Momotaro the Peach Boy

by Carol1 Comment
Today's Friday Fairy Tale post takes us on a trip to Japan to meet Momotaro, the Peach Boy. This is actually one of Japan's best-known folktales, although I had never heard of it before.  The story is available on-line here, but I read a copy I borrowed from the library which seems to be a fairly faithful retelling. Peach Boy retold by Gail Sakurai, illustrated by Makiko Nagano (Suggested reading level: Grades 2-4 ) An old man and his wife are sad and lonely because they have no children. One day, while washing clothes in the stream the woman finds giant peach which she takes home as a treat for her husband. Before they can cut it open, it bursts and a baby boy pops out, an answer to their prayers. They name the child Momotaro, which means Peach Boy. The boy grows up big, strong and brave. When he is a teenager, he decides to go on a quest to kill the ogres...
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Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

by Carol5 Comments
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola (Suggested reading level: Ages 4-8) I've read many of dePaola's Strega Nona stories with Amber over the years. They are all sweet, delightfully illustrated and filled with a kind, gentle touch of magic. Today's Fairy Tale Friday selection is the original Strega Nona, which I don't remember reading before, but it's a perfect story for me. In a town in Calabria, a long time ago, there lived an old lady everyone called Strega Nona, which meant "Grandma Witch." Although all the people in town talked about her in whispers, they all went to see her if they had troubles. Even the priest and the sisters of the convent went, because Strega Nona did have a magic touch. Even though she has a touch of magic, she's so kind and considerate everyone in the village trusts her. Strega Nona hires Big Anthony to help out around her house and garden, warning him never to touch the pasta pot. Big Anthony learns, by...
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The Girl Who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton

by Carol9 Comments
The Girl Who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon Suggested reading level: Ages 4-8 Folktales of little men who help women spin thread or straw into gold are told with different variations throughout the world. "Rumpelstiltskin" is probably the best known, but this book retells a West Indian version. Quashiba and her mother are spinning thread in the shade of a tree when Big King rides past. Quashiba's mother brags to the king that her daughter can spin fields of fine gold thread. The king decides that he will marry Quashiba, but warns her that after one year and one day of marriage she must begin spinning the golden thread and fill three whole rooms. Of course, the time eventually comes and he locks her into the room one night. He actually padlocks the door, telling her that if she doesn't do it she will stay locked in forever. A tiny, ugly man floats into the room and tells...
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