Blossom Tales: Flower Stories of Many Folk [Hardcover]

Patricia Hruby Powell (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A collection of 14 folk tales about flowers from around the world, including European, ASian, Pacific, African, North and South American tales.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Fourteen brief tales about different flowers. In a story from Sicily, a poor boy's kindness to an old woman is repaid in part with crocuses, while in a Russian tale, a dwarf shows a poor man how to make a living with the beautiful snapdragons that surround his home. The Great Spirit settles a quarrel by turning squabbling chiefs into columbines in an Iroquois legend, a sad Japanese tale features peonies, and a young couple's loyalty and heroism are at the heart of a Hawaiian story about the origins of the morning glory. These tales and the others are presented, for the most part, on one page facing a gouache illustration in muted jewel tones on the other. The selections are brief to the point of being skimpy, and there are no source notes except for the bibliography of titles. The illustrations are appealing, and there is great potential in the concept, but most libraries can pass on this one.
Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6-8. Here's a pretty gathering of folk tales about flowers. Each flower tale is only a page or two long, very compressed but still recognizable in the telling. The tales range from a Sicilian story of a crocus sprung from a poor boy's kindness, to a tale in which the prophet Mohammed's linen shirt turns a common mallow plant into a bright and scented geranium. Dillard's dry and rather formal gouache style works better for the flower images, clear and botanically correct, than for the figures. A bibliography (of adult research titles) is appended. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Moon Mountain Publishing; 1 edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967792983
• ISBN-13: 978-0967792989
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,565,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whimsical -- Very highly recommended, March 24, 2002

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blossom Tales: Flower Stories of Many Folk (Hardcover)

A collection of 14 folktales from across the globe, BLOSSOM TALES relates wondrous legends about flowers. These tales relate the origin of flowers, or how and why they are used as they are. Always respectful of the culture they describe, the tales are filled with magic and whimsy.

Author Patricia Hruby Powell is an award-winning storyteller and community arts specialist, bringing her love of drama and storytelling to the written page in this collection that children will ask to be read again and again. This is illustrator Sarah Dillard's first children's book, but the beauty of the illustrations will leave readers hoping to see more of her marvelous talent.

Dragons, dwarves, soldiers and fairies bring a touch of the unexpected to BLOSSOM TALES, resulting in tales that will delight young readers with its evocative stories. Parents will enjoy the flow of the narrative that makes for perfect reading aloud before bedtime. A collection that will delight flower lovers of all ages, BLOSSOM TALES comes very highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In full bloom..., April 15, 2002

By 

"lgilson4" (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blossom Tales: Flower Stories of Many Folk (Hardcover)

What a delightful book! Each tale is told in the space of one or two pages with economy and grace. The beautiful illustrations complement the stories - the color and design is bold and arresting. This is one of those marvelous books that the adults will want to read over and over - and that the children will clamor to hear again.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Concept!, July 10, 2006

By 

Shawn Lewis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blossom Tales: Flower Stories of Many Folk (Hardcover)

All Praise to Blossom Tales: Flower Stories of Many Folk! I love the concept of this book, and the writing style is delicate,
>clean, and picturesque. How wonderful to get to know the stories of the flowers I've always loved!