Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts: Ten Tales from the Deep, Dark Woods

Gr 2–5—The subtitle of this collection will entice students seeking a spooky read, but the trolls and beasts portrayed are suitable even for younger elementary schoolers. Phillips retells 10 folktales from Japan, the United States, and several Eastern and Western European countries, with colorful, captivating, and action-packed illustrations. Children whose folktale repertoire is limited only to those depicted on film and screen will find the selections fresh and new. Yet readers are sure to find connections between these stories and their favorites. "Vasilisa the Brave," a Baba Yaga tale, reads like "Cinderella" with the evil stepmother and stepsisters mixed with the child abandonment elements of "Hansel and Gretel." Intriguingly, Vasilisa finds a magical helper in a talking doll from her dead mother. Folktales such as "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid" center on heroes who succeed thanks to determination, loyalty, and kindness. The protagonist in "Momotaro" has all that plus his mother's dumplings to help him on his quest. All but two of the entries feature kids as the valiant protagonists. And stories such as "The Devil Bridegroom," "Finn McCool," and "The Wawel Dragon" focus on capable female characters who use their smarts to outwit the enemy.