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Twist in the Tail: Animal Stories from Around the World

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Folk tales are the oldest form of literature, told for hundreds of years before being written down. This delightful book presents a colorful selection of tales starring animals, comprising the following: "A Birthday Surprise," a spider trickster story from the West Indies with Asante (modern-day Ghana) roots; "The Fox and the Crab Have a Race," a tale from China, "The Bright Blue Jackal," a tale from India; "The Wolf Who Loved Sheep," a Los Nobos story from the Cape Verde Islands; "The Magpie and the Milk," a fable from Turkey; "The Pelican and the Fish," a storoy from Malaysia; "The Fox and the Boastful Brave," a Native American story from the Iroquois Nation; "The Tortoise Who Rode an Elephant," a Yoruba story from Nigeria; "The Very Clever Rabit," a tale from Venezuela; and "The Animal Who Couldn't Make Up Its Mind," an Aboriginal Australian story. This book does an admirable job of showing the universal appeal of animal stories, especially those of the trickster genre. Author Mary Hoffman, known for her beloved Amazing Grace stories, relates these tales in flowing, easy-to-read language, each one beautifully complemented with colorful artwork. An appendix offers information on the source of each of these timeless tales. Moreover, children of all cultures will be especially able to relate to the theme that being clever and humble is better than being big and strong.