Asian Children's Favorite Stories

March 1, 2007
K-Gr 4-Some of these 13 stories have been widely retold, such as "The Crane's Gratitude" from Japan and "Liang and His Magic Brush" from China. Others have variations told in other cultures, such as "How the Sea Became Salty." Most of the selections are six to eight pages in length. Yee's watercolor illustrations add lushness as well as humor in all the right places. The final story, from Thailand, "The Lucky Farmer Becomes King," is the longest in the collection at 15 pages. There is a bit of gore when the farmer's wife kills a bearshe is shown holding a bloody knife, standing over the prone animal. The volume includes a brief glossary, but lacks source notes. While the retellings, done by a number of different people, are not consistently strong, this title will make an attractive addition to larger collections."DeAnn Okamura, San Mateo County Library, CA"

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