A Year Full of Stories: 52 classic stories from all around the world

by Angela McAllister, Christopher Corr (Illustrator)

Overview

This treasury of 52 stories collects together a rich resource of myths, fairy tales and legends from around the world, with a story for every week of the year. The book is broken into 12 chapters, for each of the 12 months of the year, and throughout, stories are matched to internationally celebrated dates, including Valentines Day and the International Day of Friendship, as well as seasonal events and festivals. Collected and retold by award-winning author Angela McAllister, and illustrated by internally recognised artist Christopher Corr, this is a book that will be treasured by families and appeal to teachers and librarians around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847808684
Publisher:	Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Publication date:	10/06/2016
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	43,374
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.75(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

ANGELA MCALLISTER is the author of over 70 books for children and teens. Her books have won several awards, including the Red House Book Award for 'Yuck! That's Not a Monster!' and the Stockport and Portsmouth Awards for 'My Mum has X-Ray Vision'. Her picturebook, 'Leon and the Place Between' has been adapted for the stage and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award. She has collaborated with many illustrators, including Grahame Baker-Smith, Alex T. Smith, Margaret Chamberlain, Ross Collins and Peter Bailey.CHRISTOPHER CORR is an established author/illustrator whose many books have won him international acclaim. He studied at the Royal College of Art, and now lives and works in London as an artist and tutor at Goldsmiths University.

Editorial Reviews

10/17/2016
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.)

Publishers Weekly

“This attractive anthology will prove useful.” - Kirkus Reviews

"Notable for its beautiful illustrations.... Students will enjoy locating the tales on a calendar or arriving at their own treasured holiday." - School Library Journal

"an introduction that provides valuable insight into a number of cultures and will hopefully spur readers to seek out more." - Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 12/01/2016
Gr 2–5—McAllister's collection of stories are arranged to represent holidays and seasons throughout the calendar year. This volume is notable for its beautiful illustrations, many of which are a full page in size. Students will enjoy locating the tales on a calendar or arriving at their own treasured holiday. Whether the book is experienced in its entirety or specific selections are shared in isolation, many curriculum standards in geography, social studies, or literature can be met using entries from this compendium. The text can also serve well for read-alouds for younger audiences. A list of each of the celebratory dates is included. VERDICT Consider for libraries where fairy tales and folktales are in high demand.—Elizabeth Swartz, Warrior Run School District, PA

School Library Journal

Aug. 30, 2016
A seasonal collection of world folk stories.Arranged according to the calendar, the selected stories sometimes have tangential connections to the holidays or observances denoted, linked only by culture. With all the stories about Chinese New Year, for instance, why choose an unrelated Chinese folk tale like “King of the Forest,” which does not even feature the animals of the Chinese zodiac? However, most stories have a thematic relationship, like the Indian “Rama and Sita” for Diwali and “The Legend of the Poinsettias” from Mexico for Christmas. Some stories are quite unusual (and sophisticated) such as the Inuit “Skeleton Woman” for World Music Day in June. Although the author includes information that Ramadan is the ninth Islamic month, the holiday is listed in June. Many will not understand that the lunar Islamic calendar means that the holiday can occur in any month in a 33-year cycle. This is a problem with other religious lunar calendars as well. The relatively small font and double-column text on some pages may be off-putting to children, but this is probably a book that adults will read aloud from. Corr’s stylized gouache illustrations in vibrant colors include full-bleed pages and smaller vignettes. Short descriptions of the holidays from many cultures and religions, as well as international commemorations, can be found at the end of the volume, but unfortunately, no story sources are included. Quibbles aside, this attractive anthology will prove useful. (Folk tales. 7-11)

Kirkus Review