Pourquoi Stories

April 1, 2019
Grades 5-8 This attractively designed entry in the Stone Circle Stories: Culture and Folktales series (8 titles) introduces readers to pourquoi stories from several different cultures. Not to be confused with creation stories, as the introduction states, a pourquoi story is an explanation tale that helps people understand why something is how it is. Four brief chapters give examples of pourquoi stories told in North America. Three critical-thinking questions at the start of each chapter help guide reading, while a fast fact or moral ends each tale. The illustrations add a lighthearted, if silly, touch?most are photographs of animals or people with a cheeky, digitally added speech bubble?and the clipped, direct sentences are ideally suited for high/low readers. Back matter encourages readers to write their own story, and clear directives steer them through their creative attempt.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)