Once upon A Time (She Said) [Hardcover]

Jane Yolen (Author), Priscilla Olson (Editor), Ruth Sanderson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2005

This volume contains a collection of over 40 short stories, 30 poems, and 6 essays of Jane Yolen. It is being produced for her Guest of Honourship at Interaction, the 2005 World Science Fiction Convention.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jane Yolen is the author of works as diverse as Owl Moon, Briar Rose, and How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? She writes fantasy and science fiction for children, adults, and those who haven't decided which they are! A poet, a teacher of writing and literature, and a reviewer of children's literature, she has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century. Jane Yolen's books and stories have won the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, the Association of Jewish Libraries Award, and the Skylark Award.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Nesfa Pr; 1st edition (August 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886778612
• ISBN-13: 978-1886778610
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,801,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jane Yolen Speaks Stories Well, March 7, 2006

By 

Alfred J. Treder "altreder" (Covington, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Once upon A Time (She Said) (Hardcover)

Jane Yolen has written a large number of books, but I have read just this one, and I am very impressed. This specific volume was reviewed and recommended in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact, so naturally I put it on my wish list but forgot about it, and was then surprised and rewarded at Christmas by one of my daughters. What a treasure! You can't know what I mean until you read it yourself.

This work is a collection of short stories and shorter poems, mostly (I believe) not exactly composed by Ms Yolen but (more accurately) retold wonderfully. They are folk tales spoken clearly with all their original power and purpose.

Just one example: Disney made a cute animated cartoon movie out of one version of the Cinderella tale, but in the process of financially rescuing his studio he robbed the poor girl of her best qualities. Jane Yolen resurrects her properly and sweetly as a strong woman of real character, as she has been celebrated in many cultures over the world for centuries.

I found myself nodding over the "rightness" of the ending for each story Jane told, and many times smiling as well over the twist she gave (or preserved for) it. I think all parents would appreciate the tales for themselves and will want to read them aloud to their children, even if they ARE told as to adults. Children need vocabulary growth sometime, after all. This is a very good way to lead them into life.