A thousand years ago, in the Celtic kingdoms of Wales, great lords gave great feasts for their fighting men and courtiers. In timbered halls, for days on end, heaps of meat and bread were washed down with gallons of beer and mead. And in between the meals, when bellies were stuffed and spirits high, the storyteller rose and spun his tales of times long past.He told of lords, bold and generous. He told of ladies, grand and glorious. He told of friends, brave and faithful. But of all...

As the daughter of a great mandarin, Mi Nuong leads a sheltered life. But one day, sitting in her tower, a song floats to her from a distant fishing boat on the river."My love is like a blossom in the breeze.My love is like a moonbeam on the waves."The voice is so beautiful, she knows the singer must be young and handsome -- perhaps even a mandarin's son in disguise. Could it be that the song is for her? She longs to meet him, but how? And what will...

WINNER OF THE 2024 AESOP PRIZE FROM THE AMERICAN FOLKLORE SOCIETYYou'd better believe Slappy Hooper was the world's biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter. He was bestest because no one else ever made pictures so true to life. But some folks said they were too good when the pictures started coming alive!Will Slappy have to give up sign painting for good? Or will a couple of timely jobs from the Heavenly Sign Company let him climb to even greater heights? Find out in this de...

"I'm quick and smart as I can be. Try and try, but you can't catch me!"Mouse Deer sings his song as he walks through the forest looking for tasty fruits and roots and shoots. Though he is small, he is not afraid. He knows that many big animals want to eat him -- but first they have to catch him!In these delightful trickster tales from Southeast Asia, find out how Mouse Deer gets the best of his enemies -- Tiger, Crocodile, and the most dangerous animal of a...

"One of the books every boy should have on his bookshelf." -- San Francisco ExaminerNo outlaw could draw as fast as Lightning Larry. But what really terrified those bad men was that peculiar gun of his. It didn't shoot bullets. It shot light. And Larry always aimed for the heart.Can Larry save the town of Brimstone from Evil-Eye McNeevil's outlaw gang? Find out in this rip-roaring original tale of a gunfighter with a huge smile and a hankering for ...

"Stories on Stage" is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, Russell Hoban, Wanda Gag, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels.////////////////////...

"Folktales on Stage" is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted by award-winning children's author Aaron Shepard from his own folktale retellings. A wide variety of countries and cultures is represented, including Native America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and China. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a full range of reading levels./////////////////////////////////////////////////Aaron Shepard is the aut...

Writing books for children is both art and business. If you dream of becoming a children's author -- or even if you're well on your way -- this handbook can help you in writing sellable stories, getting them published, and promoting your books.Topics include common myths about children's writing, children's book categories, elements of successful stories, manuscript format, submission strategies, contract negotiation, the publishing process, career building, and children's writer r...

Traditional tales are retold by a master storyteller in this collection of folktales, myths, and legends from India and Pakistan. The stories are:THE GIFTS OF THE GRASSCUTTERWali Dad, a humble grasscutter, never asked for wealth -- so why can't he give it away?THE PRINCESS AND THE GODThe princess Savitri must use all her wit and will to save her husband from the god of death.THE MILLIONAIRE MISERSushil is so stingy, even a god takes notice.

One night of peace in a world of war."Christmas Day, 1914 . . . My dear sister Janet . . . It is 2:00 in the morning and most of our men are asleep in their dugouts -- yet I could not sleep myself before writing to you of the wonderful events of Christmas Eve. In truth, what happened seems almost like a fairy tale, and if I hadn't been through it myself, I would scarce believe it. Just imagine: While you and the family sang carols before the fire there in London, I did the same wit...

Quite by chance, San Francisco has become one of the carousel capitols of the world. It today hosts carousels from all three of the most important historic American carousel makers -- the only city anywhere with that distinction! What's more, each carousel has been restored close to its original condition."Circles of Delight" celebrates the beauty and diversity of these traditional, hand-carved wood carousels of the Golden Gate City. With its vibrant photos and informative profiles...

"I want shoes that are spiffy, not iffy."Katie is tired of her same old shoes, so she goes to the store to buy new ones. But with so many wondrous choices, how can she ever decide? In this fun story told in lively verse, a young girl gets a peek at the many possibilities open to her in life and embraces them with joy. For ages 2 to 8./////////////////////////////////////////////Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen...