"Yatandou lives in a Mali village with her family and neighbors. And though she is only eight years old and would much rather play with her pet goat, she must sit with the women and pound millet kernels. To grind enough millet for one day's food, the women must pound the kernels with their pounding sticks for three hours. It is hard work, especially when one is eight years old. But as they work, the women dream of a machine that can grind the millet...

Ten-year-old Pierre dreams of being a chef at his parents' restaurant, La Bonne Vache, in the south of France and is told he is too young, but when an important guest comes Pierre sees a chance to prove himself. Includes notes about dining in France and a glossary.

Ten-year-old Walking Turtle is of the Lenni Lenape tribe. He lives with his family in a small village alongside the Passaic River in what will become northern New Jersey. They have a relatively peaceful life, with nature offering up a bounty of resources for food and shelter, amply meeting their needs. Walking Turtle is close to his younger cousin, Little Talk. He feels protective of Little Talk, who has difficulty walking. Together they roam the...

Unique and as beautiful as a snowflake or footprint, an Inuksut (inNUKshuk,) is one of the stone figures that can be seen dotting the Canadian Arctic region. Many made by ancient hands, the Inuksuit (inNUKsweet) purposes are varied, from earthly uses such as navigation and message centers to those of the spirit, as sites of reverence. Author Mike Ulmer explores the connectedness of all Arctic life in his tale, The Gift of the Inuksuk.To find recipes,...

Like his ancestors before him, ten-year-old Eduardo enjoys going into Ecuador's rain forest to collect Brazil nuts with his father, but when the wild tamarins that always accompany them disappear Eduardo is determined to find them.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Japanese provincial governors had to travel between the cities of Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo). This 300+ mile journey on the historic Tokaido Road required the presence of one to three thousand attendants (carriers). Yuki's father has been called to Edo and she, along with her mother and pet dog, must accompany him in this royal procession. Yuki does not want to go. She will miss her home and her teacher....

Beauty and the Beast – Origins of the Fairy Tales from around the World' contains seven different versions of the 'Beauty and the Beast' story. It includes an in-depth introduction to the fairy tale genre itself, as well as the folkloric provenance of the dark tale of 'Beauty and the Beast'. It encompasses Leprince de Beaumont's 'La Belle et La Bête', the ancient Roman story of 'Cupid and Psyche', 'The Enchanted Tsarévich' from Russia and the...

Cinderella – Origins of the Fairy Tales from around the World' contains seven different versions of 'Cinderella', including an in-depth introduction to the fairy tale genre itself, as well as the folkloric provenance of the 'Cinderella' story. It encompasses 'Cendrillon' by Charles Perrault, 'Aschenputtel' by the Brothers Grimm, Andrew Lang's 'The Wonderful Birch', the Indian story of 'Sodewa Bai' and the ancient Egyptian Cinderella – 'Rhodopis...

Little Red Riding Hood – Origins of the Fairy Tales from around the World' contains seven different versions of the 'Little Red Riding Hood' story, detailing her encounters with the big bad wolf. It includes an in-depth introduction to the fairy tale genre, as well as the folkloric provenance of the 'Little Red Riding Hood' story itself. It encompasses Aesop's 'Wolf in Sheep's Clothing', the Chinese tale of 'The Panther', 'Le Petit Chaperon Rouge'...

Rapunzel – Origins of the Fairy Tale from around the World' contains seven different versions of the 'Rapunzel' story. It includes an in-depth introduction to the fairy tale genre itself, as well as the folkloric provenance of 'Rapunzel'. It encompasses 'Petrosinella' by Giambattista Basile, 'Rapunzel' by the Brothers Grimm, 'Prunella' by Andrew Lang, the 'Legend of Saint Barbara' and the tale of 'Rúdábeh' from the Persian epic, 'The Shahmaneh'....