Scheherazade's Cat & Other Fables from Around the World - Hardcover

Zerner, Amy; Zerner, Jessie Spicer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080481807X ISBN 13: 9780804818070

Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1993

Synopsis

An international anthology of nine folktales includes the Middle Eastern tale of "Scheherazade's Cat," a native American story about a child's adventures with a mythical bear clan, the Chinese Buddha legend, and others from Africa, India, Peru, Hawaii, and Egypt.

About this title

From the Back Cover

When you wish to hear a story, just listen to the nightingale when the first stars of the evening light the sky.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-A collection of nine fables that are as exotic as the handwoven tapestries that illustrate them. The title story is a retelling of the Thousand and One Nights tale, in which Scheherazade's cat devises the storytelling scheme that saves her mistress's life. The remaining folktales are from Asia, Africa, and North and South America. Strong heroines appear throughout. In a version of the Egyptian Cinderella, "The Turquoise Sandals," Rhodopis is a knowledge-hungry young woman who longs to be valued for her soul and intelligence rather than for her beauty. Children who step to a different drummer will relate to "The Chameleon" from Zaire. Other than the country of origin, no sources are provided. In the Native-American tale, "Sister Bear," the people are referred to as "Indians" rather than by a tribal name. Each fable is illustrated with an intriguing, tapestry-and-collage vignette whose colors and motifs reflect the appropriate culture. A border with the same motifs decorates each page. Most of these stories have not been in print for many years, and other extant versions are bland. The Zerners' retellings are full of magic, although at times they are a bit heavy-handed with the moral.
Cheri Estes, Dorchester Road Regional Library, Charleston, SC
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle Company
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 080481807X
• ISBN 13: 9780804818070
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 115