Twenty-Two Splendid Tales to Tell from Around the World (1) (American Storytelling)

An illustrated collection of traditional tales from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with brief notes for storytellers

First published in 1979, this revised anthology features 22 short traditional tales from almost as many cultures and countries. Retold with simplicity and directness by an accomplished storyteller and emphasizing the triumph of the weak over the strong, these stories will be especially useful to the beginning yarn spinner. Among the tales is a refreshingly funny religious tale, "St. Stanislaw and the Wolf"; a Swedish story in which a lass defeats a giant; and an engaging fools tale from Africa, "The Silly Farmer." The brief but informative notes indicate tale type and audience as well as variants. There are a few careless proofreading errors ("you" instead of "your," etc.). The black-and-white illustrations that precede and end each selection have an exaggerated comic-book look. Julie Corsaro