Little Folk: Stories from Around the World - Hardcover

Walker, Paul Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152003274 ISBN 13: 9780152003272

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1997

Synopsis

An international collection of "little folk" mythologies draws on myriad sources and cultures to profile such beings as Japan's brave one-inch-high Issun Boshi, Hawaii's hard-working Menehune, and Ireland's crafty leprechaun.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 6. Lucid, lively storytelling; thoughtful and informative source notes; thorough scholarship; and an attractive format combine in this entirely appealing collection of eight stories about "little folk." The characters include the familiar, such as Rumpelstiltskin and leprechauns, and the unusual, such as Hawaiian Menehune, South African nunus, and the Danish nisse. Walker's retellings are as sprightly as the creatures he describes, and the source notes at the end of each story not only amplify it but also demonstrate the process by which the particular version was put together from available sources. A thorough bibliography is appended, and it is invaluable to students of folklore. The physical format is pleasant with clear type and plenty of white space. Bernardin's vivid acrylic paintings and colored-pencil sketches highlight the text, often employing unusual perspectives to emphasize the subject of the tale. A perfect pick to read aloud or alone.?Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Ages 5^-10. Having conquered The Giants (1995), Walker takes on the pixies in this first-rate companion book. The eight well-written stories from around the globe include famous little people (Rumpelstiltskin, the leprechaun) as well as less-familiar pint-sized heroes (the Zulu nunu, the Hawaiian menehune). "The Golden Ball," a retelling of a medieval Celtic yarn about a boy's misadventures with elves, is a wonderful find. Each tale is accompanied by a classically styled full-page acrylic painting, as well as a smaller drawing. The extensive bibliography of sources, along with the detailed notes that follow each tale, is a testament to Walker's scholarship. The comparative, analytical introduction serves as a fine model for students of children's literature and folklore. Julie Corsaro

About this edition

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0152003274
• ISBN 13: 9780152003272
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 80
• Illustrator: Bernardin James