From School Library Journal:
PreSchool-Grade 3-From distant lands-Malaysia, Russia, China, the Congo, the Far North-Lottridge has collected and adapted 10 folktales. All are short, from four to eight pages including illustrations. Each presents a child or an animal with a unique problem or desire, from a monkey who wants to dance on the village rooftops, to four animals who want to picnic on top of the mountain. All of the stories have thoroughly satisfying endings. In "The One-Turnip Garden," the girl who was too little to help plant and tend the garden is the one whose words help harvest the "big gigantic turnip." The stories have fine traditional structures, with a series of incidents building to a climax. They are written to invite listeners' participation in repeating verses, phrases, or cumulative lists. The many charming pale watercolor illustrations are the icing on the cake. A page of notes gives the national origin and sometimes the collection of tales from which the story was adapted. Storytellers and their audiences, parents looking for short bedtime selections, and children who have recently learned to read will enjoy this book. One copy won't be enough for busy children's rooms.
Nancy Seiner, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist:
Ages 2-5. Toronto storyteller Lottridge knows what little ones like in their folklore: simple and direct story lines, rhythmic rhyme and repetition, simple dialogue, plenty of action, and a reassuring ending. Drawing on folktales, nursery rhymes, and fingerplays from around the world, she delivers an outstanding collection of 10 familiar and lesser-known short stories with remarkable freshness and appeal. The soft watercolor, ink, and conte crayon compositions contribute to the cozy atmosphere as they combine an old-fashioned style with a modern suburban setting. Faithful to her sources and featuring heroes of many colors, this deserves a place next to such nursery classics as Rockwell's The Three Bears and Haviland's The Fairy Tale Treasury. Julie Corsaro^R.
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