Audio of the Week:<p/>Jaws, Paws, & Claws: Animal Wisdom Tales
RSSFrom SLJ May 2004
Beverly Bixler, San Antonio (TX) Public Library -- School Library Journal, 04/23/2004
1 CD. 63:01 min. LuAnn Adams. 2003. ISBN 0-9715341-1-X. $15.
K-Gr 4-LuAnn Adams tells nine stories from different cultures. Her two previous recordings have won several awards. Adams has an engaging storytelling style and uses different voices, a variety of sound effects, and percussion instruments to enhance the tales. "How the Beaver Got Sharp Teeth," adapted from a Cree folktale, tells how beaver set the sun free and was rewarded with sharp teeth. The West African tale "Crocodile and Hen" relates how Hen convinces Crocodile that they are sisters. "The Naughty Frog," an adaptation of both Korean and Puerto Rican folktales, tells of a defiant young frog who refuses to obey his mother. Trying to save other animals from a forest fire is "How the Parrot Got Beautiful Colors" in this Jataka folktale. The Canadian Salishan people tell "How the Chipmunk Got Stripes" when they fight to bring light to the world. Another Jataka tale relates "How the Turtle Got Cracks" by opening his mouth at the wrong time. "How the Bear Got a Short Tail, a Norwegian story, explains that while the bear was using his tail as a fishing pole, a turtle bit it off. From Ghana comes the tale of "How the Snake Lost His Legs" after stealing vegetables and falling into a sap trap. "The Blue Faience Hippopotamus" from Egypt tells of a hippo that falls in love with a human princess. This excellent collection of well-told tales deserves a place in every library with an audio storytelling collection.
