A Year Full of Stories

Fifty-two traditional stories from across the globe carry readers through a year’s worth of holidays and other seasonal celebrations—secular and religious, modern and ancient. Familiar offerings—such as “The Frog Prince,” paired with Valentine’s Day, and the biblical tale of Jonah and the whale (whose theme of repentance fits well with Yom Kippur)—join stories from Arabic, Iroquois, Korean, and Norwegian legend that will likely be new to many readers. Corr accompanies the tales with bright gouache illustrations whose folk art aesthetic ably bridges the many cultures on display; a closing section offers capsule descriptions of each of the holidays. Though little detail is provided about the origins of the stories themselves, this is a rich and diverse compendium that lends itself to casual perusing. Ages 6–9. (Oct.)