Out of a bitter storm comes a gift that saves a village.

In this adaptation of an Italian folktale, the young fisherman Gianni braves the thawing, ice-bound lagoon of Burano to catch fish to feed the starving people of his island. His fiancée, Nicoletta, prays for his safety. Gianni, swept from his fishing boat, is rescued by a mermaid who whips the water into a length of elegant lace, which she gives to Gianni for Nicoletta’s wedding veil. This gorgeously illustrated tale recounts the mythical origins of Burano lace, whose production has long been a vital part of the island’s economy and vibrant culture, ensuring the islanders would never go hungry. The lace is still famed throughout the world for its scalloped, wave-like patterns.

Some of Aesop’s best-known fables come to life in this magnificent picture book with pop-ups. Ten classic tales are presented through elaborate paper art and detailed illustrations. Children and adults will love seeing stories like “The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs,” “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and “The Lion and the Mouse” jump off the page.

Algunas de las fábulas mejores conocidas de Esopo cobran vida en este magnífico libro ilustrado con desplegables. Diez cuentos clásicos se presentan a través de una papiroflexia elaborada y detalladas ilustraciones. A los niños y a los adultos por igual les encantará ver cuentos como “La gallina de los huevos de oro,” “La liebre y la tortuga” y “El león y el ratón” saltar de las páginas.

The Last Kappa of Old Japan is a warmly written and beautifully illustrated bilingual Japanese children’s book that introduces many aspects of traditional Japanese culture and folklore, while teaching an important lesson about environmentalism. The story is of a young Japanese farm boy who develops a friendship with a mythical creature— the kappa—a messenger of the god of water. The tale begins in post-Modern Japan when the boy is young and the kappa is healthy and ends when the kappa, now the last one left on Earth, keeps an important promise to his human friend.

A story of love, friendship, and adventure, readers of all ages will enjoy this picture book by award-winning author/illustrator, Sunny Seki. This bilingual edition includes Japanese text alongside the english, making it a great way for kids to lean Japanese.

Why are cats and mice enemies?

Why do cats always land on their feet?

Are cats as smart as they seem?

Here’s a story behind each of these feline traits. For centuries, people everywhere, from Tibet to Oman to Scotland to the United States, have been fascinated with cats and their intriguing personalities. In this captivating collection, New York Times best-selling author Jane Yolen has gathered and adapted cat stories, sayings, and nursery rhymes from around the world. The glowing jewel-like illustrations of cats galore in their native homes have been lavishly painted by Hala Wittwer.

The wonders found in fairy tales and myths have enriched childhoods for centuries. In between “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after” we embark on adventures that seem an eternity away from our everyday lives, and yet through these adventures we are brought back to the innocence and beauty of the truth. In The Mysteries of Children’s Literature, journey through a treasury of well-known fables and folk tales, as well as others not so well known, and discover the wisdom hiding within them. In an age that rejects the moral absolutes and repudiates the whole idea of intrinsic evils, children’s literature restores the meaning of good and evil, beautiful and ugly, and normal and abnormal.

“Fairy tales clear the way for sanctity. They are the child’s first morality play, clear-cut, no-nonsense black and white, good and evil, life and death – with a bit of fun thrown in to alleviate the pain.” -Ethel Pochocki

Ji-Stu, the Cherokee trickster rabbit, wakes early one morning and decides to visit his old friend Otter, who lives up the river. Along the way, he sees a huge wood duck sitting on the water and instantly recognizes the Chief of All the Wood Ducks, who is surrounded by hundreds of smaller ducks.

Ji-Stu hurries to tell Otter, but when they return the great Chief is gone. Otter, who did not believe Ji-Stu’s story in the first place, slips into the water to catch a wood duck, his favorite feast. Ji-Stu decides to catch the Chief as he reappears.

Ji-Stu, famous for tricking others, manages to outwit himself. When he catches the Chief of All the Wood Ducks, the Chief tries to drown Ji-Stu and then takes him for a flight the rabbit will never forget! Ji-Stu flies high above the People’s village, hanging on to the Chief for dear life, while two little boys below barely miss him with an arrow. He will see those two boys again–and this time he will need all his skills to escape!

This is the fifth of Deborah L. Duvall’s collaborations with Murv Jacob on the Cherokee Grandmother Stories.