Margaret Read MacDonald

Retells the folktale of the gecko who complains to the village chief that the fireflies keep him awake at night but then learns that in nature all things are connected.

When Jouha counts the ten donkeys carrying his dates to market, he repeatedly forgets to count the one he is riding on, causing him great consternation. Includes numbers written out in Arabic and in English transliteration, as well as the numerals one through ten, and a note on the origins and other versions of the story.

In this folktale from Panama, a little rabbit and his Tia Monica outwit a fox, a tiger, and a lion, all of whom want to eat him for lunch.

In this retelling of a Shona folktale from Zimbabwe, a girl promises a crocodile he can come to a party in exchange for a favor, but since crocodiles aren't allowed in the village, she doesn't expect she'll have to keep the promise.

Spoiled and vain, Aree cannot decide which of her many silken dresses and lavish jewels to wear to the dance, so she wears them all.

Offers over eighty short stories from around the globe, including Asia, Mexico, and eastern Europe.

A cumulative tale from Chile that begins with a hen and ends with sixteen different animals and a guitar.

Contains 20 folktales designed for audience involvement and provides notes on storytelling techniques and devices. Includes bibliography and suggested readings.

An old woman complains about all the housework she has to do, but when some fairies come to help her she finds that they are more trouble than they are worth.

A magical boy grants a poor flower-seller's every wish until the greedy and ungrateful man grows tired of the boy's unpleasant behavior and sends him away.