You'd better believe Slappy Hooper was the world's biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter. He was bestest because no one else ever made pictures so true to life. But some folks said they were too good when the pictures started coming alive! Will Slappy have to give up sign painting for good? Or will a couple of timely jobs from the Heavenly Sign Company let him climb to even greater heights? Find out in this delightful tall tale from mid-20th-century Chicago. TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT FOR THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE" OR ON AARON'S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard's many books for young people have won honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the American Folklore Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Once a professional storyteller, he specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature. Toni Goffe is the illustrator and sometimes author of many well-loved children's books, including Aaron's "The Legend of Lightning Larry" and Toni's own "Joe Giant's Missing Boot, " used in the UK national reading curriculum. He is the winner of the 1993 Gold Medallion Book Award.  ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Goffe's freewheeling cartoons perfectly complement this well-told, amiably satirical tale." -- Kirkus Reviews, Sept. 1, 1993 "Good-humored .

The Legend of Slappy Hooper: An American Tall Tale

Traditional tales are retold by a master storyteller in this collection of folktales, myths, and legends from India and Pakistan. The stories are: THE GIFTS OF THE GRASSCUTTER Wali Dad, a humble grasscutter, never asked for wealth -- so why can't he give it away? THE PRINCESS AND THE GOD The princess Savitri must use all her wit and will to save her husband from the god of death. THE MILLIONAIRE MISER Sushil is so stingy, even a god takes notice. HOW VIOLENCE IS ENDED A prince must choose whether to heed his father's last words or take revenge on the king who has killed both parents. KINGS FOR BREAKFAST! King Vikram must rescue a magic goose from King Karan and discover the secret of his wealth. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

5 Tales of India: Folktales, Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends of India and Pakistan

The lights dim, and a weighty silence falls upon the audience. From all over Europe and America, these fifteen hundred men and women have come to spend many days in this small German town and many hours in this theater. Some are merely curious. Some are there because it's the fashion. But many have come out of devotion to the musical dramas of a composer they revere, almost worship -- a composer who himself designed and built the theater they sit in. To them, this theater is a temple, and their journey a pilgrimage. For a full minute or more, they wait solemnly in the dark, barely daring to move, their attention resting on the curtained stage below. Then the first musical notes float up and surround them -- high, soft, sustained notes of strings and woodwinds -- from an orchestra entirely hidden from view.  The composer's devotees know what vision this shimmering music is meant to impart: the descent from Heaven of the Holy Grail, the drinking cup of Christ at the Last Supper. In their minds, they watch it draw nearer to earth, as the music grows louder and deeper and louder still, at last bursting out in horns, tympani, and cymbals. Then the Grail ascends once more, the music gradually softening until strings and woodwinds lead out as gently as they led in.  And now the curtains part, and the audience knows it will soon meet the knight who serves that Grail.

The Swan Knight: A Medieval Legend, Retold from Wagner's Lohengrin - Skyhook World Classics, #5

Beauty and intelligence were the princess Savitri's, and eyes that shone like the sun. So splendid was she that people thought her a goddess. When at last she found a man worthy to wed her, no one could sway her from her heart's path -- not even the god of death. This lovely retelling, now in a 30th Anniversary Edition, presents a classic tale of devotion, courage, wit, and will from India's national epic, the Mahabharata. (Original picture book title: "Savitri: A Tale of Ancient India.") TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE, " OR FREE ON AARON'S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen, " "The Sea King's Daughter, " the Skyhook World Classics series, and many more children's books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Vera Rosenberry has written and/or illustrated over 30 children's books, including eight "Vera" books about her own childhood experiences. She was especially eager to work on this book as her husband is from India and grew up with tales from the Mahabharata. Also, she has always been fascinated by Indian miniature paintings-especially those of the Akbar period, which were produced as illustrations but, with their beautiful colors and intricate detail, stand on their own as works of art. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// 1997 & 2000 California Collection Selection "Unique and noteworthy . . . Shepard breathes new life into the sleeping archetype of the Indian heroine. Like ancient heroic myth, [Shepard's interpretation] renews deep strains of potential within the reader." -- Publishers Weekly, Mar. 9, 1992 "A smooth retelling." -- Kirkus Reviews "Delicately rendered in both adaptation and illustration . . . A book that will open children's eyes and ears to an unfamiliar lore, and provide rich contrast to Western parallels." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Profoundly moving." -- Children's Bookwatch "Will enhance the social studies curriculum." -- Children's Book Review Service "Reads aloud very well . . . Readers will enjoy the perspicacity and tenacity of this feisty heroine [and] be fascinated by the uniquely Indian cultural details." -- School Library Journal "Portrays a woman of great intelligence and courage, as well as virtue . . . The story and pictures show great sensitivity to Hindu lore and culture." -- Deva and Gayatri Rajan, Hinduism Today "Powerfully told, with a magic all its own. Savitri's purity of spirit will touch the hearts of all readers, young and old." -- Meera Lester, India West "Fresh and respectful . . . Could be useful as an introduction to Indian classics for young adult readers, in a course on ancient cultures, or in any broad-based collection." -- Fran Stallings, Territorial Tattler "Looking for a painless dose of Hindu mythology? Here it is, with beautiful illustrations to boot." -- Ours (Adoptive Families of America

Princess of India: An Ancient Tale

"There sure are a lot of weasels." Everywhere Skeeter looks, he sees weasels -- on the street, in his office, in the park. They sneak, and they slink, and they all wear gray trench coats and purple sunglasses. The problem is, no one else sees them! All that changes when Skeeter meets Special Agent Ratilda from Rodential, the rodent mutual aid society. Together, they set off to track down the weasels and put an end to their nefarious doings.  Will Skeeter and Ratilda foil the weasels' Big Plan? Will Most Weasel J. R. Slitherwell finally meet his match? Will Skeeter get his job back and date the cat of his dreams? And what does that big red button really do, anyway? Find out in "Skeeter and the Weasels"!  ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen, " "The Legend of Lightning Larry, " "The Sea King's Daughter, " and many more children's books. His stories have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Anne L. Watson is the author/illustrator of "Katie Mouse and the Perfect Wedding, " "Katie Mouse and the Christmas Door, " and "The Secret of Gingerbread Village, " as well as the author of numerous craft books and novels for adults. Her illustrations are imaginative collages made from photos of felted animals, miniatures, and real-life objects, along with graphic arts creations and textures from Etsy and elsewhere, all assembled and manipulated in Photoshop.  Aaron and Anne are married and now live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Skeeter walked to the park and sat sadly on a bench. There were weasels behind the trees. There were weasels by the picnic tables. There were weasels around the playground. "There sure are a lot of weasels, " said Skeeter. "Hold everything!" said a voice above him. "Did you say 'a lot of weasels'?" He looked up, and there on a tree branch was a lady rat in a pink trench coat and purple sunglasses.  "Yes, " said Skeeter. "A lot of weasels. There sure are." "At last!" said the lady rat. "Someone else sees them, too!" She dropped onto the bench and took off her sunglasses. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Special Agent Ratilda from Rodential, the rodent mutual aid society. You've heard of us, no doubt." "Well, no, I can't say -- " began Skeeter. "Sure, you have. Our motto? 'Get a piece of the cheese.' Right now, I'm on a secret mission. Top secret. Can you keep a secret?" "Um, unless I forget and -- " "Sure, you can. I'm looking into an alarming rise in the number of weasels. They're everywhere. But I don't have to tell you, because you see them, too."

Skeeter and the Weasels

"I want shoes that are spiffy, not iffy." Katie is tired of her same old shoes, so she goes to the store to buy new ones. But with so many wondrous choices, how can she ever decide? In this fun story told in lively verse, a young girl gets a peek at the many possibilities open to her in life and embraces them with joy. For ages 2 to 8. ///////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen, " "The Legend of Lightning Larry, " "The Sea King's Daughter, " and many more children's books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Wendy Edelson is the award-winning illustrator of "The Baker's Dozen, " "Christmas Truce, " "Quackling, " and many more children's books. She has applied her talent to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U. S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association.  ///////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE TEXT Katie was tired of her same old shoes."I want shoes I choose!" she said. She went to the store to buy new ones. The sales clerk asked, "Which shoes do you choose?"Katie said, "I want shoes that are braggy, not baggy.""Let me see, " said the clerk.      "We have small shoes,     and tall shoes,     and walk-on-the-wall shoes.      "We have red shoes,     and head shoes,     and down-the-hill-sled shoes.      "We have blue shoes,     and BOO shoes,     and paddle-canoe shoes. "Which shoes do you choose?"Katie said, "I want shoes that are slicky, not sticky.""Let me see, " said the clerk.

Which Shoes Do You Choose?

Why not give more? Van Amsterdam the baker was well known for his honesty as well as for his fine Saint Nicholas cookies. He always gave his customers exactly what they paid for -- not more and not less. So, he was not about to give in when a mysterious old woman comes to him on Saint Nicholas Day and insists that a dozen is thirteen!  The woman's curse puts an end to the baker's business, and he believes it would take Saint Nicholas to help him. But if he receives that help, will it be exactly what he imagined?  Find out in this inspiring legend from Dutch colonial New York about the birth of an honored American custom.  TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE" OR ON AARON'S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Legend of Lightning Larry, " "The Sea King's Daughter, " and many more children's books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society.  Wendy Edelson has applied her award-winning skills to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U. S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association.  ///////////////////////////////////////////////// HONORSAmerican Bookseller Pick of the Lists Trumpet Book Club selection Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children  "The good will of legendary Saint Nick resonates in this tale about the origin of the term 'baker's dozen.' .

The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale

Nils n'en  fait qu'à sa tête, et il décide même de quitter la maison. Son père le supplie de ne jamais travailler pour l'ogre, mais la tentation est trop forte... Heureusement, Ingrid, la servante de l'ogre, est là pour lui donner de sages conseils. Faut-il encore que Nils veuille bien l'écouter !

La Servante et l'ogre

Une bonne écriture est difficile, peu importe l'âge du lecteur et les enfants méritent le meilleur.

Ses oeuvres

Ses derniers livres