A Year Full of Stories

With 52 folk tales and legends, this fascinating book takes the reader through the year and around the world through stories chosen to link to festivals and other special days.  Each of these is explained in a useful appendix at the back of the book. Familiar tales such as The Frog Prince and The Little Red Hen are included as well as stories from classical tradition (Androcles and the Lion and Persephone) and stories from world religions (Jonah and the Whale and Rama and Sita).

There are stories with echoes of the familiar, for example The Runaway Pancake probably better known to British readers as The Gingerbread Man. There are also many stories which will be completely new to young readers which will expand their knowledge of world and indicate the important role of story within cultures. There are stories which explain the mysteries of the world, such as the America story Why the Evergreens Keep their Leaves and stories which teach the value of friendship and kindness or warn against greed.

This is a wonderful collection with simple and highly readable retellings of a diverse range of stories. The book is beautifully designed with very attractive and decorative illustrations. A great addition to libraries and classrooms and for anyone with a love of story.