"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"--

Magic beans bring young Jack luck and wealth, and then danger when he pushes his luck due to greed. Folktales from Around the World transports young readers to worlds where everything is alive and anything can happen! Gathered from across the globe, these stories are traditional tales that have stood the test of time. With original artwork and lively text, these faithful retellings will fascinate young readers while teaching them what we have in common...

An adaptation of the Pueblo Indian myth which explains how the spirit of the Lord of the Sun was brought to the world of men.

"Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahua traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth when humans were first created, who stole fire from the gods to keep them warm."--

Follow a young Korean girl as she dresses and prepares for the Lunar New Year.

Exploring stories about unicorns from around the globe, this narrative text presents myths and legends in an easy-to-follow narrative voice in conjunction with possible scientific explanations. Bright images and a playful design will keep even the most reluctant readers interested, while a glossary allows readers to build upon their vocabulary.

A freshly baked gingerbread man escapes when he is taken out of the oven and eludes a number of animals until he meets a clever fox.

Retells the segment from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, in which George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings peace and joy to the land.

"In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both?"--

Some of the creatures in these pages might only have a message for you, but some are the stuff of nightmares. These thirty-two short stories - from tales passed down for generations to accounts that could have happened yesterday - are collected from the thriving tradition of ghost stories in American Indian cultures across North America.