Spider and the Sky God

Retold by: Deborah K. Newton Chocolate

Genre: Traditional Folk tale: Beast tale. A small spider out smarts animals much larger then himself.

Age Range: K-3rd. It is an easy read and not challenging for older readers. Excellent for story time with younger readers.

Plot: Ananse the Spider goes to the Sky God high above to become a great story teller. The Sky God tells him he must bring him Onini - the Python, Mmboro - the Buzzing Hornets, Osebo - the Leopard, and Mmotia - the Fairy. After outsmarting all four and capturing

Characters: Kwansu Ananse, Sky God, Aso, Onini - the Python, Mmoboro - the Buzzing Hornets, Osebo - the Leopard, and Mmoatia - the Fairy.

Setting: The forests of West Africa

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks.

Illustrations: Dave Alders; Lots of geometric shapes and vivid colors which is part of African Culture.

Equity: Derived from traditional African folklore, this tale is good representation of a culture and is excellent for introduction into a culture.

The Littlest Wolf

By: Larry Dane Brimner

Genre: Traditional

Age Range: K-3rd grade. Talking animals, center of own world, striving to accomplish skills, peer-group acceptance, and repetition are all reasons why this book fits for this age group.

Plot: As Big Gray watched over his pups playing in the fields, he found Little One hiding up against a great oak tree. Asking why he wasn't playing, Little Wolf told Big Gray that he wasn't as good as his brothers and sister. Each time Big Gray said "That is as it should be". With each time, Little Wolf became more confident and accepting of himself. At the end of the day, Big Gray tells Little Wolf to remember the acorns on the great oak tree and see what they become.

Characters: Little Wolf, Big Gray, Tyler, Frankie, and Ana

Setting: Bright sunny day in a field.

Theme: Acceptance of self and realizing one's own potential.

Illustrations: Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Big, bright illustrations taking up more space on the pages than words keep children's attention while also helping tell the story.

Puss in Boots

By: Charles Perrault

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd grade. This book is appropriate for this age group because of the talking animals, the pictures go hand-in-hand with the reading keeping the attention of young readers, and allows for expansion of language.

Plot: A miller dies and leaves nothing for his three sons except his mill, donkey, and cat. They divide them up with the oldest getting the mill, second oldest getting the donkey, and the youngest getting the cat. The youngest is unhappy but the cat promises him it will be worth his while. The cat begins to catch game and give it to the game saying it is from his master, the Marquis of Carabas. The king is very pleased and Puss continues to manipulate and out smart everyone including a giant Ogre. Puss tricked him into turning into a mouse and ate him leaving his lands and castle to his master. This impressed the king so much that the Marquis married the princess that same day.

Characters: Puss, the Marquis of Carabas (the youngest son), and the Ogre.

Setting: French countryside hundreds of years ago

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks

Illustrations: Fred Marcellino; Following the story exactly, the illustrations help to keep the attention of the children allowing them to also see the story and help keep up.

Awards: Caldecott  Medal (1990)