Folktales and Fairytales
Nursery Tales Around the World, illustrated by Stefano Vitale. Clarion Books.
American Library Association Notable Book
Aesop Prize, American Folklore Society
Scholastic, Inc. 200 Best Books of the 20th Century
San Francisco Chronicle Best Books of the 20th Century
“Innovatively conceived and exquisitely executed, this sumptuous collection of 18 tales is a surefire crowd-pleaser.”—Publishers Weekly
“This treasure trove for teachers, storytellers, and readers offers story variations of simple, repetitive tales. Sierra supplies three versions of each story type: for instance, Norway's ‘Pancake,’ Russia's ‘Bun,’ and America’s ‘Gingerbread Man’ are grouped under the heading Runaway Cookies. Sierra's scholarship is impeccable, and she includes an extensive list of sources. Adults looking for a new spin on an old story or a way to add a multiethnic flavor to storytime will find this collection very useful.”—American Library Association Booklist
Can You Guess My Name? Traditional Tales Around the World, illustrated by Stefano Vitale. Clarion Books.
Aesop Prize, American Folklore Society
“Sierra has organized 15 tales into 5 categories of stories that resemble ‘The Three Pigs,’ ‘The Bremen Town Musicians,’ ‘Rumpelstiltskin,'‘ ‘The Frog Prince,’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel’ …..The author's extensive notes list sources and tale type numbers based on the classification system developed by folklorists. Vitale's engaging folk illustrations are painted on wood. Borders incorporate culture-specific motifs and designs, and full-page art throughout gives compelling visual appeal. . . . A must purchase for most collections.”—School Library Journal (starred review)
“Eminently suited for reading aloud. Those who have not yet encountered Sierra’s superior storytelling are in for a treat.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
Silly and Sillier: Read-Aloud Tales from Around the World, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Alfred A. Knopf.
“With lots of rhythmic chanting, nonsense, and repetition, these folktales from 20 countries are great for reading aloud and joining in. Sierra points out that some stories appeal to kids everywhere, especially those about powerful adults who behave like idiots and small creatures who triumph over monsters.” —American Library Association Booklist
“At the heart of each story is a good-natured lesson in which good is rewarded; sloth and greed are not. Children will discover that these themes of justice are as universal as laughter. This collection will elicit plenty of giggles, whether shared at bedtime, in a story-hour, or in a classroom setting.”—School Library Journal