Fairy Tales Favorites: Books That Cross
Boundaries
By Karen Mendez Smith
October 2003
Swan Sister
The appeal of folk tales, legends, and fairy tales is universal, transcending
sex, age and culture. Because of their timeless quality, they continue to
form a steady backlist for publishers. Fresh versions of old tales and new
anthologies from other cultures are solid additions to any bookshelf. Here
is a sampling of notable offerings this fall.
Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic
SWAN SISTER: FAIRYTALES RETOLD is an inspired compilation
of traditional stories by Ellen Datlow from Simon & Schuster. From Scholastic
Reference comes GODS, GODDESSES AND MONSTERS: A BOOK OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY
by Sheila Keenan, illustrated with museum art from around the world. Barefoot
Books brings us GODDESSES: A WORLD OF MYTH AND MAGIC by
Burleigh Mutén and illustrated by Rebecca Guay, and CELTIC
MEMORIES, an anthology of stories and blessings by Caitlin Matthews
and Olwyn Whelan. Also with an Irish accent is A POT O’ GOLD: A
TREASURY OF IRISH STORIES, POETRY, FOLKLORE AND (OF COURSE) BLARNEY
by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by David McPhail (Houghton-Mifflin). THE
ILLUSTRATED TREASURY OF FAIRY TALES from The Creative Company and
CLASSIC FAIRY TALES, illustrated by Scott Gustafson from
Greenwich Workshop Press, are two fresh collections. Taking a different
perspective is THE POND GOD AND OTHER STORIES, 43 myths
based on shamanic visions by Samuel Jay Keyser from Front Street.
Rapunzel: A groovy Fairy Tale
RAPUNZEL: A GROOVY FAIRY TALE by Lynn Roberts with art
by David Roberts is a familiar story with a 1970s twist (Abrams). The classic
Grimm Brothers tale THE GOOSE GIRL is retold by Shannon
Hale (Bloomsbury). Candlewick Press feeds the fire with CINDERLILY:
A FLORAL FAIRY TALE by Christine Tagg with pictures by David Ellwand,
and LOONY LITTLE by Diane Hutts Aston, illustrated by Kelly
Murphy, is a different take on the beloved chicken little tale.
THUMBELINA makes a reappearance, from Harper/Greenwillow with new
pictures by Brian Pinkney. A retelling of a classic Aesop story from North-South
is THE FOX AND THE STORK by Karl Ruhmann with art by Alessandria
Roberti.
The Day it Snowed Tortillas
With Southwestern flair, Farrar offers OLD GRANNY AND THE BEAN THIEF
by Cynthia DeFelice, illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith. The wilder side of
the west is seen in THUNDER ROSE by Jerdine Nolen, illustrated
by Kadir Nelson from Harcourt/Silver Whistle. Children’s Book Press offers
BABY RATTLESNAKE / VIBORITA DE CASCABE, a bilingual Chicasaw
tale by Te Ata and Lynn Moroney with art by Mira Reisberg. From New Mexico,
Cinco Puntos Press publishes 10 bilingual stories in THE DAY IT
SNOWED TORTILLAS / ELDIA QUE NEVARON TORTILLAS by Joe Hayes and
illustrated by Antonio Castro. And from south of the border, HORSE
HOOVES AND CHICKEN FEET: MEXICAN FOLKLORE by Neil Philip and Jaqueline
Mair makes tracks (Clarion).
Even teenagers, when pressed, will admit to enjoying classic tales. Try
them, and you’ll be surprised at how these steady sellers resonate with
both girls and boys, who may even discover that their favorite movie or
cartoon has a storyline that somehow suspiciously resembles ancient history.
Writer's Bio: Karen Mendez Smith has been involved
in children's media for over twenty years as a literary agent, writer,
and creator of animated television and film. Co-founder of Satori Organics
and M/Path Press, she is a parent to eight children and five incredible
grandchildren (and counting).
