(3) K-3 Illustrated by Deborah Melmon. During a drought little Gecko perseveres when all the other animals give up trying to stomp their way down to the water underground. When Gecko finally reaches water, Elephant tries to take his moment of triumph away, but all the other animals recognize his accomplishment. Humorous digitally manipulated illustrations enhance this lively tale that invites audience participation.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. A poor flower-seller receives a gift from the Dragon King: a boy "who had the snottiest nose you ever did see!" After being fed, the boy blows his nose and gold covers the floor. The man then makes demand after demand. Bright, digitally enhanced watercolor collage sets the story in Japan, with traditional clothing contrasting nicely with the icky but funny details.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Mitchell. An old woman grumbles and complains about housework--and fairies appear to do it for her. At first it's wonderful, but as soon as they finish a chore, they undo it and start afresh--over and over. At last the village wise woman provides a solution, and the old woman never complains again. Understated and humorous watercolor illustrations accompany this amusing retelling.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carol Liddiment. In this story starring an Arabic folk character, Jouha the wise fool is always losing one of ten donkeys (the one that he's riding!). Numbers in Arabic from wahid (one) to ashara (ten) run along the bottom of the pages, allowing readers to chime in as Jouha searches for his animals. Desert-hued illustrations show details of traditional Middle Eastern life.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by John Kanzler. Storyteller MacDonald offers an enjoyable version of this cumulative tale, in which an old woman can't return to her little boy because her pig refuses to cross a bridge on the way home from the market. Two brief songs (music is included) encourage listener participation. Lively illustrations provide humorous portrayals of the story's stubborn animal characters.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Will Terry. In this retelling of a Hungarian folktale, Little Rooster finds a diamond button, which is quickly taken by a greedy king. As Little Rooster tries to get it back, the king doles out punishments, which Little Rooster foils by means of his conveniently magical stomach. The textured acrylic illustrations depict startlingly pop-eyed characters.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) PS Illustrated by Geraldo Valério. "Some things you just have to put up with," we learn from this Balinese explication of interspecies connectedness. Gecko complains that the fireflies' lights are keeping him awake, but they're necessary to illuminate Buffalo's poop in the road and that poop fills potholes left by Rain, etc. MacDonald's energetic telling is prime story-hour material, illuminated by Valério's dreamlike, humorous art.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Coffey. Mabela the mouse uses lessons taught by her father to outwit the cat in this liberally adapted tale told by the Limba people of Sierra Leone. MacDonald shapes the tale with humor and familiar story conventions. Broad acrylic pictures of the crafty cat and the foolish mice in fanciful colors, and the straw huts that are the animals' homes, suggest a vaguely foreign folkloric setting.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. The cat in this tale eats everything in sight: thirty-five pies, a washerwoman, a company of soldiers, a king riding on his elephant, and even his friend Mouse. It is Mouse with her sewing kit who opens up Cat's stomach, lets everyone out, and sews him back up again. The paintings with their folkloric touches contain funny details, and documentation about the folktale is provided.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt