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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin
In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's... (more)
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Strega Nona: Book 1
Strega Nona
by Tomie dePaola
Strega Nona has a magic pasta pot. What happens when the pot overflows?". . . de Paola's illustrations aptly capture the whimsey of this ancient tale . . . simple line drawings clearly reveal the agony and ecstasy of pasta power, the muted colors create just the right ambiance for a Medieval village."-- The New York Times. Caldecott Silver Medal; ALA Notable Children's Book; Horn Book Honor List. Full... (more)
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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
A West African Tale
by Verna Aardema, Leo Dillon, Diane Dillon
A Caldecott Medal winner, this book is a folk tale from West Africa that tells why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears.
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Monkey
by Cheng'en Wu
Probably the most popular book in the history of the Far East, this classic sixteenth century novel is a combination of picaresque novel and folk epic that mixes satire, allegory and history into a rollicking adventure. It is the story of the roguish Monkey and his encounters with major and minor spirits, gods, demigods, demons, ogres, monsters and fairies. This translation, by the distinguished scholar Arthur... (more)
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Trickster Tales
Coyote
A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest
by Gerald McDermott
Wherever Coyote goes you can be sure he’ll find trouble. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows agree but soon tire of Coyote’s bragging and boasting. They decide to teach the great trickster a lesson. This time, Coyote has found real trouble!
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Trickster Tales
Raven
A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest
by Gerald McDermott
Raven, the trickster, wants to give people the gift of light. But can he find out where Sky Chief keeps it? And if he does, will he be able to escape without being discovered? His dream seems impossible, but if anyone can find a way to bring light to the world, wise and clever Raven can!
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Little Red Riding Hood
by Trina Schart Hyman
Today's young readers will truly be enchanted by this easy-to-read version of the Brothers Grimm classic illustrated with a fresh, vibrant new look set in an American frontier. Full-color illustrations.
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John Henry
by Julius Lester, Jerry Pinkney
The stunning 1995 Caldecott Honor Book John Henry is stronger than ten men, and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Julius Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. Jerry Pinkney illustrates the story with "rich colors borrowed from the rocks and the earth, so beautiful that they summon their own share of smiles and... (more)
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Stone Soup
by Ann McGovern, Winslow Pels
A clever young man tricks an old woman into believing that soup can be made from a stone. As the pot of water boils with the stone in it, he urges her to add more and more ingredients until the soup is a feast "fit for a king."
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Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
by Simms Taback
Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes--just like this book! When Joseph's coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that? As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat--while they laugh at the bold, cheerful artwork and learn that you can... (more)
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Tops & Bottoms
by Janet Stevens
Hare solves his family’s problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny, energetic version of an old slave story. With roots in American slave tales, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of using one’s wits to overcome hardship. “As usual, Stevens’ animal characters, bold and colorful, are delightful. . . . It’s all wonderful fun, and the book opens, fittingly, from top to bottom instead of... (more)
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New York's Bravest
by Mary Pope Osborne
In the 1840s, there was a real vounteer firefighter named Mose Humphreys whose bravery was reknown throughout New York City. Plays about him began being performed on Broadway in 1848 and over the years his strength and heroics took on larger-than-life proportions, much like those of Paul Bunyan. Mary Pope Osborne has honed down the legends about him to a brief, dramatic, sometimes comical, but ultimately moving... (more)
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The Rough-Face Girl
by Rafe Martin
In an Algonquin village by the shores of Lake Ontario, many young women have tried to win the affections of the powerful Invisible Being who lives with his sister in a great wigwam near the forest. Then came Rough-Face Girl, scarred from working by the fire. Can she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters have failed?.
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The Thirteenth Gift
by Charlene Costanzo
While on assignment in Eastern Europe, Claire, a U.S. journalist, learns of a local legend. The deceptively simple fable about "the thirteenth gift" has a profound effect on Claire, which soon transforms her marriage, her work, and the way she sees the world. The Thirteenth Gift is both a cautionary tale and an inspirational fable as it shows a way through the perilous consequences of greed, arrogance, and abuse... (more)
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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
An African Tale
by John Steptoe
Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone -- except Mufaro -- knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled. When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between... (more)
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Johnny Appleseed
by Reeve Lindbergh
Rhymed text and illustrations relate the life of John Chapman, whose distribution of apple seeds and trees across the Midwest made him a legend and left a legacy still enjoyed today.
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One Grain Of Rice
A Mathematical Folktale
by Demi
A reward of one grain of rice doubles day by day into millions of grains of rice when a selfish raja is outwitted by a clever village girl.
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Stone Soup
An Old Tale
by Marcia Brown
First published in 1947, this picture book classic has remained one of Marcia Brown's most popular and enduring books. This story, about three hungry soldiers who outwit the greedy inhabitants of a village into providing them with a feast, is based on an old French tale telling how they outwit the villagers and find great places to sleep.
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The Name of the Tree: A Bantu Tale Retold
by Celia Barker Lottridge
When a drought spreads through the land of the short grass, the animals set out across the great plain to find food. Their only hope for survival is a tree with a variety of colorful fruit. The problem is its branches are too high. To reach them, the wise old turtle says, one must know the name of the tree, something only King Lion is privy to. In this Bantu folktale retold by Celia Barker Lottridge, the hero is... (more)
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Town Mouse, Country Mouse
by Jan Brett
A story filled with suspense and humor, this classic tale of a town mouse and a country mouse takes a new twist in the imaginative and talented hands of Jan Brett. She introduces two engaging mouse couples eager to get away from their everyday lives. But when they agree to swap homes, they find unexpected adventures around every corner. Lush green scenes alternate with the elegant details of a fine Victorian... (more)

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