Outfoxing Fear: Folktales from Around the World

""Fear is killing me/ Little by little,"" bemoans one character in this empowering, defiantly anti-academic collection of exotic tales collected by Ragan (Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisterssic one long title). Once again Ragan has gathered a heroic assortment of feisty protagonists who must face their fears in the form of the limmer (Scottish scoundrel), tengu (Japanese big-nosed monster) or ghouleh (Arabic ghoul). The tales-from African, Afghani, Arowak and many other oral traditions-are intended to be read aloud. Ragan inserts personal commentary between chapters that relate incidences from her travels, anecdotes from her own family (especially her children's fears since 9/11) and feedback via ""virtual campfire."" Some of the tales seem familiar, having shape-shifted their way into other cultures (e.g., ""The Bee and the Asya"" from the Hopi tradition resembles a fable by La Fontaine), while others ring puzzling or gruesome or just plain silly. And some stabs at vernacular (""Ole Sis Goose wus er-sailin' on de lake,"" begins the African-American tale of the same title) could have used updating. A folktale's outcome is never in doubt, but anything's possible during the journey, and this collection provides plenty of opportunity for lighting out courageously.