The Fabrics of Fairytale: Stories Spun from Far and Wide (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Rachel Griffin (Illustrator) "Once in the land of Armenia a fine young prince called Vachagan was born..." (more)
Key Phrases: patchwork coat, tapa cloth, feather cloak, Khaim Yankl, Pembe Mirui, Queen Anaeet (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Elaborate fabric collages dress up this collection of stories gathered from around the world. Author and artist, respectively a New Zealander and a Brit making their American debuts, work together closely to highlight the unusual unifying themeAtextiles. For the Chinese tale "The Silk Brocade," for instance, Batt begins by explaining the history of silk and how it is made. Griffin's busy borders, meanwhile, stitch in Chinese stamps, map fragments, tiny skeins of silk, snippets of artwork and so on, while larger panels and a final full-page spread depict characters and scenes from the story, all picked out in a profusion of embroidery, sequins, buttons, beads and so on. The same format, with different materials selected to suit, follows for stories from Armenia ("Clever Anaeet"), where the subject is carpet weaving; East Africa (the Swahili tale "The Cloth of the Serpent Pembe Mirui") with its tradition of brightly patterned cottons and raffia cloth; Indonesia ("The Crocodile's Blessing") with its Javanese batik; and more. An intriguing way to introduce lesser-known folktales and the cultures from which they derive. Ages 8-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 5. In this captivating collection, Batt skillfully weaves together folktales from around the world with fascinating information about the various materials that play an important role in the stories. For example, "Clever Anaeet," a tale from Armenia in which a clever king saves his own life by weaving a secret message into a rug, is introduced by background about carpet weaving in the Caucasus and Persia. A description of textiles from the Pacific Islands precedes a selection from Hawaii that explains how the first feather cloak was made and given to a ruler. Also included are "The Cloth of the Serpent Pembe Mirui" (Swahili), "The Silk Brocade" (Chinese), "The Three Fayes" (Swedish), "The Patchwork Coat" (Jewish), and "The Crocodile's Blessing" (Indonesian). Although many of these tales are available elsewhere, these lively retellings are filled with visual images, skillfully paced, and accompanied by source notes. The stunning, full-page appliqu artwork illustrates each story and evokes the culture from which it comes. Each spread is designed to draw attention to the intricate border patterns made from materials such as ribbon, buttons, stamps, and homemade paper. While younger children will delight in listening to these tales, older readers will want to enjoy them on their own so that they can pore over the pictures.
Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841480614
• ISBN-13: 978-1841480619
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,408,397 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book, October 12, 2000

By	Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book comes from a small publisher and may be easily overlooked, but it shouldn't be. Batt has gathered several folktales from around the world with the theme of fabric and/or weaving. Griffin has done a marvelous job of using fabrics to illustrate the tales while reflecting the culture of each. This is a charming book with new tales and illustrations to share with children and adults alike. The fabrics are all vibrantly colored, making the illustrations a feast for the eyes. I kept finding new details every time I looked at a page. Each story is prefaced with an introduction about the fabric which will appear in the story. This would make a perfect gift for people interested in folklore or in weaving.

Here is also a brief description from the publisher:

"The weaving of words and the weaving of fabrics come together in this exceptional gift book, which combines the talents of professional storyteller Tanya Batt and textile artist Rachel Griffin. The history and passage around the world of each of the fabrics, from wool to batik, from flax to silk, is fascinatingly described, and the fabrics themselves then become the central characters of stories from areas as diverse as Scandinavia, Hawaii, Indonesia, and East Africa."

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, September 1, 2008

By	Rosie_0801 (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fabrics of Fairy Tale (Paperback)

This has to be one of the prettiest books I've ever seen! I borrowed this from the local library and it's now on my wish list to buy for my daughter when she has the dexterity to learn to weave.