09-4-0377

Hoff, David and Mooney, Bill, eds. More Ready-to-Tell Tales from Around the World. Little Rock, Ark.: August House, 2000. 256 pp. ISBN 0-87483-592-5, $24.95 (cl); 0-87483-583-6, $14.95 (pb).

This sequel to a previous popular collection is another rich source aimed at, but not limited to, budding storytellers. It contains not only brief tales ranging from a paragraph to a few pages but also background on each story and storyteller and tips on presentation from veteran storytellers who generously share their "sure-fire" hits. Chief among the suggestions is that no one merely recites the stories aloud. Personal adaptations are encouraged, as long as the new storyteller continues the tradition of sharing the background of the story.

The categories include Comic Tales, Wise Fools, Trickster Tales, How and Why Tales, and Codes of Conduct, among others. Indexes by cultural source and recommended audience also enhance the usefulness of these tales. The cultural source index is an intriguing mixture in that the entries under North America, for example, include not only country specifications (the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, etc.) but also Cajun tradition, Mexican borderland, Pennsylvania Mountains, Southern Mountains, and Huron People of Quebec. The recommended audience index is straightforward about general school levels but also has a category for Mixed Cultures or Immigrant Audiences. Hoff and Mooney have produced a solid resource for storytellers in libraries and schools.

—Suzanne D. Li
CUNY Queens College Library

09-4-0378

Ledgard, Edna. The Snake Prince and Other Stories: Burmese Folk Tales. Northampton, Mass.: Interlink, 2000. 240 pp. ISBN 1-56656-313-5, $15.00 (pb).

The compiler of this collection follows in the path of other storytellers who, as children, accompanied their missionary parents abroad, such as Pearl Buck, Elizabeth Foreman Lewis, and Jean Fritz. Ledgard’s collection, however, is not a mere retelling of quaint stories and reminiscences. The hefty introduction offers plenty of cultural and historical background on the country of Burma, now called Myanmar, while working in her personal connections from the period just before World War II.

The stories are divided into five sections with introductions to each: Tales of Wonder and Romance; Crafty Villains, Clever Opponents, and Fools; Wise Judges and Fair Decisions; Creatures of Jambudipa; and Jataka Tales. The subdivisions make it easier for storytellers to choose selections, especially for cross-cultural comparisons. Each story presentation also contains interesting comments, such as a suggestion of another story that would go well with it, or alternative endings. The author appreciates other cultural traditions that might emphasize "happily ever after" endings or clearly stated punishments for misdeeds, although she points out that a listener steeped in Burmese tradition would assume those endings without the need for hearing them explicitly. Although Burmese have served as Secretary General of the United Nations (U Thant) and won the Nobel Peace Prize (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi), little material has been available about their culture and country. This book will fill a gap in many collections of folklore, and will also contribute richly as a social studies resource.

—Suzanne D. Li
CUNY Queens College Library