Around the World in 80 Tales

by Saviour Pirotta

Overview

Around the World in 80 Tales by Saviour Pirotta and richly illustrated by Richard takes readers on a journey across six continents, with entertaining folktales from eighty different storytelling traditions. An excellent introduction to foreign countries, these beautifully told stories are perfect for reading aloud and encouraging children to learn about different cultures and other parts of the world. From a dragon princess in China to a clever peddler in Morocco, children will meet wonderful characters as they travel story-by-story around the globe. An ideal gift, this deluxe volume is a joyous celebration of the world's wonderful diversity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780753475089
Publisher:	Kingfisher
Publication date:	10/16/2018
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	424,937
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 11.80(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Saviour Pirotta has written more than sixty fiction and nonfiction books for children, and his works have been translated into ten languages. He has a special interest in myths and traditional legends from around the world. Saviour was born in Malta and is a trained chef.

Editorial Reviews

This collection presents a variety of stories to take a reader from the United States, through Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the surrounding islands. The stories begin in North America with a Native American tale, followed by an African American story, and tales from Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Each story is only one or two pages in length. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any distinct order to the tales nor is there any distinct theme that might tie all the stories together. From North America, readers “travel” southward to South America, then the tales turn east towards Europe and Asia. There is a nice assortment of tales: trickster stories, variations of traditional fairy tales, and myths. The book’s wide assortment of stories is its strength. Sadly, many of the stories use modern phrases and do not use the cultural settings to any advantage. Other similar collections have better organizational structures and better illustrations, with fewer tales in one book. Nevertheless, middle and upper elementary students and teachers may be able to use this as a starting point for telling some good folktales. Reviewer: Elizabeth Fronk

Children's Literature

Gr 1-4
This oversize collection contains 80 brief tales, grouped by continent. Some are widely known: there's an Anansi and a Brer Rabbit tale, "Three Billy Goats Gruff," and "Nail Soup." Pirotta's straightforward retellings offer plenty of read-aloud choices: "The Silver Goose" (from Italy), "Big Brother, Little Brother" (from South Korea), and "The Kiwi's Gift" (from New Zealand) are especially memorable. Some selections feel truncated, and most would have benefited from an introduction or more context. Source notes are not included. The book sports an attractive design, with a colorful world map on the endpapers and lively cartoon illustrations throughout. Overall, this speedy world tour through folktales lacks depth and perspective. Nonetheless, it should appeal to teachers, who will appreciate its myriad read-aloud options.
—Marilyn TaniguchiCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal