More Stories to Solve: Fifteen Folktales from Around the World (Paperback)

by George Shannon (Author), Peter Sis (Illustrator) "Once, when it began to snow, three brothers decided they would make the biggest snowman their village had ever seen..." (more)
Key Phrases: folktale retold, King Lycurgus

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-- Shannon and Sis again bring together a collection of folkloric riddles, replicating the previous format and success of their Stories to Solve (Greenwillow, 1985). Each of the 15 selections comes from a different culture, with the source usually identified in the text of the riddle or discernible from visual clues in the accompanying illustrations. Further information is provided at the end of the book. The tales vary in difficulty, although the answers are generally contained within the text. The weakest one involves a banker who cheats a Brahman; unlike the others, the solution lies in moral, rather than logical, reasoning. Sis's stylized pen-and-ink drawings support the stories and entertain. Overall, a satisfying gathering of brain teasers, sure to please riddle lovers and especially useful for teachers introducing the global village concept through world folklore. --Dorothy Houlihan, White Plains Public Library, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews
Like Stories to Solve (1985), a collection of very brief riddle-stories, each with its solution given after a page turn. Like the Irish story about a lawyer who gets the devil to agree that his father will live as long as a candle stub ``lasts'' and then blows the candle out, most depend on trickery plus the clever use of logic. Practiced storytellers may enjoy embroidering Shannon's bare-bones versions; on the other hand, Sis provides elaborate settings, his quietly comical crosshatched drawings handsomely framing the text. An excellent addition to any collection. Notes on sources. (Folklore. 5-12) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (March 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380732610
• ISBN-13: 978-0380732616
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #270,282 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Logic outside the box - pure fun, September 8, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: More Stories to Solve: Fifteen Folktales from Around the World (Paperback)

This sequel is worthy of its predecessor; it too consists of folktales, very concisely told, that in some sense are a riddle, a puzzle, a play on words ... These stories are presented as problems to solve.

A major strength of the book is the variety of sources of the tales - Korean, Liberian, Kasmiri, Russian, Bengali, Chilean, Mexican, Burmese; in fact many of the stories could have come from any of a number of cultures. The illustrations add to the interest of the book for its intended audience.

The only weakness is that it offer no alternative answers or requires knowledge that may not be familar to the reader. If children are reading the book independently, they may not have the confidence to recognize that their answer is a clever as the one given in the text.

This is a fun book that should be enjoyed by parent and child.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and exciting book!, April 1, 2006

By	Karen L. Hinkley "mshinkleyrocks" (Castro Valley, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this to my third grade class and it really helps their critical thinking skills. The stories are so fun and sometimes I am stumped!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, May 24, 2009

By	R. Rodriguez (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a fourth grade teacher and in our reading curriculum they have a story from this book More Stories to Solve. The kids asked me if we could read more. I said I didn't have the book, but I bet I could find a copy on Amazon and sure enough...I did! The kids were so excited that I found it and we read one story each day until it ran out. They begged for more. I would recommend this book.