Swamp Angel

Source: Isaacs, Anne. Swamp Angel. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1994.

Summary: In this take-off on the Paul Bunyan tall tales, there is "nothing to suggest" that a baby girl born almost as big as her mother would become the best woodswoman in Tennessee. However, Angelica, known as "Swamp Angel", makes a name for herself when she defeats the giant bear "Thundering Tarnation."

Cultural origins: American. Although this is an original tale, it is based off the American tall tales, particularly Paul Bunyan.

Audience: 3rd-5th grade. This story would be best appreciated by children who have had some exposure to tall tales before, and so would recognize the elements being used here. Older children would also be more likely to understand the humor of this story.

Adaptation notes: I would like to add more elements of the Paul Bunyan story, particularly origin stories of large landmarks.

The Luminous Pearl

Source: Torre, Betty L. The Luminous Pearl: a Chinese Folktale. New York: Orchard Books, 1990.

Summary: Mai Li, daughter of the Dragon King of the East Sea, is looking for a suitor to marry, but she rejects all the choices her father's advisors bring her. Finally, Admiral C. Horse tells her of a young man he saw while on an inspection tour, who is known to be honest and brave. Mai Li travels to find him, and finds two brothers. She gives them a test to discover which of them is both honest and brave: retrieving a luminous pearl that shines in the night from her father. As the brothers travel to the East Sea, they both come across a village that has been flooded, and both promise to return with the Dragon King's golden dipper to save them. Upon reaching the Dragon King, he allows them each to choose one item from his treasures. The first brother takes an enormous pearl, while the second takes the dipper to fulfill his promise, resigning himself not to marry the princess. After rescuing the village, he finds an oyster containing a black pearl, and takes it back to the princess. That night, it is the second brother's pearl that shines, and he wins the princess's hand.

Cultural origins: Chinese. The book describes itself as a Chinese folktale, and contains an adaptation note identifying another source of the tale.

Audience: 4th-6th grade. Like the other "princess" stories in this collection, this is a complicated story. It is unlikely that younger audiences would be able to follow the plot all the way through the story.

Adaptation notes: When I first read this story, I missed where the second brother got his pearl from. Therefore, when I tell this story, I would be sure to emphasize this part, as it clearly demonstrates that the pearl was his reward for honoring his promise to the village. I would also shorten the part where the princess rejects the suitors presented to her, as I did not think this was as important to the story.

How the Manx Cat Lost its Tail

Source: Stevens, Janet. How the Manx Cat Lost its Tail. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1990.

Summary: When Noah was loading the ark, he noticed the Manx cat was missing. He and his sons tried calling loudly for the cat, but it didn't come. Finally, Noah's wife called softly for the cat, and it came, but because it was late, the door shut on its tail, cutting it off. From then on, the Manx cat had no tail.

Cultural origins: British/European. Although the origin is never stated clearly, the Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea.

Audience: Preschool-1st grade. This story is basic enough for very young listeners to understand. Although it may help if they are familiar with the story of Noah's Ark, it should not be necessary.

Adaptation notes: I would have the children help me "call" the cat, both loudly and softly. I would also ask the children for examples of the animals in each category (birds, forest animals, pets, etc) as they are described in the story.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

Source: dePaola, Tomie. The Legend of the Poinsettia. New York: Putnam's Sons, 1994.

Summary: Lucida's mother falls ill before she can finish the blanket she is making to cover the baby Jesus figure for the church's Christmas procession. Lucida tries to help finish the blanket, but winds up tangling the threads hopelessly. Distressed that she won't have anything to give to the baby Jesus, she is reassured by an old woman that the important thing is that the gift comes from her heart. Lucida picks a bouquet of weeds to present, but in the church, they become topped by red "stars." When she leaves the church, all the weeds have red stars, turning them into poinsettias.

Cultural origins: Mexican. The story includes an author's note describing this heritage, and the story includes several Spanish phrases.

Audience: 1st - 3rd grade. I would most likely tell this story at Christmastime to a Sunday school audience.

Adaptation notes: In telling this story, I would like to have a poinsettia handy to serve as an introduction to the story and also as a visual when the red stars appear. I might also pair this story with the song "The Little Drummer Boy," since they share thematic elements.

Chicken Licken

Source: Bishop, Gavin. Chicken Licken. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984.

Summary: Chicken Licken thinks the sky is falling, and rushes off to warn the queen. Along the way, he is joined by various other poultry, until they meet up with Foxy Woxy. The fox offers to take them through a shortcut to the queen, which happens to be his lair. Once inside, he gobbles up all the birds except Chicken Licken, who escapes and runs home.

Cultural origins: Undetermined. It was not stated in my source, although the characters and setting suggest a western European origin.

Audience: Multiple. The version of the story presented in this source would be most appropriate for 2nd-4th grades, as the violent imagery at the end would likely frighten younger children. However, a revised ending would make this suitable for preschool-1st grades.

Adaptation notes:Even with an older audience, I would likely downplay the violence of the final scene, describing the animals as being eaten up rather than beheaded by the fox. I would probably keep the chicken's name as Chicken Licken, rather than the alternative Chicken Little, to maintain the rhyming scheme of names in the story.

The Princess and the Pumpkin

Source: Duff, Maggie. The Princess and the Pumpkin. New York: Macmillan, 1980.

Summary: After her golden comb, emerald band, and a lock of hair are stolen by birds, a young princess takes ill and refuses to laugh. The king and queen decree that anyone who can make her laugh again will live in comfort for the rest of their days. Finally, an old woman comes and tells the princess a story that makes her laugh and leads her to find her true love.

Cultural origins: Majorca. This origin is identified in the dust cover flyleaf for the book.

Audience: 4th-6th grade. Like the "Princess and the Beggar", this is a complicated story with a romantic ending.

Adaptation notes: I would use a very gruff voice for the dwarf to help distinguish him as the villain. I would also expand the prince's song and give it a melody.

The Princess and the Beggar

Source: O'Brien, Anne Sibley. The Princess and the Beggar: a Korean Folktale. New York: Scholastic, 1993.

Summary: The King's youngest daughter cried frequently, earning her the nickname "The Weeping Princess." One day, the king threatens that he will marry her off to the village idiot, Pabo Ondal, if she continues her weeping. When she turns 16 and is ready to be married, she holds him to his threat rather than be married in an arranged marriage. She teaches Ondal to read, write, and ride a horse, and he wins the king's hunting and poetry competitions.

Cultural origins: Korean. The book touts itself as a Korean folktale, and includes source notes from the oral tradition.

Audience: 3rd-5th grade. This story would probably be over the head of younger children, particularly with the idea of arranged marriage. It is also a fairly complicated story with multiple characters that develop over the course of the story.

Adaptation notes: In my own telling of this story, I would exaggerate the change in Ondal through my voice and mannerisms. I would also include more examples of the princess's weeping in order to demonstrate how she got her nickname.