Review: Asian Children's Favorite Stories: Folktales from China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines and Other Asian Lands

Asian Children's Favorite Stories: Folktales from China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines and Other Asian Lands by David Conger
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Illustrations- 4 stars
Stories- 3 stars

I'm a huge fan of folktales as regular readers of the blog know, and I started reading Asian fairy tales with my mother when I was in Kindergarten. I've read quite a few stories from different cultures and have also read some fabulous retellings (Eugie Foster's "The Girl Who Drew Cats" is a standout and I remember my youngest asking to hear Demi's "Liang and the Magic Paintbrush" again and again). Reading new folktales to children is always a delight but the selection of the stories so that the child reader/listener relates is crucial. I felt there was a bit of unevenness in the selection and adaptation. I also found that some younger children resisted the first story "What Cats and Dogs Don't Get Along," a title which prompted a friend's five year old to say "that's silly, they do get along!" (Their position was unswayed after hearing the story.) Some tales enchanted ("The Mousedeer Becomes a Judge") while others seemed to lack the luminous language of other adaptations I've read ("Liang and his Magic Brush," and "The Crane's Gratitude").

Overall this is a book that might entertain a child interested in folklore from around the world, and parents looking for less commonly seen stories. A number of the illustrations (particularly the snowy scenes for the Japanese story) are lovely, and they will appeal to young children.

I received a pre-publication copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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