spinning yarns
Filed Under Stuff | March 31, 2009
Storytelling may be a dying art, but once you’ve read these multi-layered, multi-cultural books a few times you’ll have them memorized and be ready to spin a yarn with no book on hand. Put this useful skill into play when you’re walking with a whiny child or encouraging them to take one more bite of their broccoli. And who knows, you may even get inspired to create stories all of your own or tell your own family’s tales.
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Based on an old Indian story, this is a tale about “a peddler, some monkeys, and their monkey business.” Created in the days when using colour in children’s books was extremely expensive, the four-colour folksy illustrations have retained their charm for more than 60 years.
Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
A grandfather makes a blanket for his grandson in this lovely retelling of a Jewish folktale. As the boy grows up, the blanket is cut and sewn into a vest, tie, and handkerchief until one day there is nothing left. Kids will enjoy the parallel story of a family of mice living beneath the floor boards that uses the fabric scraps to sew their own tiny curtains, quilt covers and clothes.
The Girl Who Wore Too Much by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Yvonne Lebrun Davis
The author, a Seattle resident, is an internationally recognized storyteller who has gathered and published tales from all over the world. Here is a delightful Thai story with a contemporary twist. Aree can’t decide which of her beautiful dresses and baubles to wear to the dance so she wears them all. By the end of the evening, she has learned about the folly of vanity and the importance of friendship.
The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman, illustrated Fred Marcellino
This tale was originally called “The Story of Little Black Sambo” and was penned in 1899 by a Scottish woman living in India. This version removes the controversial names and racist caricatures of the original story and replaces them with gorgeous illustrations of clever little Babaji who outwits four ferocious tigers.
Helen Moore is yoyomama’s kiddie lit correspondent. Helen is a children’s librarian who is the past Chair of the Canadian Library Association Amelia Picture Book Award. She loves to bring home books from any library to share with her two young sons, ages two and four.
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