Gr 1–6—Six amazing women from all over the globe who have incredible talents from speed to cleverness to compassion are the heroines in this collection of tales. A Cambodian goddess outwits the ogre to gather a glass of dew, and the chase creates the first thunder and lightening. A young girl from Ethiopia grieves for her mother but learns patience and caring while seeking a whisker from a lioness. In "The Cleverest Tune," a folktale from Britain, a daughter wins her father's fortune by filling his house with music. In a folktale from Turkey, a lady helps trick a greedy judge into giving a poor man his rightful fortune. The "Reindeer Maiden" in Siberia uses magic to conquer the moon. In "Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind," an American tall tale, a girl amazes everyone with her physical skills and ends up rescuing Davy Crockett with a snake lasso. Each tale, narrated by a different actress, is introduced with original music and occasional songs or sound effects to emphasize the story line. These well-rounded and wonderfully produced stories teaches life lessons and introduces strong female characters in a very entertaining way. The tales could be used individually or enjoyed as a collection representing cultures around the world.—Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA