10. Spider and the Sky God: An Akan Legend

Title: Chocolate, Deborah M. Newton. Spider and the Sky God: An Akan Legend. Legends of the World series. No Location: Troll Associates, 1993.
Summary: Ananse the Spider spins beautiful webs, but his dearest wish is to spin beautiful tales. Knowing that all stories belong to the Sky God, Ananse strikes a bargain with Him. Sky God demands 4 things: Onini the Python, Mmoboro the Hornet, Osebo the Leopard and Mmoatia the Fairy. One by one, by asking the advice of his wise wife Aso, Ananse tricks each creature and traps it. He gathers all four creatures in a giant web and takes it to the Sky God, who blesses Ananse and gives him his stories, renaming them Spider Stories. Then Ananse travels from town to town, spinning his tales for all to enjoy.
Cultural origins and how identified: From cataloging information in the book's colophon: "Folklore-Ghana". From the book's afterword: "Ananse the Spider is the hero of stories told by the Akan people of West Africa. The Akan include several tribes in the southwest part of the country of Ghana."
Audience: The Amazon.com website says the story is appropriate for ages 9-12, while the Paperback Swap website says it's for ages 4-8. I think the story would work for both older and younger kids. It would make a fun library storytime and also work in the classroom. I love Ananse stories; he's crafty and greedy, but likeable. In this version, he needs the good advice of his wife to succeed in his venture, so there's an opportunity to emphasize how cooperation can help one succeed.
Notes on adaptation for telling: I would emphasize the rhythmic language of the tale and the individual personalities of the creatures Ananse captures with voice characterizations.

9. Salt

Title: Langton, Jane. Translated by Alice Plume. Salt: from a Russian Folktale by A.N. Afanasyev. New York: Hyperion, c1992.
Summary: A merchant gives his 2 older sons ships to seek their fortunes by trading. He calls his youngest son Ivan the Fool, because Ivan asks so many seemingly silly questions. At first, he doesn't want to give Ivan a ship of his own, but at last he accedes to his pleadings. Ivan has the smallest ship, the poorest cargo, and the tiniest knife, but sets off on his journey. Blown off course in a storm, Ivan lands on an island with a white mountain. The mountain proves to be made of salt, a commodity more precious than any other. Ivan goes to the Tsar's Palace and saves the Tsar's ailing daughter by teaching the Tsar's cook how to season soup to make it tasty. The Tsar's daughter Marushka falls in love with Ivan and they are married. They sail off, and come upon Ivan's older brothers, who have not fared well in their trading. Ivan generously invites them aboard his ship, where they are consumed by jealousy over his good fortune and his beautiful bride. The brothers toss Ivan overboard, causing Marushka to weep so many salt tears that the ship begins to flood and sink. Ivan does not drown, but reaches land, where he encounters a giant, whom Ivan tricks into walking around the world back to his father's house. There he finds Marushka, now betrothed to one of his brothers. But Ivan reclaims his wife and at last earns his father's respect for his miraculous discovery of the salt mountain.
Cultural origins and how identified: According to the book's title and colophon information, the tale is Russian.
Audience: The tale is appropriate Kindergarten-Grade 4 [ages 5-10] according to School Library Journal review. In my opinion, it's too complex for kindergarteners; I'd reserve it for older listeners, probably 3rd grade and up. This would be a nice addition to a multicultural reading night at a school.
Notes on adaptation for telling: What I like best is the introduction of the tale, told by a cat, who sings and purrs to tell the story; I would definitely include that aspect of this version. At the end of the book, the cat sings a song to conclude the tale.

8. Old Meshikee and the Little Crabs

Title: Spooner, Michael and Lolita Taylor. Old Meshikee and the Little Crabs. New York: Henry Holt and Company, c1996. Summary: Old Meshikee, a trickster turtle, plays his drum so loudly that his neighbors the sand crabs, the Shagizenz, can't stand it! They can't think, they can't dance; something must be done! The crabs decide to get rid of Old Meshikee forever. They tie him up with a rope and threaten to cook him in the fire. Meshikee doesn't seem to care and taunts them, claiming the only thing he fears is water. The Shagizenz now threaten to put him in a pot of water over the fire. Again, Meshikee says he doesn't care; what he really fears is cold, deep water. Now the sand crabs threaten to throw him in the lake so that he'll never play his drum again. Meshikee cries out and swoons, but the Shagizenz toss him in the water. Of course, Old Meshikee triumphs in the end. He swims back to his island and plays his old drum as loud as he wants and laughs and laughs.
Cultural origins and how identified: According to the book's colophon, this is "an Ojibwe story". The following is quoted from the afterword source note: "This traditional story about Meshikee is one of many that Lolita Taylor learned from her Ojibwe grandfather as a child in the early 1900s. She told the story to my father in the 1930s and first told it to me in 1981."
Audience: According to a School Library Journal review, the story is good for grades 2-4 [ages 7-10]. I think this could work for a younger audience as well as a family storytime at the library. It would also be appropriate for a school reading night or festival emphasizing multicultural stories.
Notes on adaptation for telling: There are many opportunities for fun sound effects with Old Meshikee's drums. There are also good opportunities for audience participation in Old Meshikee's repitition of "What you gonna do? What you gonna do?" and the crabs' chorus of "That's what we'll do! That's what we'll do!" This would be great fun for children.

7. The Flying Dutchman

Title: Storr, Catherine. The Flying Dutchman. Milwaukee, WI: Raintree Children's Books, c1985.
Summary: A proud sea captain is doomed to sail the ocean forever because of a bargain made with the Devil. A young girl, Senta, hears the legend of the Ghost Ship from her grandfather, who tells her that the captain can only come ashore once every seven years, and then only for one day and one night. The Devil's curse can only be broken if the captain finds a woman to love him. Senta believes she could love the Flying Dutchman. Seven years later, Senta is a young woman. She has refused all suitors seeking her hand. One day, the Ghost Ship sails into the harbor. Senta meets a tall, pale Dutchman and knows who he is--the captain of the Ghost Ship. She loves him and the captain shouts out to the Devil to set him free. The story ends ambiguously: "Some people say that Senta's love saved the Dutchman. Others say that the Devil would not give up his prey."

Cultural origins and how identified: From the book's colophon: "The story and illustrations have been based on original historical sources. The most famous version of the story is found in Der Fliegende Hollander, an opera by Richard Wagner first performed in 1843." From cataloging information in the colophon: "Folklore--Netherlands".
Audience: I would tell this tale to older children, 3rd grade and up, due to the somewhat scary themes. It would make a nice spooky evening story time at the library, or a good classroom tale for Halloween.
Notes on adaptation for telling: The text version of this tale (at least this one) is dry as a bone. I think telling it aloud would vastly improve it. It should be told in a spooky voice. The uncertain ending should be emphasized to send chills up the listeners' spines.

Cover image note: I could not find an actual picture of this book; this is an alternate rendering of The Flying Dutchman.

6. The Gigantic Turnip

Title: Tolstoy, Aleksei and Niamh Sharkey. The Gigantic Turnip. New York: Barefoot Books, c1998.
Summary: A farmer and his wife live in a cottage with a wildly overgrown garden. They kept an assortment of animals: 6 yellow canaries, 5 white geese, 4 speckled hens, 3 black cats, 2 pot-bellied pigs and one big brown cow. In the spring, the couple sowed vegetable seeds: peas, carrots, potatoes, beans, and last of all, turnips. The rain fell and the garden grew, and the couple harvested their vegetables. At the very end of a row was one turnip left--a gigantic turnip! The old man tried to pull it up, but it would not move. Then the old woman held onto the old man and they both pulled, but the turnip wouldn't budge. Then the cow joined them in pulling, but still the turnip remained in the ground. One by one, all the farm animals were added to the "pulling chain" to try and get the turnip, but without success. Everyone lay on the ground, exhausted, until the old woman had an idea. She got a piece of cheese and lured a mouse out of his hole, and caught him. She added the mouse onto the chain of animals, and together they pulled and pulled until finally: POP! The turnip came flying out of the ground, knocking everyone over. They all laughed, and that night, made a huge bowl of turnip stew, and everyone ate their fill. And the little mouse ate the most of all!
Cultural origins and how identified: The following is from cataloging information in the book's colophon: "Retelling of the famous Russian folktale". In another version,
"The One-Turnip Garden" is from Ten Small Tales, retold by Celia Barker Lottridge, New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1994, pages 29 to 33, is cited on http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson172.shtml
Audience: This story is appropriate for preschool-Grade 2 [ages 3-8] per School Library Journal review. This tale would work for a library storytime and would also be good for a family reading night, either at school or the library.

Notes on adaptation for telling: This would be a fun story to have kids act out during the telling (as long as the mayhem could be kept under control.) One could also use alot of different voice characterizations for the old man, old woman, and all the different animals. A big "POP" when the turnip finally emerges is essential!

5. The Three Cabritos

Title: Kimmel, Eric A. The Three Cabritos. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Company, c2007.
Summary: The 3 cabritos (young goats) lived with their mom on a ranch near the Rio Grande. They had a band and loved to play music. One day they heard about a fiesta just across the border in Mexico and wanted to go. Their mother, however, pleaded with them not to, because they'd have to cross the bridge over the Rio Grande, under which lived the terrible and fearsome Chupacabra, the goat-sucker! The 3 cabritos told her not to worry and set off. The first cabrito, Reynaldo, reached the bridge first. As he crossed, the Chupacabra jumped out! Reynaldo convinced the beast not to eat him, but to wait for his fatter brother Orlando. The Chupacabra demanded that Reynaldo play a tune on his fiddle first that he could dance to, and in they end he agreed to eat his brother instead. Along came Orlando, who had the same encounter with the monster. He told the beast that he was skinny and weak, but his older brother Augustin was coming next. First, the monster made him play a tune on his guitar and danced to it, and then agreed to eat Augustin instead. Finally, Augustin arrived, and the Chupacabra was ready to eat him. As a last request, Augustin asked to play his accordion one last time; the Chupacabra agreed. Augustin played so fast that the Chupacabra's dancing was frenzied. He began to turn red and smoke came out of his ears! Suddenly, he shrieked, collapsed and shriveled like a popped balloon, until only a husk remained. Augustin crushed it and crossed into Mexico to meet his brothers, and the Chupacabra was no more.

Cultural origins and how identified: This version is an adaptation of a Norwegian folktale ("The Three Billy Goats Gruff"), which is cited in the cataloging information in the book's colophon quoted here: "Folklore--Norway. Asbjornsen, Peter Christe, 1812-1885. Tre bukkene Bruse." Further sources include Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, De tre bukkene Bruse som skulle gå til seters og gjøre seg fete, Norske Folkeeventyr, translated by George Webbe Dasent in Popular Tales from the Norse, 2nd edition (London: George Routledge and Sons, n.d.), no. 37, pp. 275-276. http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0122e.html

Kimmel notes in the afterword: "The Three Cabritos is my own original retelling of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" with a Texas twist. Cabrito means "young goat" or "kid" in Spanish. Chupacabra is a legendary creature who attacks farm animals at night. Chupacabra was first reported in Puerto Rico. Subsequent sightings followed in Florida, Texas and Mexico."

Audience: This could work for children ages at least 6-9. I've read this story with good results to children up to 5th grade at a school "read-in" and I think it would also work for a family library storytime, since the original tale is so familiar.

Notes on adaptation for telling: I'd use varying voices for the 3 cabritos and their elderly nanny goat mom, as well as the menacing, huge Chupacabra. I'd definitely put emphasis on the word "Chupacabra!: to add a little fun frisson of fear to the tale. I might like to play a little Tex-Mex music before telling the story, and would invite audience participation as the goats cross the bridge and the Chupacabra madly dances.

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?