Discover Ukraine's long and fascinating history, its rich folk literature, and its deep cultural roots. A historical overview and an introduction to Ukrainian folk literature are followed by 33 traditional tales-humorous animal tales, instructive fables, how and why stories, heroic legends, and even spooky tales. Ukraine, a country that was for years forgotten, has recently emerged from the shadows of the former Soviet Union to take its place on the world stage. This unique collection of stories introduces readers to Ukraine's long and fascinating history, its rich folk literature, and its deep cultural roots. A historical overview and an introduction to Ukrainian folk literature are followed by 33 traditional tales-humorous animal tales, instructive fables, how and why stories, heroic legends, and even spooky tales. Color plates and line drawings illustrate elements from the stories and show readers some of the landscape, architecture, and folk arts of Ukraine. A great source for read-alouds and student reports, this book is a wonderful addition to the school or public library collection. With the recent influx of immigrants from Ukraine, renewed interest in this part of the world, and the country's increased visibility in international politics, this book will be a valuable resource for school and public

The collection of folktales from the Ukraine consists of one book with 27 folktales. Oh: The Tsar of the Forest The Story of the Wind The Voices at the Window The Story of Little Tsar Novishny, the False Sister, and the Faithful Beasts The Vampire and St Michael The Story of Tremsin, the Bird Zhar, and Nastasia, the Lovely Maid of the Sea The Serpent-Wife The Story of Unlucky Daniel The Sparrow and the Bush The Old Dog The Fox and the Cat The Straw Ox The Golden Slipper The Iron Wolf The Three Brothers The Tsar and the Angel The Story of Ivan and the Daughter of the Sun The Cat, the Cock, and the Fox The Serpent-Tsarevich and His Two Wives The Origin of the Mole The Two Princes The Ungrateful Children and the Old Father Who Went to School Again Ivan the Fool and St Peter's Fife The Magic Egg The Story of the Forty-First Brother The Story of the Unlucky Days The Wondrous Story of Ivan Golik and the Serpents With this book you will immerse in the magic world of Ukrainian fairy tales, get acquainted with Ukrainian culture and maybe you will understand the Ukrainian soul.

Some of the world's oldest and richest folk traditions come from a country that most Americans know very little about-Finland (or Suomi). The fifth largest country in Europe (in land size), Finland is home to the third true folk epic, The Kalevala (The Land of Heroes). It is a country of lush forests and sparkling clear lakes where, in the northern regions, reindeer still roam. This collection introduces readers to the fascinating culture, history, geology, and folk literature of Finland. After a historical and cultural overview, the authors present 20 representative stories-including ancient tales from The Kalevala, humorous and moral tales (e.g., The Selfish Housewife and The Magic Wish)-and a fictionalized account of a witch trial in the 1600s. Holiday traditions, proverbs and sayings, and traditional recipes embellish this collection and will tantalize and intrigue readers. Color plates illustrate the land, the people, and artistic traditions of this wondrous people.

Ancestors of the nomadic group called San (or Bushmen) once roamed the northern territories of Africa and the Mediterranean. Now inhabiting the Kalahari desert (the place that dried up long ago) in South Africa, these fascinating people are known for their astonishing memory, extraordinary talents for hunting and tracking, superior abilities for finding food and water, and great storytelling. Here then is a portrait of one of the world's oldest and most remarkable cultures and its environment. The group's history, nomadic way of life, beliefs, customs, and stories are offered to readers with exquisite illustrations and color photographs of people, animals, and the land. Fifteen traditional tales, such as The Rain Bull, The First Tug-of-War, In Search of the Golden Prize, and All the Stars of Heaven, are presented in poetic verse and juxtaposed with commentary on the challenges this group faces today. The author has also included a glossary and a bibliography of resources for further study.

The power of love within families; the complexities of relationships; the rites of passage for birth, coming of age, marriage, and death-these are some of the themes covered in this wonderful volume. Author and storyteller Lindy Soon Curry offers us 25 enchanting tales that foster understanding of Korean culture and Korean Americans. Humorous tales, teaching tales, tall tales, classics, and a section of stories about tigers are included. Written in a style that easily lends itself to read-alouds as well as to silent reading, these stories reflect unique cultural traditions and values of Korea as well as universal symbols and themes. Curry's tips for storytelling give educators insights in how to effectively present or perform the tales. In addition, Dr. Chan-eung Park discusses the wisdom to be found in the stories and the cultural continuity of the collection. A color plate section illustrates some of the traditional arts, customs, landscapes of Korea.

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A gentle, nearsighted peasant girl rescues the legendary Baba Babochka and is rewarded with a magic babushka that enables her to create beautiful "pysanky," or decorated eggs.