The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley

It is a day of yellow fog, and the Folk are hungry.

The story of the orphan Corinna who earns her living tending to the subterranean creatures called Folk. She is taken to live with a family on the sea to tend to their Folk. While there she discovers, she is a seal maiden and must make some tough choices.

An interesting world the author created inspired by Scottish songs sung by her father.

Billingsley, F. (1999). The folk keeper. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0689828764
162 pages

Russian Folk-Tales by James Riordan

A collection of translated Russian folk-tales ranging from the familiar to the unknown.

This collection contains both fairy and beast tales. Interesting, woman/girls are portrayed more often as heroines and controlling their destiny and the author attributes this to the "Motherland" influence. Clearly identified as having model source notes located at the back and in endnotes. This really helped me understand the context of the stories as I am not Russian nor did I study children's literature. The text is the focus here with almost page long text and few illustrations. Repetition and cadence typically used to keep children's attention is not employed here making this more appropriate for 8-12 year old children. Illustrations are colorful and unique. I don't think I have seen anything quite like them in any of the books I have read.

I found the stories to be darker and not as interesting as other folktales. I wonder if it was my unfamiliarity with them that made the difference. Let's face it the witch fattening up Hansel and Gretel to eat is not the most heartwarming tale. And the nursery rhyme about 'when the bough breaks the baby will fall...' is disturbing now as an adult!

Riordan, J. (2000). Russian folk-tales. Oxford, England: University Press.
ISBN: 0192745360
Illustrated by Andrew Breakspeare

The Hare and the Tortoise by Helen Ward

A retelling of Aesop's fable of the race between the hare and the tortoise with beautiful watercolor illustrations. The author added detailed endnotes with facts about the animals and a key to the illustrations

A fable with fine-print source notes. (I am having a difficult time identifying the difference between well-made and fine-print. Here Aesop is mentioned on the front flap and title page but it doesn't mention the book or the cultural details so I am guessing fine-print). My memory of this fable is vague so I think the author shortened the text and instead focused on the illustrations. With my interest in animals of course, I was amazed at the illustrations not just for quality but also for the detail and the endnotes. The narrative was composed of very short sentences and the word choice fit the animal - slow, plodding turtle and hurtled hare. However, it is the illustrations that would interest the child more than reading aloud, in my opinion.

Ward, H. (1998). The hare and the tortoise. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press.
ISBN: 0761313184
Illustrated by the author

The Three Little Pigs by Steven Kellogg

A retelling of the English fairy tale popularized by Joseph Jones in 1890. Here, mother pig, Serafina Sow, begins a waffle making business. When she retires, her three sons takeover the business where they encounter the familiar wolf. It is mother pig who helps save the day and no one is killed.

A beast tale with well-made source notes referencing Joseph Jacobs and briefly describing the tales many incarnations and insight on writing this version. The narrative uses short sentences, repetition, cadence and amusing word choices making this an excellent read aloud choice. The illustrations are amusing, detailed and will amuse children and adults. My favorite sign within the illustration was:

"Hamlet and La Toasta
an opera
by Porcini"

I read this after The Sleeping Beauty and it was obvious this book was written and illustrated for a younger audience.

Kellogg, S. (1997). The three little pigs. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books.
ISBN: 0688087329
Illustrated by author

The Sleeping Beauty by Trina Schart Hyman

A retelling of the Brother's Grimm tale accompanied by beautiful illustrations. An angry fairy places a spell on a princess so that on her fifteenth birthdays she will fall asleep for 100 years. As the princess sleeps, so does the other staff and family in the castle and briars grow over the castle. A prince wakes her with a kiss after 100 years and the other castle inhabitants awake and everyone lives happily ever after.

A fairy tale retold from the Brothers Grimm folktale of the same with fine-print source notes on the title page. The narrative style, like the original folktale, does not rely on rhyming or cadence but pulls the reader in with descriptions and short sentences. The detailed illustrations are a work of art and bring an originality to a well-known fairy tale.

Hyman, T.S. (1977). The sleeping beauty. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
ISBN: 031638702
Illustrated by the author