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A Twist in the Tail: Animal Stories From Around The World
Read me just one more! are the words certain to be heard each night as children pore over this collection of favorite animal tales from around the world. Each story is complete in just a few pages, making the collection an ideal choice for bedtime reading.
Animal tales, always beloved by young children, can be found in most cultures. Best-selling author Mary Hoffman presents ten vibrant fables that capture the humor, wisdom, and richness of the culture from which they spring, and Jan Ormerod's sun-splashed illustrations provide a perfect complement.
Animal tales, always beloved by young children, can be found in most cultures. Best-selling author Mary Hoffman presents ten vibrant fables that capture the humor, wisdom, and richness of the culture from which they spring, and Jan Ormerod's sun-splashed illustrations provide a perfect complement.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 1998
About the author
Mary Hoffman
277 books594 followersSee also works published under Mary Lassiter
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 29, 2017
This book contains a lot of short stories about animals from around the world. One story is about a fox who boasts about being faster than everyone else. One day a crab challenges him to a race and attaches himself to the fox. This means that they finish the race at the same time and the fox ends up feeling bad about boasting. This story was from China. Other stories are from Cape Verde, Turkey and Malaysia. They are about other animals including; pelicans, magpies and sheep. The illustrations help show what is going on.
The stories in this book could be read individually or as a whole. The teacher could use this book to teach children about animals, in the younger years, or it could be used in geography to learn about different animals. It could be cross curricular as children can explore if there are any similarities or differences between stories in different countries. These stories help with children’s morals as the story about the fox taught children not to boast. Children can try writing their own short stories using features from these.
The stories in this book could be read individually or as a whole. The teacher could use this book to teach children about animals, in the younger years, or it could be used in geography to learn about different animals. It could be cross curricular as children can explore if there are any similarities or differences between stories in different countries. These stories help with children’s morals as the story about the fox taught children not to boast. Children can try writing their own short stories using features from these.
September 25, 2017
Fables. International. Great illustrations.
Story: 10 stories fill this book featuring animals and morals at the end. Similar to Aesop's fables or other well known tales, children will enjoy the animals, the lesson and the great illustrations.
Language: The tales are only a few pages each, long enough to keep a child's attention and not too long that they would be overwhelmed or bored. Many full page full color illustrations fill the book which enhance the stories.
Characters: Animals from around the world are featured in this book such as foxes, a tortoise, an elephant, a hen, a platypus and more. There are few humans and when there are, the animals always outshine them.
Definitely recommend. Good for an international storytime or one about animals.
Story: 10 stories fill this book featuring animals and morals at the end. Similar to Aesop's fables or other well known tales, children will enjoy the animals, the lesson and the great illustrations.
Language: The tales are only a few pages each, long enough to keep a child's attention and not too long that they would be overwhelmed or bored. Many full page full color illustrations fill the book which enhance the stories.
Characters: Animals from around the world are featured in this book such as foxes, a tortoise, an elephant, a hen, a platypus and more. There are few humans and when there are, the animals always outshine them.
Definitely recommend. Good for an international storytime or one about animals.
June 4, 2018
10 retellings of animal stories from around the world with fun and vibrant illustrations.
October 4, 2013
A Jungle of Bright Colors from Around the World
Folk tales are the oldest form of literature, told for hundreds of years before being written down. This delightful book presents a colorful selection of tales starring animals, comprising the following: "A Birthday Surprise," a spider trickster story from the West Indies with Asante (modern-day Ghana) roots; "The Fox and the Crab Have a Race," a tale from China, "The Bright Blue Jackal," a tale from India; "The Wolf Who Loved Sheep," a Los Nobos story from the Cape Verde Islands; "The Magpie and the Milk," a fable from Turkey; "The Pelican and the Fish," a story from Malaysia; "The Fox and the Boastful Brave," a Native American story from the Iroquois Nation; "The Tortoise Who Rode an Elephant," a Yoruba story from Nigeria; "The Very Clever Rabbit," a tale from Venezuela; and "The Animal Who Couldn't Make Up Its Mind," an Aboriginal Australian story. This book does an admirable job of showing the universal appeal of animal stories, especially those of the trickster genre. Author Mary Hoffman, known for her beloved Amazing Grace stories, relates these tales in flowing, easy-to-read language, each one beautifully complemented with colorful artwork. An appendix offers information on the source of each of these timeless tales. Moreover, children of all cultures will be especially able to relate to the theme that being clever and humble is better than being big and strong.
Folk tales are the oldest form of literature, told for hundreds of years before being written down. This delightful book presents a colorful selection of tales starring animals, comprising the following: "A Birthday Surprise," a spider trickster story from the West Indies with Asante (modern-day Ghana) roots; "The Fox and the Crab Have a Race," a tale from China, "The Bright Blue Jackal," a tale from India; "The Wolf Who Loved Sheep," a Los Nobos story from the Cape Verde Islands; "The Magpie and the Milk," a fable from Turkey; "The Pelican and the Fish," a story from Malaysia; "The Fox and the Boastful Brave," a Native American story from the Iroquois Nation; "The Tortoise Who Rode an Elephant," a Yoruba story from Nigeria; "The Very Clever Rabbit," a tale from Venezuela; and "The Animal Who Couldn't Make Up Its Mind," an Aboriginal Australian story. This book does an admirable job of showing the universal appeal of animal stories, especially those of the trickster genre. Author Mary Hoffman, known for her beloved Amazing Grace stories, relates these tales in flowing, easy-to-read language, each one beautifully complemented with colorful artwork. An appendix offers information on the source of each of these timeless tales. Moreover, children of all cultures will be especially able to relate to the theme that being clever and humble is better than being big and strong.
October 9, 2011
This is an okay collection of animal stories (we were looking for Turkish folktales), but I doubt if we use it.
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September 26, 2017A wonderful collection of animal stories from around the world:
A Birthday Surprise- a story from the Caribbean
The Fox and the Crab Have a Race- a story from China
The Bright Blue Jackal- a story from India
The Wolf Who Loved Sheep - a story from Cape Verde
The Magpie and the Milk a story from Turkey
The Pelican and the Fish a story from Malaysia
The Fox and the Boastful Brave a story from North America
The Tortoise Who Rode an Elephant a story from Nigeria
The Very Clever Rabbit a story from Venezuela *personal favourite - how a rabbit can outsmart a human!
The Animal Who Couldn't Make Up Its Mind a story from Australia *great for a Topic lesson on Australia
A Birthday Surprise- a story from the Caribbean
The Fox and the Crab Have a Race- a story from China
The Bright Blue Jackal- a story from India
The Wolf Who Loved Sheep - a story from Cape Verde
The Magpie and the Milk a story from Turkey
The Pelican and the Fish a story from Malaysia
The Fox and the Boastful Brave a story from North America
The Tortoise Who Rode an Elephant a story from Nigeria
The Very Clever Rabbit a story from Venezuela *personal favourite - how a rabbit can outsmart a human!
The Animal Who Couldn't Make Up Its Mind a story from Australia *great for a Topic lesson on Australia
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews