A World Full of Animal Stories

In a companion to A Year Full of Stories, McAllister compiles 50 folktales from around the world, retelling them in clear, straightforward prose. Grouped by continent, the stories offer light morals and “just-so” style explanations about animal characteristics and behavior: in “How the Jellyfish Lost His Bones,” a rather grim Japanese tale in which the Dragon King who rules the sea removes Jellyfish’s shell and leg bones as punishment after the creature fails to retrieve a monkey’s liver to heal the queen. Readers will recognize European tales such as “The Three Little Pigs” and “The Ugly Duckling,” but most of the international tales will likely be new to many children. Rich with imagery and magical happenings, this treasury offers plenty to captivate readers, and Aitch’s pencil and watercolor art neatly bridges the stories’ varied settings. Ages 6–9. (Oct.)