Four Short Story Collections About Strong Women and Girls Around the World

My apologies for the long silence! This is a list of recommendations I wanted to post during Women's History Month, but couldn't get a hold of all the titles in time. That's okay though since we celebrate women and girls all the time on Ink & Pen! So, here are four collections of short stories about strong women and girls who think--and do--for themselves. Many of these tales have been buried or ignored, but we're glad to have them available to us now. Enjoy!

Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls
collected and told by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Susan Guevara

This collection of thirteen tales from Greece, Niger, Germany, Argentina, China, the White River Sioux, the Ozark Mountains, Scotland, Romania, Poland, Japan, France, and England, was by far my favorite. Yolen is a gifted storyteller and chose an array of engrossing tales that left me wishing there were a second collection!

The Serpent Slayer: and Other Stories of Strong Women
written by Katrin Tchana, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

This collection includes 18 stories of strong girls and women from Asia, the Americas, India, the Jewish tradition, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The tales in this collection are fascinating and the girls in them are all strong in unique ways. The illustrations for this treasury are remarkable and the stories fascinating.

Ten Cinderella Tales from Around the World

It's officially summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and we'd like to take this season to focus on folk and fairy tales (and perhaps myths and legends, too) here on Ink & Pen. So, to start things off here are ten Cinderella tales from around the world. Considering that it is widely accepted that the Cinderella tale was first recorded in China, it's surprising that multicultural versions of the story are not more popular, but thankfully there are a multitude of picture book versions from a truly diverse array of countries and cultures.

When I was a teacher, I spent an entire month exploring Cinderella tales with my students and we still didn't get through every culture's version. I found my students open to and interested in Cinderella stories from every culture. In fact, when I began reading them a Perrault version (what would be the "standard" for those of us in mainstream Western culture--except perhaps in Germany) they asked me what country the story was from, not viewing it as more original, authentic, or authoritative than any other version.

Of course, the Cinderella tale can be problematic when it comes to gender, body image, etc. I would strongly recommend that you engage any children you may be reading with in a discussion about standards of beauty as well as any other issues you may see with the tale. It's important for children to know that physical attributes are not an indicator of inner worth, and while some children will come to this conclusion on their own, it is helpful to have a trusted adult either introduce or reaffirm this notion.

I'm not including synopses for these books for though they differ widely in details, they are all versions of the same tale. Here are my top ten (in no particular order):

1. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale


2. The Korean Cinderella


3. The Rough-Face Girl

Four Jewish Folktales in Picture Book Form

We're going to explore diverse folk and fairy tales further this summer, but here are four Jewish folktales in picture book form in honor of May being Jewish American Heritage Month!

The Wooden Sword: A Jewish Folktale from Afghanistan
retold by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Carol Liddiment

A tale about the benefits of hard work, being clever, and trusting God in difficult circumstances. Includes an author's note on the tale and the research that went into making this book.

Something from Nothing: Adapted from a Jewish Folktale
adapted and illustrated by Phoebe Gilman

A lovely story about reusing, remaking, and letting go.

Five Picture Books for Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month! Below are five picture books we love that celebrate Jewish American heritage:

When Jessie Came Across the Sea
written by Amy Hest and illustrated by P.J. Lynch

In this gorgeously illustrated book by one of my favorite artists, Hest tells the story of Jessie, an orphaned girl from Eastern Europe who leaves her quiet village life to journey to America. Jessie's parents died when she was a baby, so she was raised by her loving grandmother who teaches her how to make fine lace. In turn, Jessie teaches her grandmother how to read and write--knowledge she acquires from lessons with the village rabbi. When the rabbi receives a ticket to America but decides he needs to stay with his people, he chooses Jessie to go in his place. While Jessie and her grandmother are sad to be separated, they know it is a wonderful opportunity. Jessie entrusts her mother's precious wedding band to her grandmother's care and sets off for a new life. The rest of the story chronicles Jessie's life in America and correspondence with her grandmother and ends beautifully, but I don't want to spoil it for you, so you can read it for yourself to find out the rest! Winner of the Christopher Award.

Across the Alley
written by Richard Michelson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Abe and Willie are neighbors, but they can't play together outside. Instead, they become best friends across the alley that separates the buildings where they live. Through their windows, Willie teaches Abe how to throw a "big-league slider" and Abe teaches Willie how to play his violin. When Abe's grandpa mistakes Willie's playing for his grandson's, he decides Abe is ready to perform at the temple. One day before the recital, Abe is concentrating on practicing his wind-up and Willie is so caught up with his playing that they don't hear Grandpa come into Abe's room. What results is an opening of minds and the opportunity for each boy to do something hitherto closed to him. Lewis's lovely watercolors pair well with this story that illustrates love's power to overcome prejudice, one friendship at a time.

Weekly Roundup: April 28 - May 4, 2013

• This, That, Both, Neither: The Badging of Biracial Identity in Young Adult Realism at YALSA

• The UAE's IBBY Conference Was 'Much More Than Bringing Children Together with Books' at The National

• Anne Frank's Diary Too 'Pornographic' For 7th-Grade Students, Claims Michigan Parent at the Huffington Post 

• Racial and gender inequalities in YA literature covered in new issue of YALSA's Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults at American Libraries Magazine

 Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments!

 

Five Diverse Middle Grade Novels in Verse

Continuing our celebration of National Poetry Month in the U.S., here are five middle grade novels in verse. Enjoy and Happy Poetry Month!

Planet Middle School
written by Nikki Grimes

You can read a great review of Planet Middle School at Coastline Books.

Inside Out & Back Again
written by Thanhha Lai

This book was showered with praise when it was published, winning the National Book Award, as well a Newbery Honor, and garnering multiple starred reviews. All the praise was well-earned. This semi-autobiographical story follows ten-year old Hà and her family from war-ravaged Saigon to the United States. Though times were hard in Vietnam, Hà was happy with her family, growing her papaya tree, and excelling in her studies. Hà struggles with the harsh realities of life aboard the rescue boat that eventually takes her family to a refugee camp, and with adjusting to her new home in Alabama. Life in the United States is very different than Saigon, and Hà is ostracized, cruelly mocked, and teased in her new school. She struggles to understand not only a new language, but a new culture, foods, and landscapes. The sense of place that Lai evokes in this book is exquisite, making her readers feel they are with Hà on every step of her journey. The poetic form helps readers grasp at least a fraction of the depth and intensity of Hà's emotions as she makes her way through the incredibly tumultuous year chronicled in this book. You can read more about Inside Out & Back Again at Goodreads. 

Book Recommendation: On the Seventh Night of Passover

Miriam's Cup: A Passover Story
written by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Bob Dancey

 

Book Recommendation: On the 5th Night of Passover

Okay, here is our second Passover book recommendation. This time we've got a silly one for you!

The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah

written by Leslie Kimmelman and illustrated by Paul Meisel

Book Recommendation: Happy First Night of Passover!

Tonight marks the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover, or Pesach. Over the course of the eight nights of Passover, we'll be posting a few book recommendations, good for those who celebrate Passover and those who want to learn more about the holiday. Our first recommendation:

 

written by Doreen Rappaport

illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully