A collection of trickster stories — from the Brer Rabbit found in the American South to East Africa’s Anansi — are presented from a master storyteller. Watercolor illustrations add humor and verve to each of these outrageous and often funny characters.
A Ring of Tricksters: Animal Tales from America, the West Indies, and Africa
Sungura, a resourceful hare, and grouchy Leopard decide to build their homes in the same spot. How Sungura outwits Leopard to get him out is told in lively language with boldly lined illustrations that suggest the place in which the animals live and work.
Sungura and Leopard: A Swahili Trickster Tale
Malese, a clever lazybones, sets out to get new shoes and he briefly winds up in jail — that is, until he convinces his jailers that it’s more trouble than it’s worth to hold him there. Bold illustrations evoke the Haitian setting and the humor of one trickster.
Please, Malese! A Trickster Tale from Haiti
Brer Rabbit is the quintessential American trickster. Early versions, first collected by Joel Chandler Harris, are retold here without dialect — ideal for reading aloud — and illustrated by lively watercolors to make a timeless trickster accessible to contemporary children.
Jump! The Adventures of Brer Rabbit
Bruh Rabbit outwits farmer Bruh Wolf again — even after the shrewd hare is stuck fast to the pretty baby girl made of tar. Told in the cadence of the Gullah with full-color illustrations, this version is sure to delight readers and listeners of all ages.
Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl
Anansi is a known charlatan, so he gets little sympathy when Turtle eats all of the fish that Anansi has learned to catch. But the reader knows that the trickster has not really learned a lesson! Sly humor abounds in both text and image in this lively retelling.
Anansi Goes Fishing
The Village that Vanished
Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream
Hewitt Anderson’s Great Big Life
Brothers of the Knight
An introduction by baseball great Hank Aaron opens this riveting look at the history of the Negro League. A large format supports revealing portraits of League players and an absorbing narration revealed in nine innings. Endnotes and further readings conclude this memorable and accessible history.
We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Part of DK’s set of ultimate superhero guides, this volume features the superhero team the Justice League, complete with back stories, trivia,and big beautiful pictures. Meet the original Heroes.
JLA: The Ultimate Guide to the Justice League of America
The significance and impact of Dr. King and why his birthday is celebrated is presented in a handsome package. Fluid text combines with stunning illustrations done in scratchboard and paint, to make a sometimes difficult subject accessible to younger children. Also available in Spanish.
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King
Yolen wrote all of these varied entries about the delightful dragon, and relates the poems, and short stories from a variety of genres, complete with a background as to their inspiration.
Here There Be Dragons
A four-book series featuring reluctant princess Cimorene, warring factions of dragons and wizards, and tons of humor.
Enchanted Forest Chronicles
This was the first in the popular “ology” series, now featuring Wizardology, Pirateology and Egyptology. A study guide to dragon knowledge, the book is attractive to reluctant readers, with its many foldouts and 3D illustrations.
Dragonology
When Wycca, a dragon living in the 13th century, stumbles through a gateway to the future, she lands in present day Boston, followed shortly thereafter by the wizards looking for her. What can 11-year old Theodora do and how did she get mixed up in this anyway?
Hatching Magic
Younger readers will enjoy this dragon fantasy set in the present day. While running away from his unwanted crush Mary Lou, Jeremy discovers a magic shop where he purchases an egg. When dragon Tiamat hatches, the adventure begins, and so do Jeremy’s responsibilities toward the growing dragon. A perfect introduction to fantasy.
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
Join a boy as he takes you uptown to introduce his Harlem home, filled with excitement, sounds, and verve. Illustrations use watercolor and collage to present a vibrant, music-filled place sure to please.
Uptown
How did the world come to have stories? It’s all because Ananse the Spider Man was able to perform three amazing feats — and send stories from Nyame throughout the world of people. Strong woodcuts illustrate this traditional African tale which explains how stories came to earth.
A Story, A Story
Eleven year old Marty must decide whether or not to return an abused beagle to its rightful owner, an unkind man. His dilemma includes hiding the dog, Shiloh, telling his parents the truth, and more in this riveting, award-winning novel which is ideal to read aloud with slightly sophisticated listeners. It was adapted into a live action film in 2000.
Shiloh
The girl who tended horses loved them so much that she joined them, literally! The carefully crafted, handsomely rendered illustrations echo the Native tradition studied by the reteller/illustrator.
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
Visit the town of Cranbury, nestled between Boston and New York, where the very talented Pye family lives. The Pyes have recently acquired an intellectual dog named Ginger Pye — that is until someone steals this captivating hound!