4. The Giantess

Title: Hasler, Eveline and Renate Seelig. Translated by Laura McKenna. The Giantess. Brooklyn, NY: Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 1997.

Summary:

A lonely giantess named Emmeline lives at the edge of the forest so she won't frighten people (as she did unwittingly one day to a woman picking mushrooms). Emmeline's mother, a woman of normal size, predicted that she would forever be alone, and that no man would ever love her, since "men expect women to look up to them." A young woodsman built a cabin near Emmeline's house. He saw her face in the window and waved each time he saw her. She waved back, and their relationship slowly grew. One day, a carnival came to the nearby town, and the woodsman decided to invite Emmeline. He knocked at her door, and rang the bell, but there was no answer, so he opened the door and peeked in. He saw Emmeline asleep and was amazed to see that she was a giantess. However, she was more beautiful than he ever imagined. Quietly, he left, and decided to keep this to himself. The next day, he invited her to the carnival. At first, she demurred, fearing her size would scare the townspeople. The woodsman encouraged her, saying that everyone would be in costume, and she could be anything she wanted. They went to the carnival, and Emmeline was much admired. Suddenly, another giant approached! The young man danced with Emmeline to the delight of the crowd, and Emmeline was very happy to meet someone her own size at last. Just then, a small child pulled on the giant's trousers, only to reveal stilts! He toppled to the ground, revealing his true identity as Emmeline's woodsman neighbor. She wept. The crowd, dismayed, asked if she were a real giantess. Emmeline admitted that she was, but far from being afraid, the people were amazed and thrilled. Now the woodsman came forward, and admitted that he had known Emmeline's secret for sometime, but admired her because her height reminded him of his friends, the trees. The next day, they walked hand in hand through the great forest.

Cultural origins and how identified: This is quoted from the book's colophon: "Originally published in 1996 in Germany under title Die Riesin by Verlag Heinrich Ellermann, Munich, Germany." This is a modern folktale written in a traditional mode.

Audience: According to a School Library Journal review, the tale works for Kindergarten-Grade 2 [ages 5-8]. I think it would also be good for older children, since its tale of acceptance is worth hearing. This tale would be good for a library program or as a part of a lesson on tolerance in a classroom.

Notes on adaptation for telling: This is a wonderful tale about valuing individual differences, with understated feminist notes. The tale should be told with varying emotions: sadness when the giantess weeps, joy when she finds her "soul mate". The somewhat open-ended finish to the tale could offer some opportunities for the audience to suggest what happens. Do they live happily ever after?

3. Legend of the Milky Way

Title: Lee, Jeanne M. Legend of the Milky Way. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982.
Summary: The story tells of origins of the Milky Way, which in China is known as the Silver River. A young peasant, whose only friend is his water buffalo, plays his flute by the river. One day, his music travels up to heaven, where a beautiful princess hears it. Entranced, she travels to earth to find the music's source. When she finds the young man, she says she is a weaver from far away. They fall in love, marry, and live together in his small house. One day, the man's beloved water buffalo lays dying. He tells the young man to sew his hide into a cloak, which will perform miracles. Up in heaven, the Queen notices the weaver princess's empty loom and orders the palace guards to search for her. They find her on earth and take her back to heaven. When the young man returns to find his wife gone, he doesn't know what to do. He remembers the buffalo cloak and puts it on; miraculously, he is lifted up to the sky. The Queen sees him coming, and to stop him, takes a pin from her hair to draw a silver river across the sky. The man can go no further. To separate the man and the princess forever, the Queen turns them into stars, one on each side of the river. The princess cries all day and night. Her father, the King, takes pity on her and allows her to visit her husband once a year. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the blackbirds of heaven form a bridge over the Silver River, and the weaver princess visits her husband for a short while.
Cultural origins and how identified: This tale is from China. The following is from the book's colophon: "Retells the Chinese legend of the Weaver Princess who came down from heaven to marry a mortal; a love story represented in the stars of the Milky Way." This is on the jacket flyleaf: "This enchanting ancient Chinese folktale about the origin of the Milky Way has circulated among the people of China for more than two thousand years." The following is quoted from the last page of the book: "The seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese year falls sometime in August. On that day in China, the people honor the weaver princess and her earthly husband with a feast. If it rains that night, they say the princess is crying because she must say good-bye to her husband. Sometimes, on a clear night, you can see the bridge of birds across the 'Silver River'. The star that astronomers call Vega in the constellation Lyra is the weaver princess, and the stair Altair in the constellation Aquila is the young man."
Audience: Publishers Weekly Reviews states that the story is appropriate for ages 4-7. In my opinion, 4 is a bit young to understand the romantic nuances. I would tell this story to ages 7 and up, in either a library or school storytime. It might even work for adults; perhaps as a bittersweet story to tell around Valentine's Day.
Notes on adaptation for telling: This is a gorgeous, elegaic tale akin to a creation myth. It should be told reverently and quietly, with an air of mystery.

2. Borreguita and the Coyote : A Tale from Ayutla, Mexico

Title: Aardema, Verna. Borreguita and the Coyote : A Tale from Ayutla, Mexico. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991.

Summary: Borreguita ("little lamb") lives happily on a farm at the foot of a mountain. One day, her master ties her out in a field of red clover. She grazes happily until Coyote comes along and wants to eat her up. Borreguita tricks Coyote into waiting until she's fattened up from grazing, and he agrees to come back later. Upon his return, she tempts him with something tastier than lamb: cheese! This "cheese" turns out to be the reflection of the full moon in the farmer's pond, which the Coyote discovers when he tries to gobble it up and ends up sputtering in the water.
Borreguita again tricks Coyote by luring him between 2 rocks on the mountain, claiming that he must hold the mountain up with his legs lest it fall down. She scampers off. The next day, Coyote insists that the time has come: he will eat Borreguita. She has one final request: he must swallow her whole. He opens his mouth and she runs at him and rams him so hard that all his teeth ache. At last the dim-witted Coyote has learned his lesson, and Borreguita is never troubled with him again.

Cultural origins and how identified: The following is quoted from the book's colophon: "Borreguita and the Coyote : A Tale from Ayutla, Mexico was translated and retold by Verna Aardema from "El Borreguita y el Coyote," beginning on page 509, with one episode from "La Zorra y el Coyote," page 514, in Tales from Jalisco, Mexico, vol. XXXV by Howard T. Wheeler, published by The American Folklore Society, 1943."
Audience: The tale is for children from grades K-3 (according to School Library Journal review). I would extend this age range up to 5th grade, having read this story to that group with good results. It would also be good for a family story time, since trickster tales have such great appeal. This story is appropriate for school and/or library settings.
Notes on adaptation for telling: I would use a sinister "wolfy" voice for Coyote and a sweet (but sly) voice for Borreguita. Listeners could chime in on Borreguita's "baa-baa"s and on Coyote's mournful howls when he realizes he's been duped yet again.

1. Anansi the Spider

Title: McDermott, Gerald. Anansi the spider: a tale from the Ashanti. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 1986.

Summary: This story tells the tale of Anansi the spider and his 6 sons: See Trouble, Road Builder, River Drinker, Game Skinner, Stone Thrower and Cushion. Anansi's sons each have different skills that help their father Anansi triumph over various misadventures along his journey. There's more trouble when Anansi decides to give the moon to his "best son", and can't decide which one deserves it the most. He calls on the God of All Things, Nyame, to help him choose. Nyame comes up with a Solomonic solution to Anansi's dilemma.

Cultural origins and how identified: The author identifies the tale as coming from the Ashanti people in Ghana in the title.

Audience: This story is for children from 5-8 (according to Publisher's Weekly review). I think this is accurate and would be appropriate for school and/or library settings. In this story, Anansi is depicted as a bit of a fool, but he's an innocent fool, not a mean one, so kids can relate to him.

Notes on adaptation for telling:

One could use different voices for the narrator, Anansi and his sons. The tone should be lighthearted. Using puppets (gloves make great spiders) would also be a fun way to enhance the storytelling.