poor.) The only problem is that Princess Margaret objects, and has no intention of remaining sequestered in a tower until the contest is over. Instead, she decides to win the contest with the help of two good friends, a young wizard, and a tough witch. A great tale of enchanted frogs, annoying princes, a baby dragon, a multi-eyed scarf, invisible potions, endearing bandits, and a princess who knows that she was meant for more than embroidery and frilly dresses.

The Search for Delicious, written/illus. by Natalie Babbitt, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2005 Paper, 1969 HC), 176p, Ages 8-12.
Prime Minister DeCree must compile a dictionary for the King, however, no one in the castle can agree on the definition of "delicious." The King sends a twelve-year-old messenger to poll the citizenry, but Gaylen discovers that no one in the kingdom can agree either, and soon the land is on the brink of civil war. It is up to Gaylen to find a suitable definition.

The Seven Silly Eaters, written by Mary Ann Hoberman, illus. by Marla Frazee, (Browndeer Press, 1997) 40p, Ages 4-8.
With every new addition to the Peters family came another persnickety eater. Poor Mrs. Peters was exhausted picking, peeling, straining, scraping, poaching, frying and kneading everyone's preferred food. For mom's birthday, the kids decide to make their own favorite food. However, disaster results and in desperation, the kids hide the evidence in the oven.

The Silk Princess, written/illus. by Charles Santore, (Random House, 2008), 40p, Ages 4-7.
Based on a Chinese legend of how silk was discovered, a young princess meets a man who explains the mystery of transforming cocoons into silk. Princess His-Ling Chi, watches a cocoon drop from a mulberry tree into a cup of tea. As it softens, she ties a silken strand around her waist to leave a trail behind her as she travels to the Holy Mountain, ventures past a ferocious dragon, and encounters a mysterious weaver. The old man gives her food and shelter and reveals the secret of silk. So impressed is the Emperor that, "From that day forward, his little daughter, the little princess Hsi-Ling Chi, was known as the Silk Princess and was greatly honored throughout the land." The Author's Note explains the history of the legend as well as other versions. Charles Santore's elegant illustrations make this beautiful tale is even more lovely.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, told by Michael Morpurgo, illus. by Michael Forman, (Candlewick Press, 2005), 114p, Ages 8-12.
Written anonymously in the fourteenth century, this medieval tale contains all the pageantry, adventure, and test surrounding good and evil. When a giant green stranger rides into King Arthur's hall challenging the court to a dangerous game, only Sir Gawain dares to taken on the contest. Sword fights, dragons, and magic make this a very compelling tale. Children will like this story for the adventure, but underneath are themes of kindness, integrity, chivalry, loyalty, courage, and humility.

Sleeping Beauty, written by Charles Perrault, retold by Adele Geras, illus. by Christian Birmingham, (Orchard Books, 2004), 64p, Ages 7-11.
A beautiful princess, a magic spell, and a quest are all the ingredients of this classic tale. Angered at not being invited to the princess' christening, the oldest fairy in the kingdom issues a curse. On her 16t.h birthday, Princess Aurora and the entire castle fall under a spell and sleep for 100 years. After hearing the tale, a king's son sets out to find the Princess and break the spell.

The Snow Queen, written by Hans Christian Andersen, Adapted by Naomi Lewis, illus. by Christian Birmingham, (Candlewick Press, 2008), 64p, Ages 6-10.
"Once there was a wicked imp-he was the devil himself-who had made a magic mirror with a special power: everything good and beautiful that was reflected in it shriveled up to nothing, but everything evil and ugly seemed even larger and more hideous than it was." When the mirror splinters into millions of pieces, two pieces enter the heart and eye of a small boy. Lured from his home by the wicked Snow Queen, Kay goes willingly, but his childhood friend, Gerda, begins to search for him. On the way, she encounters sympathetic animals and humans, who are touched by her innocence and purity and show her the way to the Snow Queen's palace. With angels for protection, Gerda recites her evening prayers, finds a cold and lonely Kay in the palace, and frees him from the evil spell. Written around 1845, this Danish fairy tale is one of the most popular of Han Christian Andersen's stories of good triumphing over evil. (Ages 6-10)

Snow White, written by Jakob & Wilhelm Grimm, illus. by Charles Santore, (Random House, 1996, 2004), 48p, Ages 5-8.
A young princess flees from an evil queen, befriends seven dwarfs, whose cottage she takes sanctuary in, and is rescued from death by a handsome prince. This version is more true to the original Grimm Brothers tale than the animated film version, especially the demise of the evil queen.

Solomon and the Ant and Other Jewish Folktales, retold by Sheldon Oberman, commentary by Peninnah Schram, (Boyds Mills Press, 2006), 168p, Ages 8+.
In the Jewish storytelling tradition, the late Sheldon Oberman retells forty-three folktales, handed down from generation to generation. Arranged chronologically, the tales address human behavior, insights to life, humorous, and thought-provoking stories. They include religious, wisdom, riddles, and trickster tales, each with a commentary that examines the meaning of each tale and its place in history. Included are bibliographical references and glossary. A great addition for collectors and libraries.

The Song of Mu Lan, retold/illus. by Jeanne M. Lee, (Front Street Books, 2006), 40p,
Ages 5-8.
Originally an ancient Chinese poem, this tale surrounds a young girl who joins the Chinese army during war as a substitute for her aging father. Mu Lan serves her country with courage and honor, and returns home, replaces her armor with an old dress, and reveals herself to her astonished comrades. Authentic calligraphy of the ancient Chinese poem accompanies the text.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, written by Jessica Day George, (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2008), 336p, Ages 12-14.
Based on a famous Norwegian legend, East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Jessica Day George has eloquently expanded the tale of a lass who must rescue a prince from an evil troll's curse. The lass, with a gift of understanding animals, is sought out by a magical isbjorn (polar bear) to live in his castle for a year, with the promise that her poor family will gain wealth. Cursed by day to take the shape of a bear and by night reverting to his human form, the isbjorn and lass become friends during the months of solitude. The lass slowly unravels the mystery of the bear's enchantment, the strange symbols on the castle walls, and the silent servants. However, when she discovers his identity, the Troll Queen whisks him away to her palace, and the lass must travel on the back of the North Wind to free the prince from the spell. Find out how the lass and her prince trick the Troll Queen into releasing the enchantment, save the hostage servants, and live happily ever after. Magic spells, talking animals, mythical creatures, enchanted castles, and friendships made and lost all come together to give readers an engrossing tale of good triumphing over evil.

Sure As Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit & His Walkin' Talkin' Friends, written by Alice
McGill, illus. by Don Tate, (Houghton Mifflin Co., 2004), 48p, Ages 5-8.
Five trickster stories, "Please Don't Fling Me in the Briar Patch", "Bruh Possum & the Snake", "How the Critters Got Groceries", "Bruh Rabbit's Mystery Bag", and "Looking to Get Married" are based on tales the author heard from her African American family in rural North Carolina.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread, written by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Timothy Basil Ering, (Candlewick Press, 2003 HC, 2006 PB), 272p, Ages 7-12.
Despereaux Tilling, an exceptionally tiny, big-eared mouse is pursuing a quest-to rescue Princess Pea from the castle dungeon where she is being held by the devious rat, Roscuro. Unlike his brothers and sisters, Despereaux loves to read and befriends the princess. When he is thrown into prison by the Mouse Counsel due to his association with humans, it is Gregory the jailer, who frees little mouse, only because he enjoys Despereaux's stories. These characters and more come together in a marvelous once-upon-a-time story of hopes and dreams, guaranteed to warm and win your heart. Originally published in 2003 and now in paperback, this charming story was the winner of the Newberry Award.

The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers, written by Caroline Arnold, illus. by John Sandford, (Boyds Mills Press, 2006), 32p, Ages 5+.
Based on stories told in logging camps over 100 years ago, the Hodag had the head of an ox, feet of a bear, back of a dinosaur, and tail of an alligator. Though he looks scary, he possesses a gentle and kind heart and befriends the local lumberjacks. When the animal catchers try to capture the blueberry-eating Hodag for a zoo, it is up to Olee Swenson and his lumberjack friends to save him. The illustrations are magnificent.

Thornspell, written by Helen Lowe, (Alfred A. Knopf Books, 2008), 320p, Ages 8-12.
Based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, Helen Lowe has created a brave and courageous prince, who dreams of a forbidden wood, an enchanted castle, and a sleeping princess that is under an evil spell. Little does Prince Sigismund realize that he is part of the story, which begins in a remote kingdom where eleven-year-old Sigismund meets an unusual master-at-arms. Balisan is a teacher and mentor sent by the King to train and prepare him for a future quest-a quest involving a Hedge of Thorns, the evil fairy Margarine, a ragged and elusive girl, a sleeping kingdom, a priceless sword, and a special dragon. Through the years, Sigismund matures in wisdom and knowledge, and at eighteen he prepares for the final battle against evil, which he discovers can sometimes be hidden behind the mask of friendship. He not only rescues a kingdom and a princess, but also discovers a future beyond his wildest dreams. For those who love

Three Little Cajun Pigs, written by Mike Artell, illus. by Jim Harris, (Dial Books, 2006), 32p, Ages 4-8.
In Bayou country, when their Louisiana mama tells her lazy pigs Trosclair, Thibodeaux, and Ulysse (aka Boo) that it's time to move on, they decide to build their own homes. They begin to question their building materials when Ol' Claude, a tail-flipping gator, demolishes two of their flimsily built houses. He meets his match at Boo's brick house with a big pot of roux. "And speakin' of gators, way down de bayou/A gator we know sure was hurtin' fo' true./He got him an ice pack on his derriere/And where dem pigs live, he ain't goin' back dere." Written in wonderful rhyme, try reading it aloud with a southern accent. A glossary is provided for the pronunciation of French words.

The Three Little Pigs, adapted/Illus. by Marie-Louise Gay, (Groundwood Books, 1994, 2004), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Reissued in paperback, this classic fairy tale is faithful to the original theme of three small pigs and their comic and tragic adventures with the big bad wolf.

The Three Little Pigs, retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Clarion Books, 2006), 40p, Ages 3-6.
"Once upon a time there was an old sow with three little pigs. She had no money to keep them, so she sent them off to seek their fortune." Thus begins the classic tale of three small pigs and their comic and tragic adventures with the big bad wolf. Underneath is a cautionary tale about growing up and fighting battles with wisdom and cleverness. A CD accompanies this story.

The Three Silly Billies, written by Margie Palatini, illus. by Barry Moser, (Simon & Schuster, 2005), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Three billy goats, Billy Bob, Billy Bo, and Just Plain Billy, cannot pay the one dollar to cross the troll's bridge. They decide to form a carpool with the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from the beanstalk, with disastrous results for the grumpy troll.

Thumbelina, written by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Brian Alderson, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline, (Candlewick Press, 2009), 40p, Ages 4-8.
A tiny girl, the size of a thumb, is kidnapped by Mrs. Toad and betrothed to her Toadikins. "Thumbelina wept big tears, but the river fish heard what was going on, and they nibbled at the lily pad stalk and-whisht!- away it floated down the river." On her journey, Thumbelina meets selfish and fickle maybugs, a manipulating Mrs. Fieldmouse, and a pompous marriage-minded mole, who keeps her in his underground home. After rescuing a hurt swallow, Thumbelina nurses him back to health until he is well enough to fly. Because of her care and concern, the swallow offers to fly her to his summer villa, where she finds Crystal Fairies and her own fairy king. Throughout all of her harrowing adventures, Thumbelina never loses her compassion and sympathy for others.

Tops and Bottoms, written & illus. by Janet Stevens, (Harcourt Brace Children's Books, 1995), 40p, Ages 4-8.
In the tradition of European folktales and the American south, this trickster tale takes trickery to a comical extreme. Bear and Hare decide to go into a gardening partnership. Bear donates the land, and Hare plants the vegetables. Bear is extremely lazy and expects Hare to do all the work. Discover how Hare outwits Bare and still manages to feed his hungry family.

Trick of the Tale: A Collection of Trickster Tales, written by John & Caitlín Matthews, illus. by Tomislav Tomic, (Candlewick Press, 2008), 96p, Ages 10+.
The world of tricksters is an unpredictable one. "Whatever its size, each trickster animal draws upon its own intelligence, abilities, and cunning resilience to bluff, cheat, dodge, or decoy-and so to escape from present danger and gain its freedom." They may win, lose, or outwit themselves, but always with a trick. Gathered from four continents, twenty tales in this anthology were chosen from Japan, the Americas, Canada, Africa, England, Tibet, Spain, Russia, Ireland, Finland, Micronesia, India and France. From Japan comes "A Hill of Beans" where Hare, Otter, Monkey, and Badger play a trick on a peddler and divide the spoils unevenly. From the United States the favorite Brer Rabbit is tricked by a rooster into thinking he must cut off his head and legs in order to get a good night's rest. From England "Chaunticleer's Dinner" tells of a proud rooster who narrowly escapes being eaten by Russell the Fox. "The Frog and Crow" from Tibet tells of a humble frog who outsmarts a crow by distraction and escapes with his life. An introduction by the authors explains the appeal of the tales and the commonality of trickster tales worldwide. The black and white engravings are remarkable.

The Ugly Duckling, written by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by Anthea Bell, illus. by Robert Ingpen, (minedition, 2005), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A beautiful translation from the Danish about a duckling who begins a long, friendless journey to find his place in life. In spite of hecklers, hunters, and harsh weather, he finally blooms into a graceful swan.

The Ugly Duckling/El patito feo: A Bilingual Book, adapted by Merce Escardo i Bas, illus. by Max, (Chronicle Books, 2004), 32p, Ages 3-8.
An endearing story of a homely duckling who begins a long, friendless journey to find his place in life. In spite of hecklers, hunters, and harsh weather, he finally blooms into a graceful swan. Moral: Pain and patience are often necessary to discover true happiness.

Under the Cherry Blossom Tree: An Old Japanese Tale, retold/illus. by Allen Say, (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997 HC, 2005 Paper, 32p, Ages 4-8.
A sad, although humorous tale about a miserly, unfriendly old man, who by accident swallows a cherry pit. When a cherry tree begins to sprout on his head, it is just the beginning of his misfortunes, but a better life for the poor villagers.

Unwitting Wisdom: An Anthology of Aesop's Fables, retold/illus. by Helen Ward, (Chronicle Books, 2004), 64p, Ages 5-9.
In oversized format, beautiful watercolors accompany twelve of Aesop's famous fables that have endured for over 2,500 years. The illustrations are particularly fetching.

The Voyage of the Poppykettle, written/illus. by Robert Ingpen, (minedition, 2005, 48p,
Ages 7+.
In ancient Peru, a community of miniature people lead a peaceful life until the Spanish invade and they must relocate. Transforming an old tea kettle into a ship, the Hairy Peruvians cross the ocean keeping watch for giant iguanas and Sea God El Nino. Ingpen's illustrations are marvelous in this modern Australian folktale.

The Well at the End of the World, written by Robert D. San Souci, illus. by Rebecca Walsh,
(Chronicle Books, $16.95), 48p, Ages 5-8.
Princess Rosamond is practical. She prefers books to beauty and has no interest in a suitor. After her father becomes ill, Rosamond's stepmother and stepsister plot to spend the royal treasury. Now it is up to one determined princess to obtain water from the well at the end of the world to heal him and put the kingdom to right.

What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy, written by Gregory Maguire, (Candlewick Press, 2007), 304p, Ages 10-13.
As a natural disaster passes over their home, three children huddle together by candlelight and listen to a unique fairytale told by their visiting cousin, Gage. To keep the children from worrying over their missing parents, Gage tells them about the realm of skibbereen (tooth fairies) and one particular orphan skibberee, What-the-Dickens. Born alone, he discovers an attraction for teeth, develops an attachment to a white cat, befriends a feisty tooth fairy, who is working as an Agent of Change (trading coins for teeth), and learns about a tribe of skibbereen. Written as a story within a story, each of the children, as well as Gage, need the fairy tale to get through the stormy night, but the two oldest struggle between needing the magic of the fairytale and their parents' teachings of faith and reason.

Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail, written by Coleen Salley, illus. by Janet Stevens, (Harcourt Children's Books, 2004), 40p, Ages 3-7.
When epossumondas inquires why his tail is missing hair, Mama tells him a tale about his great-great-grandpa who had a hair-raisin' adventure with a cranky bear, a wily hare, and a persimmon tree.

Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan", written by Cameron Dokey, (Simon Pulse, 2009), 256p, Ages 12+.
In this version of the famous Chinese folktale, Mulan grows up without a mother, who died in childbirth, or a father, who has been away for most of her childhood fighting for the Emperor. Rather than spend her days learning ladylike tasks and dreaming of marriage, Mulan learns to wield a sword, shoot an arrow, read, and write from a childhood friend. When her father returns home injured, Mulan tries to connect with a distant parent and a new stepmother. With another war imminent, the Emperor calls for a soldier from each household, and Mulan alters her appearance and takes her aging father's place in the army. In camp, she becomes famous as a proficient archer and attracts the attention of Prince Jian, who admires her skills and listens to her ideas, believing her to be a boy. Weaving together Chinese history, a feisty girl, romance, friendship, and family, Cameron Dokey presents a great read for teens.

The Wild Swans, written by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Amy Ehrlich, illus. by Susan Jeffers, (Dutton Children's Books, 2008), 32p, Ages 6+.
Originally published in 1838, this famous fairy tale tells of an evil and jealous stepmother, who turns a beautiful young princess out of the palace and her eleven brothers into swans. Elise searches for her brothers and discovers that under an evil spell they fly as swans during the day, but become human at night. Braving many dangers, Elise realizes that to break the spell, she must spin flax and knit tunics to throw over the swans, all the time remaining silent. Upon meeting a handsome king, she is unable to explain her circumstances, is mistaken for a witch, and imprisoned. When the swans rescue her from certain death, she throws the tunics over them, however, she is unable to finish the final tunic and the last brother's arm remains a wing. This fairy tale of deceit, love, courage, loyalty, and redemption is one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories.

Wishes On the Moon, written by Michael O. Tunnell, (Speak,2009), 496p, Young Adult.
"What know you of magic lamps-of the demon jinn who dwell within brass walls? Draw near, my friends, and I, Idris-the master spinner of tales-will amaze you with a saga the likes of which you've never heard." Wishing Moon (2004) and Moon Without Magic (2007) are combined in paperback format to tell the enchanting story of a young orphan, a street urchin/storyteller, a kindly cook, a handsome baker, an evil princess, and their adventures with a tricky jinni and his magic lamp. Unaware of its magical powers, Aladdin's selfish wife, Princess Badr al-Badur, throws an old dented lamp at a fourteen-year-old orphan girl, who begs for work in the Sultan's palace. Much to Aminah's surprise, the lamp contains a jinni, who grants her three wishes at the rise of each full moon. Aminah uses the wishes to improve her circumstances, but differs from previous masters in that she also helps her suffering people. Jinni is surprised by her generosity and begins to change his opinion of greedy and selfish humans. Together they aid a tailor, who is raising dozens of orphans, help a young baker struggling to feed the poor, enable a cinder girl to win her prince in spite of a mean stepmother and stepsisters, and rescue a young child from a wicked uncle. When Princess Badr discovers the lamp's value, she stops a nothing to reclaim it and take revenge on Aminah. Relying on their common sense, luck, and the lamp's magical powers, Aminah and her friends outwit desert robbers, escape thieving pirates, outsmart a vengeful princess, and finally realize that power to succeed requires responsibility, wisdom, and compassion. For readers who love great storytelling, good triumphing over evil, resourceful heroes and heroines, magical enchantments, intrigue, and a love story, this tale will provide hours of high adventure, suspense, romance, and the discovery that true happiness comes from helping others.

The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail: Book 1, written by Michael P. Spradlin, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2008), 272p, Ages 12+.
Left on the doorstep of an English Abbey as a baby and raised by monks, fifteen-year-old Tristan dreams of seeing the world and discovering the truth about his past. When the Templar Knights come to the abbey on their way to fight with King Richard the Lionheart to free the Holy Land from the Saracens, Tristan becomes a squire to Sir Thomas, one of King Richard's most respected and courageous knights. Thrust into political intrigue, rivalry, and war, Sir Thomas entrusts Tristan with the Holy Grail, one of the most sacred Christian relics, to return it safely to Britain. Together with a King's archer from Sherwood Forest and a dangerous Hashshashin warrior (a girl), they outwit and outmaneuver prison guards, bandits, Saladin forces, and unscrupulous knights, who desire to possess the Grail. Whenever in extreme danger, the Grail becomes Tristan's protector. "The last thing I remember was a large piece of wood from the mast catapulting through the air, headed directly for me. I tried to dive below the water, but I felt it slam against my head and shoulders. After that I remember almost nothing. Nothing except a faint humming sound coming from somewhere I could not determine. I only knew it was familiar and comforting." Throughout the story mystery surrounds young Tristan's real identity. Overhearing a conversation between two sparring knights, he realizes that there is more to his real identity and mysterious past than he ever suspected. For those who love action-packed adventures and historical fiction, book two cannot come too soon.

The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate: Book 2, written by Michael P. Spradlin, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2009), 256p, Ages 10+.
The saga continues from The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail, as fifteen-year-old Tristan, squire to a Templar Knight, escapes the war torn Holy Land and begins a journey to return the Holy Grail, the most sacred relic in Christendom, to Britain. Together with Robard Hode, a King's archer returning to Sherwood Forest, Maryam, a Hashshashin assassin, and a devoted stray dog, they survive a shipwreck in the Mediterranean, and encounter a rebel band of Cathars, a heretical sect from France, who are fleeing soldiers of the King. Torn between helping the Cathars and returning the Holy Grail, Tristan allows his growing attraction for their leader, Celia, to influence his decision to join their fight. When the dangerous and maniacal Sir Hugh joins with the French attacking the Cathars' mountain fortress, Tristan realizes that he has jeopardized everyone. Tristan's newfound skill at war-strategy, Robard's cleverness with a bow, and Maryam's expertise with daggers save their lives many times. However, the Holy Grail is the power that always protects them. Little does Tristan realize that this perilous journey will reveal more clues to his mysterious heritage, and why the British Royal Family may want him dead. For those who love breathtaking adventure, historical fiction, good battling evil, a bit of romance, and a cliffhanger ending, this second book will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Zen Shorts, written/illus. by Jon J. Muth, (Scholastic Press, 20051), 40p, Ages 5+.
Stillwater, a giant panda, introduces three young children to Zen stories, each one designed to teach a lesson. Addy hears the tale of a poor man who gives his only coat to a robber. To Michael, Stillwater tells of a farmer who learns not to make judgments too quickly. And to Karl he tells the tale of a monk who is unwilling to release a burden that he has carried for too long.